New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the NY State EMT Exam with our online resources. Study with multiple choice questions, detailed explanations, and practice tests. Master your EMT skills and excel in your exam!

Practice this question and more.

Heroin is classified as which type of drug?

Opioid
Hypnotic
Cholinergic
Sympathomimetic

The correct answer is: Opioid

Heroin is classified as an opioid, which is an important category of drugs derived from the opium poppy or synthesized to mimic natural opioids. Opioids primarily act on the opioid receptors in the brain and body to produce analgesic (pain-relieving) effects as well as feelings of euphoria. This classification includes other substances like morphine, codeine, and synthetic opioids such as oxycodone and fentanyl. Understanding that heroin falls within this category is crucial for recognizing its effects, potential for addiction, and the importance of appropriate medical responses to opioid-related emergencies. Other categories such as hypnotics are primarily used as sedatives, cholinergic drugs affect the nervous system's communication pathways, and sympathomimetics stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, none of which accurately describe heroin's pharmacological properties.