• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Alcohol Addiction
    • Alcohol Addiction
    • Alcohol Detox
    • Alcohol Rehab
    • Alcoholism, Addiction And Recovery
    • Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
    • Get Help For Alcohol Addiction
    • Alcohol & Alcoholism
    • Stop Drinking Alcohol
    • Alcohol Detox At Home
    • Counselling For Alcohol Addiction
    • Alcohol Drinks Journal
    • Alcohol Units Guide
  • Drug Addiction
    • Drug Addiction
      • Drug Detox
      • Drug Rehab
    • Cocaine Addiction
      • Cocaine Detox
      • Cocaine Rehab
    • Cannabis Addiction
      • Cannabis Detox
      • Cannabis Rehab
    • Heroin Addiction
      • Heroin Detox
      • Heroin Rehab
    • Amphetamine Addiction
    • Crack Addiction
    • Crystal Meth Addiction
    • GHB Addiction
    • Ketamine Addiction
    • Mephedrone Addiction
    • Prescription Drug Addiction
    • Steroid Addiction
  • Helping Others
    • Help For My Addicted Husband
    • Help For My Wife
    • Help For My Son
    • Help For A Loved One
    • Help For My Daughter
    • Help For A Work Colleague
    • Help For A Friend
    • Help For Myself
  • Our Rehab Locations
  • Online Rehab Options
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Help 4 Addiction Logo

Help 4 Addiction

Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation

Trustpilot

Call Us: 0203 955 7700

Get Rehab Prices Start Your Consultation
  • Alcohol Addiction
        • Alcohol Addiction
        • Alcohol Detox
        • Alcohol Rehab
        • Alcoholism, Addiction And Recovery
        • Get Help For Alcohol Addiction
        • Alcohol & Alcoholism
        • Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
        • Stop Drinking Alcohol
        • Alcohol Detox At Home
        • Counselling For Alcohol Addiction
        • Alcohol Drinks Journal
        • Alcohol Units Guide
  • Drug Addiction
        • Drug Addiction
          • Drug Detox
          • Drug Rehab
        • Cocaine Addiction
          • Cocaine Detox
          • Cocaine Rehab
        • Cannabis Addiction
          • Cannabis Detox
          • Cannabis Rehab
        • Heroin Addiction
          • Heroin Detox
          • Heroin Rehab
        • Amphetamine Addiction
        • Crack Addiction
        • Crystal Meth Addiction
        • GHB Addiction
        • Ketamine Addiction
        • Mephedrone Addiction
        • Prescription Drug Addiction
        • Steroid Addiction
  • Helping Others
        • Help For My Addicted Husband
        • Help For My Wife
        • Help For A Friend
        • Help For My Son
        • Help For My Daughter
        • Help For A Work Colleague
        • Help For A Loved One
        • Help For Myself
  • Our Rehab Locations
  • Online Rehab Options
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Narcotics Addiction – Symptoms, Side Effects, How to Get Treatment & Rehab

What This Page Covers show
Seek a rehab referral, find out about detox, and learn about narcotic treatment timelines all in one place.
What is a Narcotic Substance?
What is Narcotic Addiction?
What do Narcotic Drugs do to you?
Are they addictive?
What are the different types of Narcotic Substances in the UK?
How are Narcotic Drugs Used?
Narcotic Use Statistics, UK
The Signs Someone You Love is Using Narcotics
Are you an Enabler?
Symptoms of Narcotic Abuse
Physical Symptoms
Mental and Emotional Symptoms
Long Term Health Problems Associated with Narcotic Drug Abuse
How Narcotic Drug Addictions are Treated?
Detoxing from Narcotics
Rehab for Narcotic Addiction
Transitioning Back to Normal Life
The Causes of Narcotic Drug Addiction
Treatment Timeline for Narcotic Drug Addiction
The Cost of Rehab
Free Consultation for Narcotic Addiction
Where to get rehab help?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a narcotic?
Why do people get addicted to narcotics?
How do narcotic drugs work?
Are Narcotic drugs illegal?
My doctor has stopped my tramadol prescription, what do I do?
How do you take narcotic drugs?
What are the side effects of narcotic addiction?
Can you overdose from narcotic drugs?
Is tramadol an opiate?
I just want morphine for the pain – am I an addict?

