What are narcotics typically used for medically?

Narcotics, also known as opioids, are primarily used in medical settings to relieve pain and facilitate sleep. This is due to their analgesic properties, which help to diminish the perception of pain by interacting with specific receptors in the brain and spinal cord. Many narcotics can cause drowsiness as a side effect, making them useful in managing severe pain and helping patients to rest or sleep when necessary, such as after surgery or during chronic pain management.

The other choices pertain to different pharmacological classes or effects. Stimulation of the brain is not an effect associated with narcotics; rather, they tend to depress the central nervous system. Suppressing appetite and enhancing energy levels are associated more with other types of drugs, such as stimulants, and do not reflect the primary purposes of narcotics.