Narcotics are a class of drugs that induce sleep, relieve pain, and can alter mood or consciousness. They primarily include opioids, which are derived from the opium poppy or synthetically produced, and are commonly used in medicine for pain management. However, narcotics also carry a high potential for addiction and misuse. In many contexts, the term can refer more broadly to any substance that dulls the senses or reduces pain, including both legal medications and illicit drugs.