Narcotics

Narcotics are addictive drugs that reduce pain, alter mood and behavior, and usually induce sleep or stupor. There are natural and synthetic narcotics. However, in recent times it is used to mean opioids and addictive, illegal drugs in general, not just those with the capacity for inducing sleep. For instance, methamphetamines or cocaine are often referred to as “narcotics”.

A Wide Variety of Narcotics

Widely known drugs with narcotic properties include opiates such as Oxycontin, which is a highly addictive painkiller. Many people become addicted to it and other narcotic painkillers like it after undergoing surgery and having it prescribed. Other drugs like Oxycontin are Lortab, Percocet, and Vicodin. While taking these medications as prescribed, to ease severe or even moderate pain, will not always result in addiction, taking them for other reasons, or for a longer time than is necessary, may. If a patient still has concerns about addiction, they may want to take non-narcotic medications and reserve the narcotics only for when the pain is truly severe.

The numbness brought on by opiates is not limited to physical pain. Narcotics can often provide a feeling of comfort from emotional or psychological trauma. This trauma may include that which was suffered during an injury, or anxieties that arise from being ill or disabled. Most of all, they can help to ease the fear of the pain itself. This comfort can become addictive. When taking the drug, individuals may feel anything from emotional distance from their problems to euphoria, the feeling of being “high”, in other words.

Fighting Addiction to Narcotics with Rehabilitation Help

Those addicted to narcotics will have to undergo rehabilitation in order to recover. Rehabilitation involves giving the client the ability to stop abusing their painkiller of choice. This will involve going through withdrawal and getting the psychological and emotional treatment necessary to overcome all aspects of the addiction.

For more information about narcotics, addiction treatment options, or to find a treatment facility, please contact one of our highly skilled professionals today.