Narcotic
Analgesic
(Opiate)
Kristine Mitchell
Student: Moraine Park Technical College
GEORGIA O’KEEFE POPPY 1927
FACT SHEET
Narcotic Analgesics (Opiates)
The Greek definition of the word “narkoticos” is benumbing or deadening”. In essence, the term
narcotics refer to a central nervous system depressant which produces a stupor or insensibility and can
be referred to as an addictive drug. Narcotics are effective for relief of severe pain and are potent
analgesics, which are CNS depressants. Narcotics occur naturally in the opium poppy and are produced
synthetically as well. Because of their opium association, these drugs are referred to as opiates.
Type of Opiates
4 categories




Morphine and Codeine: natural alkaloids of opium
Synthetic derivatives of morphine such as heroin
Synthetic agents which resemble the morphine structure
Narcotic antagonists which are used as antidotes for overdoses of narcotic analgesics.
Kristine Mitchell Opiate Fact Sheet
List of opiates and Common Street Names
Narcotic Drugs
Heroin
Common Names
Black Tar
Morphine
Several
Methadone
Dolophine
Meperidine
Oxycodone
Propoxyphene
Codeine
Demerol
Percodan,
OcyContin
Darvon
Several
Loperamide
Diphenoxylate
Opium Tincture
Imodium A-D
Lomotil
Paregoric
Buprenorphine
Fentanyls
Suboxone
Hydromorphone
MPTP
Street Name
Brown sugar, H. Henry,
horse, junk, skag, smack,
black tar, tar, chiba or
chiva, mud, dragon,dope,
snowball, scat, number 3,
nmber 4, number 8, white:
china, nurse, lady, horse,
girl, boy, stuff
Dreamer, hows, M, Miss
Emma, monkey, white
stuff
Frizzies, amidone, (with
MDMA: chocolate chip
cookies)
Demmies, pain killer
Oxy, O.C., oxycotton,
hillbilly, oxycet, percs
Captain cody, cody,
schoolboy; (with
glutethimide: doors &
fours, loads, pancakes and
syrup)
Gods medicine, dopium,
dream stick, glee, gum, joy
plant
Bupe, sub(s)
China girl, dance fever,
friend, goodfellas, king
ivory, apache, china white,
jackpot, murder 8, TNT,
tango and cash
Dillies, hydro, M2s,
hospital heroin
New heroin, MPPP,
synthetic heroin,
Host Common Uses
Abuse
Analgesia
Treat narcotic dependence
Analgesia
Analgesia
Analgesia
Analgesia, antitussive
Antidiarrheal
Antidiarrheal
Antidiarrheal
Treat narcotic dependence
Analgesic
Analgesic, cough suppressant
Tool to study Parkinson’s
Kristine Mitchell Opiate Fact Sheet
Pentazocine
Tramadol
Dextromethorphan
Yellow footballs
Analgesic
Tram a dol, molly, TVMPP
DXM, CCC, Triple c,
Cough remedy
skittles, robo, poor man’s
PCP
For a complete detailed list of opiate drugs see link: http://www.nida.nih.gov/PDF/RRHeroin.pdf
Prescription opiates
Morphine
Methadone
Meperidine
Oxycodone
Propoxyphene
Codeine
Loperamide
Diphenoxylate
Buprenorphine
Fentanyls
Hydromorphone
Pentazocine
Tramadol
Dextromethorphan
Illicit Opiates
Heroin
Designer type drugs like MPTP
Therapeutic uses of prescription opiates
Narcotic analgesics are most widely used as a pain reliever. Analgesics are effective in many types of
pain including visceral (internal organs) and somatic (teeth, bones, skin, skeletal muscle), acute, surgical,
non-surgical, chronic an oncogenic, and non-oncogenic. These drugs are used to treat the pain of
cancer. Other uses of opioid narcotics are used as antitussives (suppress coughing), and diarrhea relief.
Morphine is used in IHD, myocardial infarction, obstetric analgesia. Methadone as well as
buprenorphine, and Suboxone is used in drug treatment to minimize withdrawal from other opiates like
heroine. Anesthesia for surgery is induced with narcotic analgesics. MPTP is used as a research tool to
study Parkinson’s disease. Naloxone/Naltrexon is used as an antidote in treating narcotic overdoses.
