Opium

Opium and heroin are two potent opiates with rich histories and significant societal impacts. While they possess recognized medicinal properties, both substances have gained infamy due to their strong potential for misuse and the associated health implications.

Papaversomniferum

Overview

Both heroin and opium are classified as drugs of abuse and are prohibited in many countries, including the United States. Their complex histories intertwine with medicinal use, recreational abuse, and significant sociopolitical events worldwide.

= Opium

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Raw opium

Opium (o pee’ um) is an amalgamation of natural alkaloids extracted from the resin of the seeds of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum. Recognized for its analgesic and mood-modifying properties, the use of poppy extracts spans several centuries. Its influence on global history and individual lives is profound.

= Heroin

Malwapoppy

Heroin, chemically known as morphine diacetate, emerged in the 19th century as a byproduct of morphine, opium's primary alkaloid. Originally believed to offer strong pain-relieving properties minus the characteristic euphoria and dependency risks of opium, it was initially marketed as an over-the-counter cough suppressant under the brand name "Heroin." Its potential for abuse quickly became evident, and by the 1920s, heroin became the predominant drug of abuse in the U.S., culminating in its prohibition.

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Heroine

Liver Safety

Though many individuals actively using heroin or opium might present with liver diseases attributable to substance misuse (such as alcoholic liver injury) or injection-based drug use (leading to conditions like chronic hepatitis B, D, or C), there's no substantial evidence linking either opium or heroin directly to clinically noticeable liver injury or exacerbation of pre-existing liver conditions.

Mechanism of Action

Both substances predominantly act as agonists for opiate receptors, chiefly the µ type receptor. These receptors are primarily found in the central nervous system but are also present in other parts of the body, including the lungs, heart, gastrointestinal tract, and even circulating white blood cells.

= Clinical Effects

Opium and heroin induce various clinical effects, with the most noticeable being:

• Euphoria
• Drowsiness
• Mental clouding
• Analgesia

The severe complications associated with heroin are typically not a direct result of the drug's inherent side effects but rather the inconsistencies in the sources, concentration, and quality of the available product.

Summary

While opium and heroin have undeniable therapeutic potential, their misuse and associated risks have led to their prohibition in many countries. Their role in societal and health contexts remains a topic of debate and study. Full and partial opiod agonists:

• Alfentanil
• Butorphanol
• Codeine
• Diphenoxylate
• Fentanyl
• Heroin
• Hydrocodone
• Hydromorphone
• Levorphanol
• Loperamide
• Meperidine
• Methadone
• Morphine
• Opium
• Oxycodone
• Oxymorphone
• Pentazocine
• Remifentanil
• Sufentanil
• Tramadol

Opiate antagonists:

• Nalmefene
• Naloxegol
• Naloxone
• Naltrexone

• Dailymed label info on Opium
• FDA Opium

Opium Resources
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