Narcotics

Narcotics have been successfully used as painkillers in our society for a number of years. In small and regulated dosages they can help sooth and sedate patients struggling with painful conditions like back injuries, serious coughs and acute diarrhea.

Narcotics can be legitimately administered orally, through skin patches, injection and suppositories.

Recreational usage of narcotics is another story altogether. Here the danger of addiction, both physiological and psychological, as well as infection, disease and toxic overdose make these powerful natural and synthetic drugs some of the most destructive in the notorious gallery of illegal substances.

Narcotics induce three main effects: they are analgesic, they reduce sensitivity to pain; they induce euphoria when taken in higher dosages and they have a sedative effect.

People become addicted to these substances because of the general sense of wellbeing that they induce. This coupled with a significant reduction in tension, anxiety and aggression provides a heady seductive quality to these drugs.

Narcotics have other less favorable effects. They induce drowsiness, reduce the ability to concentrate, create apathy and a general lessening in physical activity. People using narcotics will have constricted pupils, flushed face and neck due to the dilation of the subcutaneous blood vessels and most importantly respiratory depression. They may also suffer from constipation, nausea and vomiting.

With habitual usage, tolerance decreases the intensity of the desired effects leading to the increase in frequency and volume of dosage. Addiction develops physiologically with the alteration of normal body functions leading to symptoms like watery eyes, runny nose, yawning, sweating, restlessness, irritability and loss of appetite.

Psychological addiction is even more complex and protracted often lingering far beyond the traditional cold turkey and normally requiring regular therapy sessions teaching the patient healthier ways to deal with stress and tension.

Sources: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (Public Domain)
               National Institute on Drug Addiction (Public Domain)