Download Narcotic analgesics drugs are used to relieve - Angela E

Angela Cheung
MW 5:30-6:45
Narcotics
What are narcotics? Narcotics is a word commonly used to refers drugs in general. But
the word is actually used to refer a drug that originates from opium. The word narcotic is
derived from the Greek word narké (meaning stupor), and traditionally applies to drugs known
as opiates. Opium was used as folk medicine for hundreds, maybe thousands of years. One of
the most distinguishing characteristics of narcotics is their ability to reduce the perception of
pain and their addictives properties. The terms narcotic, opiate, and opioid are frequently used
inter-changeably.
There are two types of narcotics, opiates and synthetics. Opiates are found in the sap of
opium poppy. Opium is a by-product gathered by a plant
called Papaver Somniferum. Synthetics narcotics, also
known as opioids, are produce in a laboratory. The main
reason of laboratory production is to create a drug that
will have the analgesic properties of morphine while
minimizing the potential for addiction. Common types of
Papaver Somniferum
narcotics include oxycodone, vicodin, codeine, morphine, and heroin.
Narcotic analgesics drugs are used to relieve pain. Analgesics are selective central
nervous system depressants used to relieve pain. The word analgesic means “without pain”.
There are four categories that narcotic agents are classified in:
1. Morphine and codeine- natural alkaloids of opium.
2. Synthetic derivatives of morphine such as heroin.
3. Synthetic agents which resemble the morphine structure.
4. Narcotic antagonists which are used as antidotes for overdoes of narcotic
analgesics.
Naturally occurring opiates, Morphine and Codeine, have complex chemical structure
causing it to be very hard to synthesize. These drugs are obtained by extracting Papaver
Somniferum plant and its main product-opium. Opium contains over 20 compounds, but the
only important parts of it are the 10% of morphine and 0.5% codeine found in it. Methods of
extracting it have been known and carried out by many people for a long time. The procedure
to extract the compounds is easy except for the large amount of poppies that is needed to
produce the desired amount of morphine. Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine, is
produced directly from Morphine through the action of acetic anhydride.
The second major active constituent of opium is Codeine. The structure of Codeine is
easy to modify to yield both semi-potent and potent
semi-synthetic opiates analogs. The former is the
chemical hydrocodone (Vicodin). Though this
chemical is more potent than codeine, it is less potent
than the morphine derivatives. Oxycodone, commonly
refer to as Oxycontin, is one of the most popular semisynthetic derivative of Codeine. This chemical is stronger than both codeine and hydrocodone
and is often more preferred when compare to Morphine.
Beside Morphine and Codeine, opium also include the drug Therbaine. Therbaine is an
important chemical precursor to other drugs; however it is not an active opiate. Etorphine is
extremely powerful and is derived from Therbaine through similar chemical procedure as the
ones mention above. Many other opiate drugs are also produce from this chemical.
Synthetic narcotic analgesics include meperidine and methadone. Meperidine is
commonly used in place as morphine. This is the first synthetic narcotic produced a generation
ago. Meperidine is one of the most widely used drugs for the relief of
moderate to severe pain. It can be administered either orally or by
injection. The drug has several pharmacological effects: analgesic, local
anesthetic, and mild antihistamine. Methadone, on the other hand, is
more active and toxic than morphine. It can be used for to relieve many
different types of pain. It was first synthesized by a German chemist
during World War II when the United States and its allies cut off their
opium supply. Because it was difficult to fight a war without analgesics, the Germans went to
work and synthesized a number of medications that is use in today society, these include
Demerol and Darvon. The drug is most widely used in treating narcotic addicts. It differs from
morphine-based drugs in that they have a longer duration of action, some lasting up to 24
hours. However, tolerance and dependence may develop, including withdrawal symptoms,
even though they develop more slowly and are less severe compare to other narcotics and
drugs. Ironically, the drug was designed to control narcotic addictions, but is also the major
cause of overdose deaths.
Narcotics antagonists prevent or stop excessive respiratory depression caused by the
administration of morphine and other related compounds. They act to compete for the same
analgesic receptor sites. The structure is similar to morphine with the exception of the group
attached to nitrogen. It is useful in narcotic treatment programs because it is used to treat
opiate overdose and may be useful in the treatment of opiate dependence.
Narcotics can affect the body in many ways. They can be used to treat the body from
pain, anxiety, and aggression if prescribe by a physician legally. But the drugs are highly
addictive, so when people have them as prescribed medication to help them it often result in
the patient abusing it. If you take narcotics for a long time, you could develop a tolerance to
the drug causing you to take more of the drug to get the same effect. Narcotic analgesics cause
an addictive physical dependence. If the drug is discontinued, withdrawal symptoms are
experienced. Even though the reasons for addiction and withdrawal symptoms are not
completely known, recent experiments have provided some information.
Side effects of narcotics may include:

Drowsiness

Nausea

Flushing

Upset stomach
There are many dangers taking narcotics. One of the most dangerous things about using
narcotics is that some of them are taken into the body using needles, like heroin. Using needles
can cause skin infections and can cause HIV/AIDS because someone could have used the
needles before you use it. Overdosing of the drug can even cause death in the worse case.
What should be done to stop narcotics abuse? Trying to quit using narcotics is not easy,
just like when you are trying to quit drinking are smoking. However, it isn’t impossible to quit,
you just have to put in a lot of effort and have proper guidance and help to he assist you
through the process. There are four basic approaches to drug abuse treatment, they are:
 Detoxification- supervised withdrawal from drug dependence, either with or
without medications in a hospital or as an outpatient
 Therapeutic communities where patients live in a highly structure drug-free
environment and are encourage to help themselves
 Outpatient drug-free programs which emphasize various forms of counseling as
the main treatment
 Methadone maintenance which uses methadone, a substitute for heroin, on a
daily basis to help people lead productive lives while still in treatment
The detoxification process is one that is extremely unpleasant to go through by yourself
so it is best to have people to support you. This means that you have to get the help of a top
detox center, and enrolling in a drug treatment program that helps you go through the
withdrawal process without feeling pain and then deal with the mental and emotional reasons
you sought out narcotics use in the first place. After going through rehab, the most important
thing is to make sure you don’t return to using the drug again. It may be hard to reenter society
and after getting rid of the drug addiction, but it’s better than to continue using the drug and
harm your body.
Works Cited
"Opiates and Opioids". 2003-2010. 23 January 2011 <http://www.drugsforum.com/forum/showwiki.php?title=Category:Opiates_and_Opioids>.
Introduction to Opiates and Opioids Chemistry. 2003-2010. 23 January 2011 <http://www.drugsforum.com/forum/showwiki.php?title=Introduction_to_Opiates_and_Opioids_Chemistry>.
Narcotic. 23 January 2011 <http://science.jrank.org/pages/4557/Narcotic.html>.
Narcotic Analgesic Drugs. 2003. 23 January 2011
<http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/674narcotic.html>.
Narcotic Analgesic Drugs-Chemwiki. 18 May 2010. 23 January 2011
<http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Biological_Chemistry/Drug_Activity/Narcotic_Analgesic_______Drugs>.
Synthetic Narcotics. 23 January 2011 <http://www.tpub.com/maa/70.htm>.
Types of Narcotic Drugs. 2011. 23 January 2011 <http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/drugtypes/types-of-narcotic-drugs.htm>.