Last updated on April 14th, 2022 at 10:53 am

Seek a rehab referral, find out about detox, and learn about narcotic treatment timelines all in one place.


*This page was medically reviewed by Dr Robert Lefever in April 2021.

Narcotic drug addiction is a problem plaguing our society, the world over. From America to the USSR, we are struggling to combat our addictions to painkillers. Narcotic drug abuse is killing as many as 70,000 of us annually. In America, the CDC have gone so far as to label the problem ‘an epidemic’ and it’s no better here in the UK[i].

How can we spot a narcotic addiction in a loved one? How can we get treatment before we overdose? This page will explore all there is to know about narcotic drug addiction, so you can be forewarned and forearmed.

What is a Narcotic Substance?

Narcotics (Painkillers) are often prescribed initially by a doctor to treat pain a patient might be experiencing. If you or a loved one is suffering from a narcotics addiction, it can have long-lasting health effects. If your problem is with opioids, then we have a specific page that can help you.

Although we will use the term narcotic drugs to describe groups such as opioids and other painkillers, the technical definition of a narcotic substance is any drug that influences your mood, but especially those that are sold illegally[ii].

What is Narcotic Addiction?

Being addicted to narcotic drugs is the same as any other addiction. You use them and get a small high, so you use them again to attain that high. When you use them a second time, you find you need more of the drug so that you can achieve the same level of high. You build a tolerance to it so that the third time you use, you need even more. This eventually leads to accidental overdoses and deaths.

 

What do Narcotic Drugs do to you?

For the most part, narcotics prevent pain. They work through binding themselves to your nervous system’s pain receptors, which blocks the pain signals. A lot of people are prescribed narcotics by their doctor when they have been experiencing a form of severe pain and other types of pain relievers are not effective. This may have happened to you, which may have led you on a path to addiction. This is what happens with a lot of people. 

There are both legal and illegal narcotics. The most common illegal narcotics are opium, heroin, and any medications that are taken outside of the doctor’s prescription recommendations.

Are they addictive?

The short answer to this question is yes. A lot of people start out taking narcotics because they have been prescribed by their doctor. However, rather than stopping when they are meant to, they keep taking them whenever they have small aches and pains, or on a continual basis to feel better. This can spiral out of control, which is how addiction can take over. 

What are the different types of Narcotic Substances in the UK?

Some narcotics that are legal, so long as they are taken according to the prescription recommendations of your doctor, are as follows:

  • Tramadol
  • Morphine
  • Methadone
  • Meperidine
  • Hydromorphone
  • Hydrocodone 
  • Fentanyl
  • Codeine[iii] 

Illegal narcotics include any of the above which have not been obtained with a prescription. Other commonly used narcotic drugs include heroin and opium.

How are Narcotic Drugs Used?

The way you use a narcotic drug depends on many factors. If you have a prescription, your doctor probably won’t suggest that you inject a narcotic. If you don’t have a prescription, injection is the main way of taking heroin.

As a result, most narcotics are taken orally. A few are ground up and sniffed, but most are taken like regular medications.

Narcotic Use Statistics, UK 

We know from experience that the number of people who have misused drugs in the UK numbers greater than 4 million[iv] of us. Of that four million, some 240 deaths each year are related to tramadol specifically. With tramadol being one of the most common prescribed opioid pain drugs, you can see how narcotics are influencing our society. Of the other opiates commonly prescribed by the doctor, the Office of National Statistics[v] report that there are an average of 300 deaths each year due to overdose.

The ONS also inform us that a little over 5% of all UK adults have misused a prescription painkiller that wasn’t written for them. Unfortunately, those of us with genuine painful conditions that need the medication are those most in danger from developing an addiction.

