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Narcotic
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<p>The term narcotic originally referred medically to any <a href="/facts/Psychoactive_drug/dNXrUmsx">psychoactive</a> compound with numbing or paralyzing properties. In the United States, it has since become associated with <a href="/facts/Opiates/IHfQkMkU">opiates</a> and <a href="/facts/Opioids/EGnE2x99">opioids</a>, commonly <a href="/facts/Morphine/8ngpXHDc">morphine</a> and <a href="/facts/Heroin/rYwrKHPk">heroin</a>, as well as <a href="/facts/Derivative_(chemistry)/JYcbLkbm">derivatives</a> of many of the compounds found within raw opium latex. The primary three are <a href="/facts/Morphine/8ngpXHDc">morphine</a>, <a href="/facts/Codeine/lr7WHXmX">codeine</a>, and <a href="/facts/Thebaine/Jvu7PDmK">thebaine</a> (while thebaine itself is only very mildly psychoactive, it is a crucial precursor in the vast majority of semi-synthetic opioids, such as <a href="/facts/Oxycodone/mv95L2c7">oxycodone</a> or <a href="/facts/Hydrocodone/PjvCI4wN">hydrocodone</a>). </p><p>Legally speaking, the term "narcotic" may be imprecisely defined and typically has negative connotations. When used in a legal context in the U.S., a narcotic drug is totally prohibited, such as <a href="/facts/Heroin/rYwrKHPk">heroin</a>, or one that is used in violation of legal regulation (in this <a href="/facts/Word_sense/9IR1286V">word sense</a>, equal to any <a href="/facts/Controlled_substance/Hx9cKG4f">controlled substance</a> or <a href="/facts/Illicit_drug/eaTugrky">illicit drug</a>). </p><p>In the medical community, the term is more precisely defined and generally does not carry the same negative connotations. </p><p>Statutory classification of a drug as a narcotic often increases the penalties for violation of drug control statutes. For example, although U.S. federal law classifies both <a href="/facts/Cocaine/rdQP4zwF">cocaine</a> and <a href="/facts/Amphetamine/yKIpLJ9E">amphetamines</a> as "Schedule II" drugs, the penalty for possession of cocaine is greater than the penalty for possession of amphetamines because cocaine, unlike amphetamines, is classified as a narcotic. </p><p>Research acknowledges that alcohol can have similar effects to narcotics in <a href="/facts/Head_injury/KvqnqIbG">head</a> or <a href="/facts/Chest_injury/h3x1yYuw">trunk trauma</a> situations. </p>