Summary:
An overview of narcotic drugs, their history, and usage, including heroin, opium, morphine, methadone, and codeine.
Narcotics
Narcotics are one of several main classes of drugs. Among the classes are Stimulants, Depressants, Hallucinogens, Cannabis, Inhalants, club drugs, and steroids. Many of these drugs are used medically, but most people who do use drugs, abuse them for non medical reasons. Most of the drugs are addictive and ruin a lot of lives. Some people become dependent of the drug, which means relying on the drug to get you through the day. Most people, also, use an excessive amount.
There are many different types of narcotics, for example, Heroin, Opium, Morphine, Methadone and Codeine. Most of these drugs have "Street names" to avoid having to say the actual name when selling it illegally on the streets. Heroin is commonly called horse or smack, Opium is commonly called plant of joy or mawseed, Methadone is called "Done", and Morphine is mainly called "M." Most of these drugs are legal for medical use only, but most people abuse the drug and purchase it illegally. The one narcotic that is illegal is Heroine. Heroine has no healing or pain relieving affects.
Heroine was commercially marketed in 1898 as a new pain remedy; it was widely used in medicine in 1900's until it became a controlled substance in 1914 under the Harrison Narcotic Act. It is now one of the most commonly used and abused opiate. Methadone is commonly used to suppress narcotic withdrawal; it reduces the cravings for heroine and blocks the high for heroine. About 20% of 810,000 heroine addicts in the United States receive MMT (Methadone Treatment Association).
Different drugs have different effects on the body. For example Oxycotin causes insomnia, restlessness, diarrhea, vomiting and cold flashes. Methadone causes nausea, vomiting, muscle tremors, and slow, shallow breathing. Heroin causes coma, convulsions, and even death. All narcotics are addictive but may be treated. People may be physically or mentally dependent of the drug and not be able to go through the day with out the drug.
Drugs can be taken in a variety of ways. Most narcotics are talking orally but some aren't. Heroin may be taken by snorting, smoking, or injecting. Oxycotin can be swallowed, snorted, or injected. Methadone can be either injected or swallowed. Injecting heroin or oxycotin can lead to diseases other than the ones just listed for the drug. The needle may not be sterile or be infected with someone else's blood and you may extract HIV or AIDS. So taking a drug may not be harmful but the way you take it can be harmful.
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