narcotics
n. C / Un. strong drugs that stop pain or make you sleep. In many places, these drugs are illegal to have or sell without a doctor's permission.
n. substances that induce narcosis, alleviate pain, or alter mood and behaviour, typically subject to strict legal control. Often refers specifically to opioids in a medical context, though used more broadly in legal terminology.
The police are working to stop the sale of illegal narcotics.
The hospital keeps all narcotics in a locked cabinet to prevent unauthorized access to these powerful painkillers.
International law enforcement agencies collaborate to disrupt the supply chains of synthetic narcotics, which have significantly higher potency and risk profiles than traditional plant-based derivatives.
From narcotic + -s.
Usually appears in the plural form when referring to the drugs themselves; the singular form is more common as an attributive modifier (e.g., 'narcotic effect').