NARCOTICS
[ Pictures ]What Is a Narcotic?
A narcotic, medically, is any drug that produces sleep or stupor and relieves pain due to its depressant effect on the central nervous system. Included in this medical definition are opium, opium derivatives (morphine, heroin, codeine) and synthetic opiates (methadone, demerole, oxycodone).
Legally, the term means: any drug defmed as such by Philippine or international narcotic laws. In the United Nations treaty on narcotics, it embraces Cannabis Sativa L (marijuana), coca leaf and cocaine, sedatives and stimulants.
The term "narcotic" comes from the Greek word for sleep, narkotikos.
How Do Narcotics Work?
Narcotics work on the central nervous system: the brain and spinal cord. The effect is: they decrease or numb a patient's perception of pain, alter his psychological reaction associated with pain, induce lethargy or sleep.
Morphine is the standard or yardstick by which other narcotics are evaluated.
What Are Narcotics' Medical Uses?
Narcotics are the best pain relievers yet known to man. They are, in fact, commonly called "painkillers." They are, as such, among the most valuable drugs available to physicians.
cough and control diarrhea. In these cure's, narcotics are usually combined with codeine or paregoric.
CAUTION: The physician who uses narcotics over a long period of time in treating' a patient must balance the beneficial, pain-killing effects against the possibility of establishing addiction or, in medical language, "physical dependence."
What is Narcotic Addition?
Narcotic addiction is 2 combination of physical dependence, psychological habituation and body tolerance resulting from abuse or misuse of narcotic drugs. What they mean:
Physical Dependence: the result of an alteration in a narcotic abuser's central nervous system, causing him acute physical pains when he stops use of the drug. He is compelled to keep taking the drug, not because he necessarily wants to but to avoid the pains.
Psychological Habituation: an emotional desire, craving or compulsion to obtain and experience the effects of a narcotic drug. The drug gives him euphoria (sense of well-being) and provides him with a daydreamy escape from reality, though briefly. He keeps looking for this narcotic "high," making it a habit.
Body Tolerance: physical adaptation to a narcotic drug, making successive doses produce lesser effects and, therefore, a tendency in the user to keep increasing the dosage.
Heroin, it has been shown, can' "hook" or make a user an addict with the first "fix" (injection). In any case, a heroin abuser can become a hopeless addict within a week.
Right behind heroin in addiction potency are: morphine, the opiates.
Why Are Narcotics Abused?
The appeal of narcotics to abusers lies in their ability to:
- Produce euphoria, a sense of daydreamy, other-worldly well-being - free from cares and worries.
- Dull fear, anxiety and tension.
- Reduce sensitivity to psychological and physical stimuli.
To many addicts, it is: a way to escape facing life.
It becomes, however, the main object of their iiYeL They give up studies, families, jobs for the drug and, thereby become family and society's dregs.
Under the influence of narcotics and the synthetic opiates, a person is indifferent to his environment and personal situation. For example: a pregnant addict will continue heroin abuse despite knowledge her baby will likewise be addicted and probably die shortly after birth.
The price paid for abuse is high: physical addiction and psychological habituation come quickly, within a week of heroin or morphine abuse generally.
What Are a Narcotic's Effects?
A few seconds after a heroin or morphine injection, the addict's face flushes, his pupils constrict, and he feels a tingling sensation. He enjoys a sense of relief; release from worry and buoyant well-being, plus: a sense of increased efficiency.
The narcotic "high" is so great that, as its pleasant effect subsides, the abuser is impelled by an irresistible urge to refuel it with another "fix" (injection).
If a length of time passes and he does not get another dose, the "junkie" or addict becomes anxious and nervous, which is soon followed by "withdrawal sickness": initially, yawning, sneezing, sweating, tremors, running nose, watery eyes; then, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions.
How Does a 'Junkie' Look?
A "junk" or narcotic first4imer shows symptoms, like: nausea, vomiting, pallor, sweating and itching. His eyelids droop slightly; he blinks frequently.
A longtime dope addict neglects his physical cleanliness. His skin is pallid, infected with rashes. He sweats a clammy sweat. He gives a body stench. He suffers continuous constipation. His pupils remain constricted, like a pinpointed light.
In boh cases, a person on heroin or morphene shows: an "awareness" or pleasant daydreamy look. The edges of reality are dulled by the drug for him; his hunger, thirst and sex drives are reduced, if not deadened. With "the stuff", he is "normal".
Other telltale signs: burnt fingertips, swollen hands and fingers, fast walking, drowsiness, restlessness, body stench, stooped posture, easily upset stomach, watery eyes, running nose, needle marks on arms and body, puncture sores on arms and legs, disregard for oters.
The dope addict is physical, mental and moral wreck.
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