The Signs Someone You Love is Using Narcotics

If you are worried that someone you love is addicted to painkillers, it is a good idea to look out for some of the signs that indicate that this is the case. Some signs of this include…

  • Poor decision making, i.e., putting herself or himself, or others, in danger
  • Seeking the same prescription from several different doctors because they want a ‘back-up’ supply
  • Losing medication so that more prescriptions can be written
  • Borrowing medication from other people
  • Changes in sleep patterns
  • Mood swings, including excessive swings, from hostility to elation
  • Taking painkillers when they are not in pain ‘just in case’
  • Regularly taking an opioid in a way not intended by the doctor[vi] 

Are you an Enabler?

If you are giving prescription painkillers to someone in your family, or to a friend or loved one, you are putting them in danger. They could have an allergy to the meds, or the doctor could have avoided prescribing them their own due to addiction. Don’t be an enabler. Don’t share your prescription medication with anyone.

Symptoms of Narcotic Abuse

There are a few symptoms of being on narcotics that might help you spot an addiction and save a loved one. We have divided them into the physical and the mental and emotional symptoms, below.

Physical Symptoms

Some of the physical symptoms of a narcotic addiction include:

  •       Tremors
  •       Enlarged Pupils
  •       Sweating and shaking
  •       Diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting
  •       Rapid breathing when at rest
  •       Yawning
  •       A runny nose or flu-like symptoms that persist
  •       Respiratory distress which can prove fatal

Mental and Emotional Symptoms

Similarly, there are some mental and emotional symptoms that your loved one is using narcotics. These might be:

  •       Loss of appetite
  •       Confusion
  •       Irritability
  •       Anxiety
  •       Depression
  •       Aggression
  •       Hallucinations
  •       Paranoia

Long Term Health Problems Associated with Narcotic Drug Abuse

If you don’t tackle your narcotic drug abuse, the long term effects can become extremely harmful. As with any psycho-active substance, you might expect to fall into psychosis if you keep up the drug use. Severe mental health problems may follow.

One study[vii] found that 43 different research papers connected chronic opioid use to the following areas of concern in the systems of the body: the gastrointestinal system, the Central Nervous System, the cardiovascular system, the endocrine system, and the immune system. Long term opioid use was directly connected to sleep disorders, stomach problems, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysregulation, fractures, breathing difficulties, and eventually overdose.

If you keep using narcotics they will eventually lead to your death. The only other option is to get off the drugs as soon as you can.

How Narcotic Drug Addictions are Treated?

If you are wondering how to beat narcotics addiction, you have already taken one of the most important steps; you’ve begun searching for information. There is no denying that overcoming any sort of drug addiction can be exceedingly difficult. However, it can be even more difficult when you try to do this on your own. There are withdrawal symptoms that need to be managed and there are things that are going to be happening that you may not understand.

Detoxing from Narcotics

Going through detox for a narcotic drug is difficult but it is the first step of recovery. For heroin and other opioids, it can take up to two weeks before you stop feeling fluish.

Symptoms of narcotic addiction withdrawal you can expect to endure in rehab include aches and pains, sweats and shakes, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and an upset stomach. If you do not opt for a medically assisted detox and decide to get off drugs at home, you risk hallucinations, psychotic episodes, seizures, and even cardiac arrest[viii].

Put simply: do not try and detox from narcotics without medical supervision. You might die.

Rehab for Narcotic Addiction

Rehab clinics are there to help your recovery. They facilitate this by offering therapy treatments and techniques which get to the root of your addiction and pull it out. Some therapies used will include group therapy, talking therapies, and even holistic approaches such as art therapy.

Transitioning Back to Normal Life

When you are ready to go home, your rehab clinic ought to provide you with some form of ongoing support. We call this secondary treatment. It should make the process of returning to your life far easier.

