Narcotics are drugs with morphine-like effects that in moderate doses relieves pain and induces deep sleep. Examples of narcotics include morphine, laudanum, and heroin, as well as Oxycontin and a variety of other pharmaceuticals.
A looser usage of the word "narcotic" to refer to any illegal or unlawfully possessed drug including marijuana and cocaine is common worldwide, although these substances are not considered narcotics in a medical or scientific context. In a U.S. legal context, the term "narcotic" specifically refers to opium, opium derivatives, and their semi-synthetic or fully synthetic substitutes, as well as cocaine and coca leaves. Because the term is often used so broadly or pejoratively outside of medical contexts, most medical professionals advocate the use of more precise terms such as "opioids".
