What is the narcotic analgesic sometimes referred to as "drug store heroin"?

The term "drug store heroin" is commonly used to refer to codeine. Codeine is an opioid that is available legally over the counter in some countries, typically in combination with other medications for pain relief or cough suppression. It is structurally similar to morphine and has analgesic properties, but its potency is significantly lower than that of heroin or morphine. While it can be misused, especially in its pure form, codeine's accessibility through pharmacies contributes to its colloquial nickname.

In the case of the correct answer being Dilaudid, it is important to recognize that Dilaudid (hydromorphone) is a potent prescription opioid that is much stronger than codeine and is not available over the counter. While it is an analgesic and affects the same pain pathways as codeine, it does not share the same association with being readily accessible like codeine does.