Opium

These opium latex contain morphine, codeine, thebaine and papaverine. Synthetic or partially synthetic opium include fentanyl, methadone, oxycodone and hydrocodone. Opium itself is sold, but most of the time you will see it broken down for medical uses. For example, morphine is extracted from opium and is actually 10 times more powerful than opium itself. It is one of the effective drugs that relief severe pain. Codeine, also a component in opium, is extracted and used as a mild pain reliever and cough suppressants. Oxycodone/hydrocodone are also separated substances from opium and used as mild pain relievers. The mentioned medications are regulated and some countries accept them to be used only for medical issues. However, heroin is a different story. Some countries do not allow the usage of heroin because it is highly addictive with side effects that are both mentally and physically dangerous to the body. Heroin is processed from morphine which is already powerful as it is, making heroin 2 to 3 times more effective. 

In the United States, a system to classify drugs and their usage is used. Heroin is classified as Schedule I, which means that the government does not allow the usage of it even for medical uses. Other mentioned medications are classified as Schedule II; they are accepted for medical use but are still taken as drugs that may potentially be misused. Similarly, other countries do not accept heroin but do other opioides. Of course one of the reasons is because heroin is so strong, but it is also the fact that it is more addictive than other substances made from opium. Heroin is not a simple pain reliever. It gives the user a “rush” that makes them feel immediate ecstasy. This is because once heroin enters the brain, it converts itself to morphine which rapidly binds with opioid receptors. Once consumed, the skin becomes warm and flushed, the mouth will feel dry, nausea, vomiting and severe itching may occur. After a high, there is always a low. Several hours and the feeling of ecstasy will go away and be replaced by drowsiness, unclear thought process and decrease in heart rate (which leads to slower breath rates and in some cases death). Long-term usage of heroin will lead to the permanent damage of the brain. The brain will change to have imbalances in neuronal and hormonal systems. There will also be physical changes that will lead to difficulties in decision making, regulating behaviors and responding to particular situations. Moreover, the body will become tolerant to the drug and also addicted to it. The user will want to take in more dosages in order to feel the same amount of high from before. Withdrawal also comes in the long run. Examples are, restlessness, muscle/bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, sudden feeling of coldness and goosebumps. Usually the symptoms peaks at one to two days after consumption and will recede after a week, although there are cases where they do not recede until a few months. 

Opium is a medication as well as the origin for other medications. Some of them, if taken in lethal amounts, will help in the process of curing one’s body, but not all.