Narcotics? Or Opioids?

Added: 2026-05-18

[00:00:01][music] Let's talk quickly about why we should stop saying narcotics. So, narcotic is a typical word used to describe abused pain medications. And this is a legal/law enforcement type term that is used to describe illicit drugs, selling drugs.

[00:00:19]It's kind of used in a criminal setting.

[00:00:21]So, let's stop using it in medicine.

[00:00:23]Let's just call these medications what they actually are when they're prescribed appropriate, which is opioids. Now, the other thing to point out is opioids versus opiates. So, a lot of times these are used kind of synonymously, and I'm totally guilty of saying opiates sometimes instead of opioids. But realistically, opiates are specifically medications derived from opium like morphine and codin. Opioids, however, encompasses everything including morphine, hydrocodone, delotted, which is hydromemorphone, fentinyl, any of the medications that we're prescribing that are opioids for pain management. And that's the difference. These are prescription medications that are being used appropriately, whereas narcotics are typically referring to medications on the street and medications that get you in trouble. So ultimately, narcotics have a negative connotation associated with them. But opioids are appropriate prescription pain medications. So let's try to use the correct terminology, including myself. I need the reminder to stop saying opiates sometimes because this does slip out and you will hear it in my videos. So, I apologize. But one thing you will not hear me say typically is narcotics because there is enough stigma around pain medications already.

[00:01:38]So, let's stop making people feel like criminals for using them appropriately.

[00:01:41]Let me know what other questions you have about this and I'm happy to keep talking about