What are narcotics?

Strictly speaking: Narcotics are any medications that cause sedation. We typically use this term specifically with opiates like morphine and demerol (meperidine hydrochloride).

Narcotics: The use of the word narcotic implies illegal use of medications or illicit substances that produce narcosis - a state of sleep or benumbing. The correct term is opioids for medication used for pain relief.

Pain medications: In general terms, we typically use the word 'narcotic' to describe a drug which acts on the central nervous system to produce various effects. Most often, narcotics are taken for pain relief because they act on certain receptors in the brain that help block pain. Long-term usage can cause serious physical and mental dependence and must be avoided.