The Causes of Narcotic Drug Addiction

There are several risk factors when it comes to narcotic drug addictions. These includes the following:

  • A serious injury or illness – This can lead you to require painkillers, and then developing a dependency on them.
  • Genetics – If you have a parent with a drug problem, you are more likely to suffer the same disorder. 
  • Social factors – This could be because you make friends with people who peer-pressure you into taking them, for example.
  • Life stresses and a lack of coping strategies – Life seems to be more stressful than ever, right? From work pressures and losing a loved one to financial difficulties, there are many stresses that could cause you to turn to drugs if you don’t have the right coping strategy.
  • The economics of the place you live – poorer areas are more exposed to drug use and abuse. One study[ix] connected addiction to the family’s income, wealth, and the parental education therein.

Treatment Timeline for Narcotic Drug Addiction

The length of time it takes for you to recover from a narcotic drug addiction depends on your own age, weight, length of time that you used for, and metabolism, as well as the type of drug you took. Other factors are at play, but these are the main ones.

For a narcotic drug addiction, we would suggest a minimum of 7 days in detox. This allows the chemicals to leave your body. Opiates are detected in the urine up to 7 days after your last use[x], so this is a good guideline.

For the rehab portion of your treatment for narcotic drug addiction, you will need at least three weeks, although it can take up to 90 days until you feel well enough to face normal life again. At this stage, you should be given secondary treatment to help ease that transition along.

The Cost of Rehab

The typical charge for a private rehab facility in a residential program in the UK is roughly £1,000 per week. However, this can be higher or lower – it really does depend on where you go. You may even be entitled to help under the NHS, and so this is something that is definitely worth exploring, and there are always more affordable options, so don’t let the cost put you off.

Free Consultation for Narcotic Addiction

We offer free consultations to evaluate your narcotics addiction and guide you towards getting the right rehab help for you. Use our free consultation button at the top of the page to get started, and one of our expert addiction specialists will be in touch. There’s no obligation to take us up on the rehab if you don’t want to, but exploring your options is a wise move.

Where to get rehab help?

Taking the first step is the hardest one but once you have done this, you will have a professional by your side to guide you on your journey to recovery. We have years of experience in working with drug services across the United Kingdom, which means we can put together a plan that is tailored to you.

No matter whether you are ready to go to rehab or want to talk, we are here for you. Simply dial 0203 955 7700 or you can request a free call back via our website. 

[i] https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/epidemic.html

[ii] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/narcotic

[iii] https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/drugs-library/yellow-list-list-narcotic-drugs-under-international-control_en

[iv] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK53217/

[v] https://fpm.ac.uk/opioids-aware-clinical-use-opioids/current-uk-data-opioid-misuse

[vi] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/in-depth/how-to-tell-if-a-loved-one-is-abusing-opioids/art-20386038

[vii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3466038/

[viii] https://www.healthline.com/health/opiate-withdrawal#symptoms

[ix] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3410945/

[x] https://www.medicinenet.com/how_long_are_opiates_in_urine/ask.htm

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is a narcotic?

A narcotic is a type of drug that ought to be prescription but is being taken illegally. They are always opiates, so drugs like heroin, oxycontin, codeine and morphine are all types of narcotic drug.

Why do people get addicted to narcotics?

Narcotics are used in the medical field because they can help treat pain. Unfortunately, this lack of pain comes with a lack of any other feeling, and that oblivion is the addictive part.

How do narcotic drugs work?

They bind to the pain receptors in the brain and body, muting the sensations they create. This means pain is dulled but so are other senses, such as pleasure.

Are Narcotic drugs illegal?

Not always. There is still a need for morphine-based pain medications in the medical field. Doctors are aware that these drugs can be addictive and, as such, prescribe less of them than they used to.

My doctor has stopped my tramadol prescription, what do I do?

There is a high chance your doctor stopped prescribing tramadol to you because they thought you were addicted. As such, try to find alternative pain medication as this is best for you. Holistic pain management techniques can help, but you can learn all about these in rehab.

