Narcotics and depressants are two types of drugs that have legitimate medical uses but are also highly abusive. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) states that some abusers start using these medications for pain or anxiety but increase the dosage "by obtaining the drug through fraudulent prescriptions and 'doctor shopping' or branching out to illicit drugs." Narcotics and depressants do vary greatly from each other, especially in the effects they have on the body.
Administration
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) notes that depressants and narcotics have different forms of administration. The five main forms of depressants---barbiturates, methaqualone, tranquilizers, chloral hydrate and glutethimide---are all taken orally. While some narcotics, such as opium, morphine, codeine, hydromorphone, meperidine and methadone, are taken orally, other narcotics have other forms of administration. Opium, morphine and heroin can be smoked, while morphine, codeine, heroin, hydromorphone, meperidine and methadone can be injected. Heroin can also be sniffed.
Dependency
Both narcotics and depressants have a high level of psychological and physical dependency. SAMHSA notes that opium, methadone, morphine, heroin, hydromorphone and meperidine have both high physical and psychological dependency, while codeine has moderate physical and psychological dependency. Depressants, however, have a more mixed level of dependency. Methaqualone and tranquilizers have high physical and psychological dependency, while chloral hydrate has moderate physical and psychological dependency. Barbiturates and glutethimide both have high physical dependency but moderate psychological dependency.
Therapeutic Effects
Each type of drug has a different effect on the user's body. The DEA states that depressants are used to help a person sleep and can also reduce stress and anxiety. Barbiturates also cause an effect similar to alcohol intoxication. Narcotics, on the other hand, are used to relieve pain, coughing and diarrhea, though they can also reduce tension, anxiety and aggression.
Duration
SAMHSA states that most narcotics have a duration of between three and six hours per dose, though methadone can last longer, between 12 and 24 hours. The organization adds that depressants have a duration of between four and eight hours, except for chloral hydrate, which lasts between five and eight hours, and barbiturates, which have a range from one hour to 16 hours.
Withdrawal Signs
When a user stops taking either depressants or narcotics, the person can experience withdrawal effects. Withdrawal signs of depressants include anxiety, insomnia and muscle tremors, though SAMHSA notes that sudden withdrawal can cause delirium or death. Withdrawal signs of narcotics include watery eyes, irritability, nausea and tremors.
