Which category of drugs is derived from opium?

Narcotics are derived from opium, which is obtained from the opium poppy plant. These substances, also known as opioid analgesics, have a primary use in medicine for pain relief due to their ability to bind to opioid receptors in the brain and body, leading to a reduction in the perception of pain. Common examples of narcotics include morphine and codeine, both of which are directly derived from opium.

The other drug categories do not originate from opium. CNS stimulants, for instance, increase alertness and energy but are not related to opium. Volatile inhalants are substances that are often inhaled for their psychoactive effects but come from entirely different chemical families. Hallucinogens alter perception and cognition but do not have a source in opium.