All narcotics are derived from opium and are called either opiates or opioids. Narcotic painkillers used in today's medicine consist of the opioid family, and are legally available through prescription from a doctor. The most common of these forms of legal medications include meperidine, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and codeine. Heroin and opium are two forms of opiates that are illegal in the United States. While opiates have many valid medical uses, they also are highly addictive, which means they tend to be prescribed for short periods.
Pain Suppression
The therapeutic effect of opiates primarily is relieving pain. They block the receptor pain sites in the brain and relax the person receiving the medication. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opiates are used to relieve pain but have a high potential addictive effect linked to abuse. The pain relieved can be chronic or acute depending on the needs of the patient. Physicians typically prescribe opiates in the treatment of severe pain.
Cough Suppression
Codeine is a medication used not only for pain, but also to help relax the muscles in the throat that can suppress a nagging cough. Codeine works in this fashion to relax the smooth muscles in the throat which suppresses the cough and allows the person to rest. Codeine, like other opiates, also depresses the central nervous system's reaction to pain, which can help decrease severe pain associated with an irritated chest.
Therapeutic Palliative Effects
The therapeutic palliative effect of opiates is useful in the treatment of chronic illnesses such as degenerative spine disease, cancer and autonomic nervous system diseases. Its therapeutic effects assist the person to relax and to decrease negative effects of the disease. Opiates treat cancer victims who are in the end stages of their disease. Agonizing pain is relived with opiate treatment and the person dies without as much pain and suffering.
Other Effects
Heroin users who inject themselves intravenously describe a euphoric rush associated with its use. The heroin user also finds himself with some of the not-so-pleasant effects of this drug such as restlessness, vomiting and nausea. If the heroin user injects too much heroin, death may occur from the overdose. The physical effects of taking heroin include slowed breathing, smaller pupils and cold moist skin, which turns a bluish color.
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