narcotic

1. Originally, any drug derived from opium or opium-like compounds with potent analgesic effects associated with both significant alteration of mood and behavior and potential for dependence and tolerance. 2. More recently, any drug, synthetic or naturally occurring, with effects similar to those of opium and opium derivatives, including meperidine and fentanyl and its derivatives. 3. Capable of inducing a state of stuporous analgesia. [G. narkotikos, benumbing]

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nar·cot·ic när-'kät-ik n

1) a drug (as codeine, methadone, or morphine) that in moderate doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep but in excessive doses causes stupor, coma, or convulsions

2) a drug (as marijuana or LSD) subject to restriction similar to that of addictive narcotics whether in fact physiologically addictive and narcotic or not

narcotic adj

1) having the properties of or yielding a narcotic

2) of, induced by, or concerned with narcotics

3) of, involving, or intended for narcotic addicts

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n.

a drug that induces stupor and insensibility and relieves pain. The term is used particularly for morphine and other derivatives of opium (see opiate) but is also applied to other drugs that depress brain function (e.g. general anaesthetics and hypnotics). In legal terms a narcotic is any addictive drug subject to illegal use. Narcotics (i.e. morphine and morphine-like drugs) have been largely replaced as sleeping drugs because of their ability to cause dependence and tolerance; they are still used for relief of severe pain (see analgesic).

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nar·cot·ic (nahr-kotґik) [Gr. narkōtikos benumbing, deadening] 1. pertaining to or producing narcosis. 2. an agent that produces insensibility or stupor, applied especially to the opioids, i.e., to any natural or synthetic drug that has actions like those of morphine.