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Though commonly used to refer to all drugs, narcotics are in
fact those drugs which are derived from opium, opium derivatives,
or opium synthetics. Opium is collected from the sap of unripe
seed pods from the Palaver somniferous poppy.
These poppies have been in cultivation for their narcotic since
300 BC. Unable to be grown in the North American climate, they
are primarily cultivated in Mexico, Turkey, China, India, Afghanistan,
Pakistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Lebanon. The most infamous area
of opium production is the Golden Triangle region in Southeast
Asia. This includes the countries of Thailand, Laos, and Burma.
This area has historically been the major source of opium/heroin
in the United States.
The following are commonly encountered narcotics: opium,
morphine, codeine,
heroin, hydromorphine
(diluadid), meperidine (Demerol), percodan, methadone,
darvon.
Opium
The opium is harvested by scoring the unripe seed pods of the
poppy. This releases a milky fluid which is allowed to dry in
the sun into a gum. The gum is later scraped from the seed pod
and refined into the finished opium product.
Virtually no restrictions on trafficking or use of opium were
in effect prior to the 1900's. A variety of medications existed
prior to that which contained opium, though the user was not always
advised so by the medication label. Today, basically the only
medicinal application of opium is in certain types of antidiarrheal
preparations. Opium can either be ingested in its raw form or
smoked must in the same manner as marijuana and marijuana derivatives.
Heroin
Heroin is a semi-synthetic opium derivative, derived from morphine.
Diacetylmorphine, or heroin as it is commonly refereed to, was
first synthesized by the British in 1874. It is believed the name
heroin was derived from the German word heroish, which means heroic
and powerful. Used as a cough suppressant and in the treatment
of morphine addiction, the Bayer Corporation first marketed heroin
in 1890. In light of it's addictive properties and growing abuse,
heroin manufacturing and importation was banned in the United
States in 1924.
Heroin is smoked, inhaled, or injected by the abuser. The effects
of opium and it's derivatives use are constricted pupils, depressed
respiration, constipation, nausea, drowsiness, euphoria, apathy,
and decreased sexual drive. Upon ingestion of the narcotic, abusers
feel an initial period of exhilaration, which includes a tactile
tingling and warm flush of the skin, and what has been described
as an "orgasmic" sensation. These first sensations are
followed by a period of lethargy, tranquillity, and loss of tension
and/or fear. This period is commonly refereed to as the "nods".
Within 24-36 hours of last dosage, withdrawal symptoms appear,
lasting three to five days. Withdrawal symptoms include tearing,
runny nose, sweating, dilated pupils, loss of appetite, gooseflesh,
restlessness, muscle tremors, weakness, insomnia, nausea, vomiting,
cramps and diarrhea.
Morphine
Derived from Opium, Morphine today remains very effective in the
use of pain management. Generally consisting of 5 to 25% opium,
morphine generally is odorless, ranging in color from clear to
dark brown. Morphine can be found in a white crystalline, tablet,
or liquid form. As a result, morphine can be administered orally
or by injection.
Addiction and tolerance levels vary from user to user, but
generally both develop rapidly.
Codeine
Produced from morphine, Codeine normally produces less sedation
and respiratory depression than morphine. Codeine's use as a pain
reliever is widespread, normally combined with other products
such as Tylenol. Codeine is also used extensively in a liquid
suspension form for a variety of cough medicines. Due to its narcotic
nature, addiction and tolerance can develop when used over an
extended period of time.
Dilaudid
Hydromorphone, or Dilaudid, is the second oldest semi-synthetic
narcotic. Dilaudid, found in both tablet and liquid form, is a
very potent narcotic. Due to this, Dilaudid is much sought after
by illicit drug users, and can command as much as $50 dollars
for one tablet. Normal dosage effects last anywhere from 2 to
12 hours. Tolerance and addiction can occur as with all narcotics.
Methadone
Chemically dissimilar to heroin or morphine, Methadone was initially
developed by German scientists during World War II due to a shortage
of morphine. Primarily used to control narcotic addiction and
the attendant withdrawal symptoms, the effects of administration
can last up to 24 hours.
The 1960's saw a heralding of methadone as a cure-all for heroin
addiction. Though certainly help- ful in some cases, methadone
too carries a capacity for tolerance and addiction. This has led
in some cases to the heroin addict just trading addictions from
a drug to another. Normally administered by mouth in liquid from,
methadone can by nature also be injected.
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Drug Information
