What are Narcotic Drugs?
Narcotics are medications that attach to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord to block or lessen pain. Narcotics have a wide range of medical applications. They're extremely efficient painkillers for persons with cancer or other serious illnesses, and they also aid in the recovery of those suffering from post-surgical pain. The problem is that opioids are more prone to induce a psychological disorder called addiction since they can cause tremendous emotions of euphoria. In reality, most cases of illicit drug users begin with prescriptions for various forms of opiates, according to studies.
Narcotics are chemicals and preparations that cause sleepiness, sleep, stupor, insensibility, and other similar symptoms, and that these effects (and their frequency) are difficult to show, for example, in court. As a result, the legal definition of a narcotic is whether or not it is classified in the Convention's Schedules. It's a narcotic if it's on one of the Schedules.
The term "narcotic" is thought to have been coined by the Greek physician Galen to describe substances that numb or deaden the body, producing paralysis or lack of feeling. It is derived from the Greek word v (narcosis), which Hippocrates used to describe the process of numbing or the numbed state. The main examples given by Galen were mandrake root, seeds, and poppy fluid (opium). It used to mean anything that alleviated pain, dimmed the senses, or made you sleepy. The phrase is now used in a variety of contexts. Some people define narcotics as compounds that bind to opioid receptors (cellular membrane proteins activated by drugs like heroin or morphine), while others consider any illegal substance to be a narcotic.
Types of Narcotic Drugs
Although all narcotics work in the same way in general, it's important to note that there are different sorts of narcotics.
Natural Opium Derivatives - Natural narcotics are narcotic medications that are derived from the poppy plant. Morphine and codeine are two of them.
Partially Synthetic - Narcotic medications produced from morphine fall within this category. Heroin, oxycodone, hydromorphone, and oxymorphone are among them.
Synthetic Compounds - These medications are made in a similar way to morphine in terms of structure.
Narcotic Drugs List
The Drug Enforcement Agency categorises all substances into one of five categories, ranging from I to V. There are no licit medicinal uses for Schedule I substances, and they all have a very high rate of psychological addiction. Heroin is classified as a Schedule I substance. The majority of the remaining narcotics are classed as Schedule II substances, which are authorised to take with a prescription but have a significant risk of addiction. Depending on the dosage strength in milligrammes, codeine is categorised as a Schedule III, IV, or V substance. The list of semi-synthetic and synthetic medications generated from morphine is nearly unlimited, however, we've compiled a list of the most popular narcotics below.
Vicodin (is a narcotic pain reliever, commonly known as hydrocodone)
Methadone
Dilaudid (is a drug that is used to treat pain, commonly known as hydromorphone)
Demerol (is a drug that is used to treat depression, meperidine)
OxyContin (is a narcotic pain reliever, commonly known as oxycodone)
Fentanyl
Examples of Narcotic Drugs
Some examples of drugs are as follows-
Codeine, dextropropoxyphene, dihydrocodeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, ketobemidone, morphine, oxycodone, pethidine, tilidine and trimeperidine.
Narcotic Drugs Act
In India, there were no regulations controlling narcotics until the NDPS Act was implemented in 1985. The Atharva Veda mentions cannabis smoking, and its recreational use was prevalent and tolerated in society, on par with alcohol consumption. Cannabis and its derivatives, including hashish, marijuana, and bhang, were legal in the country until 1985.
The NDPS Act was passed in order for India to meet its treaty responsibilities under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
In India, drug usage is a major socio-economic issue, and the government is pursuing a number of steps to reduce drug demand and improve drug addicts' reintegration into society.
As previously stated, the Act has been changed three times. Essential Narcotic Drugs (Morphine, Fentanyl, and Methadone) were made more available for use in pain treatment and palliative care following the 2014 amendment.
Narcotic drugs are defined as coca leaf, cannabis (hemp), opium, and poppy straw, whereas psychotropic substances are defined as any natural or synthetic material, as well as any salt or preparation protected by the 1971 Psychotropic Substances Convention.
Any natural or manufactured material, as well as any salt or preparation protected by the Psychotropic Substances Convention of 1971, is considered a psychotropic drug. Given the implications of drug usage and trafficking, the penalties imposed by this Act are harsh.
The Act carries penalties that range from one year to twenty years in prison and a fine, depending on the crime.
Abetment, criminal conspiracy, and even efforts to commit an infraction are all punishable under the Act in the same way as the offence itself.
Preparing to commit an offence carries a half-penalty.