Kristine Mitchell Opiate Fact Sheet
Physiological effects from the abuse of
opiates, both primary and secondary
Narcotic drugs bind to the site where naturally occurring endorphin peptide transmitters are found.
These transmitters are found in internal organs, intestines and the nervous system. Narcotics influences
are widespread because of their stimulating effect directly to these opioid receptors. The first dose may
elicit a feeling of euphoria and will encourage continued use. It dulls pain of either the physical or
mental type. However, nausea and sleepiness can occur upon initial use. A side effect of opioid narcotics
that is very common is constipation. Respiratory depression, constriction of pupils, vomit, inability to
urinate, mental clouding, itching, and blood pressure drop are other side effects of narcotics.
Because of the pleasant effects of narcotics, an individual may be encouraged to keep using. The user
then must continue using in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms. This is referred to as “the monkey is
on his back” (Hanson, p. 264). By avoiding withdrawal symptoms the individual is already developing
tolerance. Using frequently, it takes about 2 to 3 weeks to develop tolerance. Physiological dependence
makes it difficult for an individual to stop using narcotics.
Withdrawal effects from opiates
Withdrawal symptoms can be agitation, stomach cramps, exaggerated pain responses, muscle aches, flu
symptoms, vomiting, anxiety, and runny nose. In addition, artificial depression can periodically be
produced which disappears upon repetition of the dosage. An individual who is experiencing withdrawal
from opioid narcotics will undergo a series of unpleasant symptoms from agitation, sleep, cold and hot
flashed and more agitation. This peaks between 48 and 72 hours following the last dose of the drug
taken.
Risks of the abuse of opiates
Kristine Mitchell Opiate Fact Sheet
Risks of abuse of opiates can include: fatal overdose, infectious diseases like hepatitis or HIV/AIDS, and
collapsed veins. In addition, mental functioning can become clouded that can cause accidents when
using heavy machinery. Using opiates during pregnancy can cause spontaneous abortion, low birth
weight, and lack of prenatal care. An infant can be born addicted to narcotics if the mother is using and
the infant will experience painful withdrawal symptoms if not treated. Impurities in some opiate like
heroine can be an issue. Sometimes heroine is cut with Quinine, which can cause vascular damage,
heartbeat disturbances, coma, depression in reparation, and death. In addition, the variance in purity
can cause overdose if the individual user is not aware of its strength. Some designer opiates like
fentanyl’s have high potency and can cause fatal respiratory depression. MPTP, another designer form
of narcotics, can cause Parkinson’s symptoms.
Treatment approaches to opiate abuse
and dependence
Treatment modalities for opiate abuse include medications like, buprenorphine, Suboxone,
methadone. These medications suppress withdrawal effects and help detoxify an individual and
pave the way to continue with behavioral treatments. Rapid detox is another medication
oriented treatment that uses naltrexone under anesthesia to rapidly eliminate opiate drugs
from the system. These detoxifying treatments are only the first step in the process of
treatment for opiate abuse. Once detoxification is under control, the individual is ready to
engage in modification of behaviors and attitudes related to drug abuse. There are different
behavioral treatments that include multidimensional family therapy, motivational interviewing,
cognitive-behavioral therapy, and motivational incentives. These treatments include individual
or group drug counseling. In resident treatment programs are also available for the opiate
dependent individual. Typically these individuals will remain in residential treatment from 6 to
12 months and a community based approach to recovery is a key element of change.
Kristine Mitchell Opiate Fact Sheet
References
http://www.hopkins-arthritis.org/patient-corner/drugforms/narcotics.pdf
by Supporting Research on Prescription Pain Pill Addiction on Monday, December 6, 2010 at
3:01pm
http://addictionscience.net/ASNdrugs.htm#OpiateClass
http://drugsandwholeperson.tripod.com/id15.html
http://anesthesiageneral.com/therapeutic-uses-of-opioid-analgesics/
http://www.drugtext.org/library/books/adopiates/chapter2.htm
http://www.homedrugtestingkit.com/opiates.html
http://drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/PrescripDrugsChart.html
http://www.casapalmera.com/articles/nicknames-street-names-and-slang-for-heroin/
http://www.soberrecovery.com/alcoholdrugtreatment/article/drug-street-names/opium.html
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hydromorphone
http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/treatmeth.html