Overview of Narcotic Analgesics
There are two subcategories of Narcotic Analgesics. The first subcategory consists of
the Opiates. The second subcategory are the Synthetics.
The Opiates are drugs that either contain or are derived from opium. There are two
basic types of opiates, alkaloids and derivatives. An "alkaloid" is a substance that is
found in another substance, and can be isolated from it. For example, Morphine, Codeine and
Thebaine are all found in opium and are natural alkaloids. Opium Derivatives are
produced by chemically treating the natural alkaloid. Heroin is probably the most famous
Opium Derivative, but there are a number of other important drugs that are
produced in this manner. The source for both the Natural Alkaloids and the Opium Derivatives
is a particular species of poppy plant, called the "opium poppy", or papaver somniferum.
(Latin for "the poppy that brings sleep") Opium is the sap from the seed pods of the plant.
The second subcategory of Narcotic Analgesic had nothing to do with the opium poppy.
This subcategory consists of Synthetics, which are produced artificially from a variety of non-opiate
substances. One of the best know of these is Methadone, a drug used as a substitute for Heroin
in drug treatment programs. The synthetics do not derive from opium at all, but have similar
or identical effects.
All Narcotic Analgesics share three distinguishing characteristics:
Pain relief
Produce withdrawal signs and symptoms, when the drug is stopped
after chronic administration.
Their use will suppress the withdrawal signs signs and symptoms of chronic
morphine administration. (This means that the various Narcotic Analgesics can be
substituted for each other to relieve withdrawal symptoms.)
Possible Effects of Narcotic Analgesics
The effects that a Narcotic Analgesic user will experience and exhibit depend on the tolerance
that user has developed for the drug. As a person develops a tolerance for the drug,
that person will experience diminishing effects if they continue to take the same dosage of the drug.
Conversely, if the person wishes to experience the same effect he or she will have to
take steadily larger doses as tolerance develops.
People develop a tolerance to Narcotic Analgesics fairly rapidly. A Narcotic Analgesic
user who has developed tolerance and who has taken his or her "normal" dose of the
drug may exhibit little or no evidence of intellectual or physical impairment.
The clinical and physical effects of Narcotic Analgesics usually are evident with new users,
or with tolerant users who have taken more than their "normal" dose.
On of the most easily observed effects is a condition known as "on the nod". This
is a semiconscious type of sleep, brought about by the sedative action of the drug. When a
user is "on the nod", their eyelids will become very droopy, and the head will slump forward until
the chin rests on the chest. The user usually can be awakened easily and be sufficiently
alert to respond to questions. In general the effects of Narcotic Analgesics include
Constricted pupils
Slowed reflexes
Slow, low raspy voice
Sluggish "rubber-like" movements
Slowed breathing
Cold skin
Possible vomiting
Muscle tone normal or flaccid
"On the Nod"
"Track marks" (Needle marks)
Droopy eyelids
Facial itching
Dry mouth
Euphoria
Signs and Symptoms of Narcotic Analgesic Overdose
Narcotic Analgesics depress the respiration. The user's breathing becomes slow and
shallow, and death can occur from severe respiratory depression. The skin becomes clammy,
and the overdosing user may experience convulsion, slip into a coma, lips turn blue, body
becomes pale or blue and extremely constricted pupils (unless there is brain damage in
which the pupils may be dilated).
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