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Narcotic vs Opioid - What's the difference?

narcotic | opioid |

As nouns the difference between narcotic and opioid

is that narcotic is any class of substances or drugs, that reduces pain, induces sleep and may alter mood or behaviour while opioid is a substance that is like opium.

As an adjective narcotic

is of, or relating to narcotics.

narcotic

English

(wikipedia narcotic)

Alternative forms

* narcotick (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • Any class of substances or drugs, that reduces pain, induces sleep and may alter mood or behaviour.
  • Any type of numbing drug.
  • Certain illegal drugs.

    • Related terms

    * narco- * narcosis * narcoterrorism * narcotize * nonnarcotic

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of, or relating to narcotics.
  • Inducing sleep; causing narcosis.

    • References

    * *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    opioid

    English

    (wikipedia opioid)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A substance that is like opium.
  • (physiology) Any of the natural substances, such as an endorphin, released in the body in response to pain.
  • (pharmacology) Any of a group of synthetic compounds that exhibit similarities to the opium alkaloids that occur in nature.

    • Hyponyms

    * opiate