Question

How do narcotic drugs affect the body?

Answer 1

Narcotic opioids act on specific opioid receptors in the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.

Effects on the body

1. They relieve pain and may reduce anxiety and tension.
2. They can produce drowsiness, lethargy and a feeling of well-being; they may also lower blood pressure and slow breathing.
3. Repeated use can cause tolerance, so larger doses are needed for the same effect, and may lead to physical and psychological dependence.
4. When use is stopped, withdrawal symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhoea, shivering, sweating and abdominal or muscle cramps.
5. An overdose can suppress breathing and cause death. Unsafe injection practices can also spread infections such as hepatitis and AIDS.

Narcotic drugs can relieve pain when medically supervised, but misuse and dependence can cause severe illness or death.