Repeat offences carry a one-and-a-half-time sentence, as well as the death penalty in some situations.
Property acquired by a person who has been convicted of drug-related offences can be confiscated, frozen, and forfeited by the government under the Act. All offences under the NDPS Act are not punishable by a fine. Furthermore, drug convicts cannot seek relief through the termination, remission, or commutation of their sentences.
Non-Narcotic Drugs
Non-narcotic analgesics are pain relievers that do not include opiates. They are accessible without a prescription at drugstores or with a prescription at greater doses. Some of these drugs can be given during surgery to help with post-operative pain and reduce the need for opioids.
Narcotic Drugs Effects
Doctors administer narcotics/opioids to relieve pain, suppress coughs, cure diarrhoea, and put individuals to sleep. The dose, how it's taken, and past exposure to the medicine all have a role in the effects. Slower physical activity, constricted pupils, flushing of the face and neck, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and slowed breathing are some of the negative symptoms.
Both the pain alleviation and the negative consequences grow more obvious when the dose is increased. Some of these medicines are so powerful that even a single dose can kill an untrained user. There is no loss of motor coordination or slurred speech, especially in extreme situations of intoxication.
FAQs on Narcotic Drugs
1. What are narcotic drugs and how do they function?
Narcotic drugs, also known as opioid analgesics, are substances that relieve pain by binding to specific opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. This action blocks pain signals from reaching the brain. They can be derived from natural sources, like the opium poppy, or created synthetically in a lab. While highly effective for severe pain, they also produce a sense of euphoria, which contributes to their high potential for addiction.
2. What are some common examples of narcotic drugs?
Narcotic drugs are classified based on their origin and chemical structure. Common examples include:
- Natural Narcotics: Morphine and Codeine, derived directly from the opium poppy.
- Semi-Synthetic Narcotics: Heroin, Oxycodone, and Hydromorphone, which are created by chemically modifying natural opiates.
- Synthetic Narcotics: Fentanyl, Methadone, and Pethidine, which are entirely man-made in laboratories but mimic the effects of natural opiates.
3. How do narcotic analgesics differ from non-narcotic analgesics?
The primary difference lies in their mechanism of action and effects. Narcotic analgesics (e.g., morphine) are potent painkillers that act on the central nervous system and are addictive. In contrast, non-narcotic analgesics (e.g., aspirin, paracetamol) are less potent, non-addictive, and often have anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing properties. They work by inhibiting the synthesis of chemicals called prostaglandins, which cause pain and inflammation.
4. Why are narcotic drugs considered highly addictive?
Narcotic drugs are highly addictive because, in addition to blocking pain, they activate the brain's reward pathways, causing intense feelings of euphoria and well-being. The brain seeks to repeat this pleasurable experience, leading to psychological dependence. Over time, the body also develops a tolerance, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect, which can quickly lead to physical dependence and addiction.
5. What are the main medical uses for narcotic drugs?
Despite their risks, narcotics have crucial medical applications under strict supervision. As per the CBSE 2025-26 syllabus, their primary uses include:
- Managing moderate to severe pain, such as post-surgical pain and pain associated with cancer.
- Serving as a cough suppressant (antitussive), with codeine being a common example.
- Treating severe diarrhoea.
- Use in anaesthesia to induce and maintain sleep during surgery.
6. What is the difference between natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic narcotics?
The classification is based on their origin:
- Natural narcotics are alkaloids derived directly from the opium poppy plant. Examples include morphine and codeine.
- Semi-synthetic narcotics are created in a lab by chemically altering natural opium alkaloids. Heroin, for instance, is made from morphine.
- Synthetic narcotics are completely created in a laboratory and are not derived from opium at all, though they have a similar structure and function. Examples include fentanyl and methadone.
7. What are the key symptoms of a narcotic drug overdose?
A narcotic overdose is a medical emergency. The key physical symptoms to watch for include:
- Extremely small or 'pinpoint' pupils.
- Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing.
- Cold and clammy skin.
- Extreme drowsiness or loss of consciousness.
- Confusion and convulsions.
8. What is the importance of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 in India?
The NDPS Act, 1985 is a critical piece of Indian legislation that aims to control and regulate narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Its main importance is to prohibit the production, sale, purchase, transport, or consumption of these substances without a valid license or prescription. This law allows India to fulfill its international treaty obligations to combat drug trafficking and abuse while still permitting essential medical and scientific use under strict government control.
