The term narcotic (/nrktk/, from ancient Greek nark, "to make

numb") originally referred medically to any psychoactive compound with any

sleep-inducing properties. In the United States it has since become
associated with opiates and opioids, commonly morphine and heroin, as well
derivatives of many of the compounds found within raw opium latex; The
primary three are morphine, codeine, and thebaine (while thebaine itself is
only very mildly psychoactive, it is a crucial precursor in the vast majority of
semi-synthetic opioids, such as hydrocodone). Legally speaking the term
"Narcotic" is, today, imprecisely defined and typically has negative
connotations.[1][2] When used in a legal context in the U.S., a narcotic drug
is simply one that is totally prohibited, or one that is used in violation of
governmental regulation, such as heroin or cannabis.

In the medical community, the term is more precisely defined, and generally
does not carry the same negative connotations.[3][4][5]

Statutory classification of a drug as a narcotic often increases the penalties

for violation of drug control statutes. For example, although federal law
classifies both cocaine and amphetamine 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.[6] Both cocaine and amphetamines are stimulants. A narcotic is
classified under depressants.[7]

Contents [hide]
1

United Nations

1.1

Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961

1.2

INCB Yellow List

World Health Organization

2.1
Studies on the definition of counterfeit medicines in WHO member
states
2.2
Lexicon of alcohol and drug terms published by the World Health
Organization
3

United States

3.1

US v. Stieren

History

Analgesics

See also

References

External links

United Nations[edit]
Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961[edit]
The adoption of this Convention is regarded as a milestone in the history of
international drug control. The Single Convention codified all existing
multilateral treaties on drug control and extended the existing control
systems to include the cultivation of plants that were grown as the raw
material of narcotic drugs. The principal objectives of the Convention are to
limit the possession, use, trade, distribution, import, export, manufacture and
production of drugs exclusively to medical and scientific purposes and to
address drug trafficking through international cooperation to deter and
discourage drug traffickers. The Convention also established the International
Narcotics Control Board, merging the Permanent Central Board and the Drug
Supervisory Board.[8]

The 1961 Convention exercises control over more than 116 narcotic drugs.
They include mainly plant-based products such as opium and its derivatives
morphine, codeine and heroin, but also synthetic narcotics such as
methadone and pethidine, as well as cannabis, coca and cocaine. The
Convention divides drugs into four groups, or schedules, in order to enforce a
greater or lesser degree of control for the various substances and
compounds. Opium smoking and eating, coca leaf chewing, cannabis resin
smoking and the non-medical use of cannabis are prohibited. The 1972
Protocol to this Convention calls for increased efforts to prevent illicit
production of, traffic in and use of narcotics. It also highlights the need to
provide treatment and rehabilitation services to drug abusers.[9]

INCB Yellow List[edit]

This document contains the current list of narcotic drugs under international
control and additional information to assist governments in filling in the

International Narcotics Control Board questionnaires related to narcotic drugs,

namely, form A, form B and form C.[10]

In medicine, a chemical agent that induces stupor, coma, or insensibility to

pain (also called narcotic analgesic).

In the context of international drug control, narcotic drug means any drug
defined as such under the 1961 Convention.[11]

World Health Organization[edit]

Studies on the definition of counterfeit medicines in WHO member
states[edit]
4. Assessment of the definitions of counterfeit medicines (or equivalent) in
Member States

4.2 The nature of legal definitions: the unambiguity requirement

In order to avoid room for difference in interpretation, law-makers

(codificators) sometimes deviate from etymological (definiendum plus
definientia) definitions. In doing so, they approach the term from the law
enforcement point of view. The best example is the definition of narcotics in
the United Nations Conventions. Narcotics are substances and preparations
that induce drowsiness, sleep, stupor, insensibility, etc., and that these
effects (and their rate) are complicated to prove, e.g. during litigation. Thus,
the legal definition of a narcotic is whether or not it is listed on the Schedules
of the Convention. If it is on some of the Schedules, it is narcotic.[12]

Lexicon of alcohol and drug terms published by the World Health

Organization[edit]
The term usually refers to