What constitutes narcotics in legal terms?

The correct choice reflects the legal definition of narcotics, which encompasses illegal drugs and certain controlled substances that are regulated due to their potential for abuse and addiction. This category includes widely recognized illicit substances, such as heroin and cocaine, in addition to prescription medications that have been deemed to have serious restrictions for their use, such as certain opioids.

This definition aligns with legal frameworks that address substance control, focusing on both illegal street drugs as well as specific legal substances that require careful monitoring and can only be dispensed under strict guidelines. The other options do not accurately encompass the full scope of what narcotics include, either by referring to common pharmaceuticals that may not be controlled or by limiting the definition to only illicit drugs without addressing the broader context of controlled substances that also fall under narcotic classification.