About Us | Privacy | Site Map
May 24, 2013


Narcotic Abuse Glossary of Terms

The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Narcotic Abuse article.

Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

See the entire definition of Abdominal

Acetaminophen: A nonaspirin pain reliever or analgesic. Acetaminophen may be given alone t...

See the entire definition of Acetaminophen

Acute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness th...

See the entire definition of Acute

Acute pain: Pain that comes on quickly, can be severe, but lasts a relatively shorter peri...

See the entire definition of Acute pain

Addiction: An uncontrollable craving, seeking, and use of a substance such as alcohol or a...

See the entire definition of Addiction

Analgesia: The inability to feel pain.

Analgesic: A drug that relieves pain.

Antagonist: A substance that acts against and blocks an action. Antagonist is the opposite...

See the entire definition of Antagonist

Anxiety: A feeling of apprehension and fear, characterized by physical symptoms such as pa...

See the entire definition of Anxiety

Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, w...

See the entire definition of Arthritis

Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a...

See the entire definition of Aspirin

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

See the entire definition of Brain

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

See the entire definition of Breathing

Buprenorphine: A prescription medication for people addicted to heroin or other opiates th...

See the entire definition of Buprenorphine

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

See the entire definition of Cancer back to top

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

See the entire definition of Chronic

Coma: A state of deep, unarousable unconsciousness. A coma may occur as a result of head t...

See the entire definition of Coma

Constipation: Infrequent and frequently incomplete bowel movements. Constipation is the op...

See the entire definition of Constipation

Corneal: Pertaining to the cornea, the clear front window of the eye that transmits and fo...

See the entire definition of Corneal

Department of Health and Human Services: The United States government's principal agency f...

See the entire definition of Department of Health and Human Services

Depression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and that affects the way...

See the entire definition of Depression

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

See the entire definition of Diagnosis

Diarrhea: A common condition that involves unusually frequent and liquid bowel movements. ...

See the entire definition of Diarrhea

Dysfunction: Difficult function or abnormal function.

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

See the entire definition of Emergency department

Euphoria: Elevated mood. Euphoria is a desirable and natural occurrence when it results f...

See the entire definition of Euphoria

FDA: Food and Drug Administration.

Food and Drug Administration: An agency within the US Public Health Service that provides ...

See the entire definition of Food and Drug Administration

Gooseflesh: A temporary local change in the skin when it becomes rougher due to erection o...

See the entire definition of Gooseflesh

Health and Human Services: The United States government's principal agency for "protecting...

See the entire definition of Health and Human Services back to top

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

See the entire definition of Heart

Heart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ...

See the entire definition of Heart disease

Heart valves: There are four heart valves. All are one-way valves. Blood entering the ...

See the entire definition of Heart valves

Heroin: Semisynthetic drug derived from morphine. Discovered in 1874, it was introduced co...

See the entire definition of Heroin

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

See the entire definition of Infection

Itching: An uncomfortable sensation in the skin that feels as if something is crawling on ...

See the entire definition of Itching

Kidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The kid...

See the entire definition of Kidney

Liver: The largest solid organ in the body, situated in the upper part of the abdomen on t...

See the entire definition of Liver

Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon...

See the entire definition of Lungs

Marijuana: A common street and recreational drug that comes from the marijuana plant: the ...

See the entire definition of Marijuana

Menstrual: Pertaining to menstruation (the menses), as in last menstrual period, menstrua...

See the entire definition of Menstrual

Menstrual cycle: The monthly cycle of changes in the ovaries and the lining of the uteru...

See the entire definition of Menstrual cycle

Methadone: A synthetic opiate. The most common medical use for methadone is as a legal sub...

See the entire definition of Methadone

Morphine: A powerful narcotic agent that has strong analgesic (pain relief) action and oth...

See the entire definition of Morphine

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

See the entire definition of Muscle back to top

Naloxone: A drug that antagonizes morphine and other opiates. Naloxone is a pure opiate an...

See the entire definition of Naloxone

Narcan: Brand name for naloxone.

Narcotic: 1. A drug that causes insensibility or stupor. A narcotic induces narcosi...

See the entire definition of Narcotic

Nasal: Having to do with the nose.

Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in...

See the entire definition of Nausea

Neonatal: Pertaining to the newborn period, specifically the first 4 weeks after birth.

Neurological: Having to do with the nerves or the nervous system as, for example, a neurol...

See the entire definition of Neurological

NIH: National Institutes of Health.

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

See the entire definition of Nose

Opioid: 1. A synthetic narcotic that resembles the naturally occurring opiates. 2. Any sub...

See the entire definition of Opioid

Opium: An addictive narcotic drug that is derived from the unripe seedpods of the opium po...

See the entire definition of Opium

Oxycodone: Oxycodone is the active ingredient in OxyContin. Oxycodone is an opioid, a clos...

See the entire definition of Oxycodone

OxyContin: A prescription painkiller that has become a popular and dangerous recreational ...

See the entire definition of OxyContin

Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

See the entire definition of Oxygen

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

See the entire definition of Pain back to top

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

See the entire definition of Pharmacy

Pneumonia: Inflammation of one or both lungs, with dense areas of lung inflammation. Pneum...

See the entire definition of Pneumonia

Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.

Prescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev...

See the entire definition of Prescription

Regimen: A plan or a regulated course, such as a diet, exercise, or treatment, that is des...

See the entire definition of Regimen

Respiratory: Having to do with respiration.

Respiratory rate: The number of breaths per minute or, more formally, the number of moveme...

See the entire definition of Respiratory rate

Resuscitation: The procedure of restoring to life, as in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CP...

See the entire definition of Resuscitation

Runny nose: The production of extra mucus by the nose. Rhinorrhea is the medical term for ...

See the entire definition of Runny nose

Saliva: a watery secretion in the mouth produced by the salivary glands that aids in the d...

See the entire definition of Saliva

SAMHSA: A part of the U.S. Public Health Service, SAMHSA was established in 1992 and direc...

See the entire definition of SAMHSA

Sleep: The body's rest cycle.

Substance: 1. Material with particular features.
2. The material that...

See the entire definition of Substance

Substance abuse: The excessive use of a substance, especially alcohol or a drug. (There is...

See the entire definition of Substance abuse

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

See the entire definition of Surgery back to top

Sweating: The act of secreting fluid from the skin by the sweat (sudoriferous) glands. The...

See the entire definition of Sweating

Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Tylenol: See: Acetaminophen.

Unconscious: 1. Interruption of awareness of oneself and one's surroundings, lack ...

See the entire definition of Unconscious

Urine: Liquid waste produced by the kidneys. Urine is a clear, transparent fluid that norm...

See the entire definition of Urine

Withdrawal symptoms: Abnormal physical or psychological features that follow the abrupt di...

See the entire definition of Withdrawal symptoms

Yawning: Involuntary opening of the mouth with respiration, breathing first inward, then o...

See the entire definition of Yawning back to top


Women's Health

Find out what women really need.

Please acknowledge your agreement





Medical Dictionary


Use Pill Finder Find it Now

Pill Identifier on RxList

  • quick, easy,
    pill identification

Find a Local Pharmacy

  • including 24 hour, pharmacies