How do you take narcotic drugs?

You can take some of them orally, others need to be injected. Addiction to opioids always increases over time, so if you start by taking them orally and do not quit, you will end up injecting eventually.

What are the side effects of narcotic addiction?

Extreme drowsiness, lethargy, a dream-like feeling, numbness, and a lack of control over motor functions are all indicative of opioid use.

Can you overdose from narcotic drugs?

Yes, you can overdose from narcotics. Not just heroin, either, but oxycontin, tramadol, fentanyl, codeine, and all the others, prescription or not.

Is tramadol an opiate?

Yes, tramadol is derived from opium. This makes it an opiate, highly addictive, and a narcotic drug. You should only ever take tramadol as the doctor has instructed.

 I just want morphine for the pain – am I an addict?

 If you have been on narcotic painkillers for long enough then there is a chance you are addicted. You can become addicted to opioids from your first use. If your doctor changes your medication, let them. Follow their advice and they will help you if you become an addict.

Author

Nick Conn

Nicholas Conn is a leading industry addiction expert who runs the UK’s largest addiction advisory service and is regularly featured in the national press, radio and TV. He has been clean himself since 2009 and has worked in the Addiction and Rehab Industry for over a decade. Nick is dedicated to helping others recover and get treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. In 2013, he released a book ‘The Thin White’ line that is available on Amazon.

Doctor’s View

Narcotics are pain-killers.

Medicinally they come in two groups: opioids (derived from opium poppies) and non-opioids. In most addiction treatment centres narcotics are seen as any substance (especially when used illegally) that affects the mood.

I believe anything that relieves physical or emotional pain has a ‘narcotic’ effect. Therefore I see addiction as the progressive and destructive process resulting from the use of any mood-altering substance or process.

The revered Mayo Clinic sees alcohol, marijuana and nicotine as narcotic drugs. I would extend that to caffeine and sugar. And what about gambling, shopping, spending, work, exercise and other mood-altering behaviours?

I’ve never thought of it before but I suppose they could be called ‘narcotic’ behaviours. They can be just as destructive as any drug.

Yet many people use addictive substances and processes without becoming hooked on them. Addiction goes with the person – probably genetically – as well as with the substance or process.

Treatment therefore also has to address both. 

Medically Reviewed By:

Dr Robert Lefever

Dr. Robert Lefever is a world leading addictions specialist. He is the foremost expert for addiction treatment. He has personally been in recovery from all substances since the 12th October 1984.

He created the first rehab in the UK to look at all addiction in 1986. Dr. Robert Lefever wrote with Professor Geoffrey Stephenson the masters degree course in addiction psychology at London South Bank University, this was the first of its kind and one of the most highly regarded courses that a therapist can do today.

Robert is also a TED speaker, author, composer and still remains an addiction treatment counsellor.
Last Medically Reviewed On: 7/7/2021
Due to be Reviewed On: 7/7/2023

Primary Sidebar

  • FREE CALLBACK SERVICE

    We offer a free
    callback service 24/7

    Simply enter your number below
    and our addiction counsellors will call
    you back in a few minutes.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Free Drug and Alcohol Rehab Consultation

Footer

Get Help Now

  • Phone 0203 955 7700 or enter your phone number and get a call back.

    FREE CALL BACK SERVICE 24/7

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

About Help 4 Addiction

Help 4 Addiction’s experienced support team are always on hand to offer you the most personal and cost effective options available for alcohol and drug addiction treatment

0203 955 7700
support@help4addiction.co.uk

Additional Links

  • Private Residential Rehab Clinics
  • Alcohol Addiction
  • Alcohol Rehab & Addiction Treatment
  • Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
  • Online Therapy
  • Detox from Home

Get Help Now

  • Phone 0203 955 7700 or enter your phone number and get a call back.

    FREE CALL BACK SERVICE 24/7

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

© 2022 Help 4 Addiction. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT