The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
The term narcotic comes from a Greek word that means "to make numb." Its history as an English word begins in the fourteenth century. At that time and for several more centuries, the term referred to drugs that provide relief from pain and put a person into a stupor. These analgesic (painkilling) drugs were opium and other opiate/opioid substances (which contain opium).
During the nineteenth century, the meaning of narcotics changed to include a wider range of drugs. By the turn of the twentieth century, any drug that can lead to addiction, from heroin to cocaine, was called a narcotic. During the twentieth century, narcotics became an even less exact term. Legally, the term refers to drugs that can lead to abuse and addiction. Many drugs are subject to legal restrictions as "addictive narcotics." However, not all drugs nowadays called narcotics cause addiction. In addition, not all drugs called narcotics have painkilling effects. Although the media and the general public still use the term, scientists no longer use it in their discussions and studies of drugs.