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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>.