While narcotics technically cover any class of drugs with a high abuse/addiction potential, narcotics are most commonly associated with the opiate class of drugs. Opiates come in many forms, some of which include-

• Heroin
• Codeine
• Demerol
• Opium
• Dilaudid

Opiates work by attaching to pain receptors in the brain, blocking pain signals and causing a rapid increase in the levels of dopamine, a critical neurotransmitter involved in the reward pathway.

Over time, repeated use causes a decrease in the body’s normal production of dopamine. For this reason, individuals who abuse opiates can quickly develop tolerance, which means it takes more of the substance to get the desired effects or even dependence, which means that the body needs the opiates to function normally.

Feelings of Calm & Well Being

In addition to pain-relieving properties, opiates also produce feelings of euphoria. Euphoria describes a pleasurable sense of well-being. Because these substances make people “feel good,” some individuals continue to use despite negative consequences.

Sedative Effects

Additionally, opiates produce sedative effects. This sedation occurs because opiates bind to μ-opioid receptors in the brainstem that are responsible for wakefulness and arousal. By binding to these sites, the excitability of the central nervous system is decreased. Furthermore, opiates decrease adenosine levels in certain brain regions that help to regulate arousal and waking states.

When opiates are combined with other central nervous system depressants, such as alcohol or benzodiazepines, their effects can be severely intensified, dramatically increasing the risk of overdose.

Tolerance Level Changes

The longer a person takes a narcotic drug, the more accustomed the brain becomes to its effects. Over time, cell receptor sites lose their sensitivity to the drug, so larger doses are needed to produce the same desired effects.

As a side effect of opiate use, tolerance level changes become the driving force behind abusive drug practices. Without even knowing it, a person starts taking increasingly larger doses as normal brain chemistry is disrupted. This effect, in particular, paves the way for addiction to develop.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Short-term narcotic side effects can vary depending on how long a person uses the drug. After prolonged use, side effects start to take the form of withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms indicate the brain has become physically addicted to the drug.

Withdrawal symptoms experienced include –

• Anxiety or depression
• Extreme agitation, restlessness or irritability
• Sweating, chills or goose-bumps
• Runny nose, watery eyes or yawning
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Muscle aches and pains
• Insomnia
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Intense cravings

Chemical Imbalances in the Brain

Ongoing narcotic use has a cumulative effect on brain chemical processes. With each successive dose, the brain’s chemical levels skew further and further out of balance.

The more imbalanced the chemical levels become, the more the brain requires the effects of the drug to function normally. Over time, short-term narcotic side effects cause continuous damage to brain cell structures and brain functions as chemical imbalances become progressively worse.

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