OPIUM & its DERIVATIVES

 Opium comes from the seeds of the Poppy plant. Opium has a large number of derivatives, many of them being used as medications for pain. Opium gives out a variety of medications and can be called a wonder drug source for pain alleviation. .

 There are 28 different genera of poppies and hundreds of species. However, only one “Papaver Somniferum” produces Opium.

 Opium itself is highly addictive. The plant has beautiful flowers in red, pink, purple, orange & white, and is grown in gardens. Opium is a depressant and its consumption leads to extreme relaxation, feelings of euphoria and deep sleep. Under the influence of Opium sensory perceptions are altered. Feelings of physical pain and anxiety are reduced while visual stimuli become more vivid.  

 Regular consumption of opium over a long period leads to memory loss, lethargy, epilepsy, delirium tremens and death.

Opium is illicitly produced in 50 countries. However the bulk of it only comes from Afghanistan which accounts for 84% of the world’s production. 7% comes from Myanmar and Mexico produces 6%. These 3 countries together account for 97% of the global production of Opium. Opium production provides 400,000 jobs in Afghanistan and it is sown in 400,000 acres there.

During the Mughal times Opium use has become common in the empire. All the Mughal Emperors except Aurangzeb indulged in it, if not as addicts, at least as users. When Aurangzeb tried to restrict its use, it led to a great discontent.

During British India times the British have run the Opium trade in India. By 1880 60,000 chests(app. 60 Kgs each) of opium was being exported from India. About 1 million farmers in North India in UP and Bihar were engaged in opium cultivation and they were forced to sell the poppy to the British at a loss. The British had 2 Opium factories located on the Ganges river. They had 2500 clerks working in 100 offices to monitor Poppy farmers. All this Opium was being exported to China by the British where it is consumed.

Currently India is the largest manufacturer of legal Opium in the world. It manufactures opium for the pharmaceutical industry. Only 12 countries in the world manufacture legal opium.

In India 2.1% of the country’s population use Opium based substances. 1.14% use Heroin, Pharma Opioids 0.96% & Opium 0.52%. Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram have the highest Opioid use.

The Khas Khas we get are nothing but poppy seeds. However, they come to us after the Opium is removed but they still do have small opium content. 

 The Poppy pod is split open when it is not ripe and the fluid seeps out and dries on the pod in yellow brown color. This is bitter in taste and contains MORPHINE, CODEINE, THEBAINE AND PAPAVERINE.

 Other synthetic derivatives of Opium are FENTANYL, METHADONE, OXYCODONE, HYDRCODONE and also many others.

 MORPHINE, CODEINE, FENTANYL, OXYCODONE & HYDROCODONE are pain killers. They block the signals from traveling to the brain and can treat moderate to severe pain.      

 PAPAVERINE is a vasodilator which relaxes the blood vessels. This lowers blood pressure. It is used for treating chest pain, heart attack and disorders of the stomach & gall bladder. This can also be used to treat erectile dysfunction or impotence.

 HEROIN is derived from Morphine. It is the main source of addiction.

 METHADONE reduces withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to Heroin. It is also a pain reliever.

 HEROIN (DIACETYLMORPHINE): The more popular nicknames of Heroin are Dope, Smack and Junk. It is a white or brown powder or a black sticky substance. It is made from Morphine. It can be mixed with water and injected with a needle. It can also be smoked or snorted up the nose. It sent to the brain very quickly and therefore makes it very addictive. It creates a euphoria in users.

 Use of Heroin results in miscarriages, heart infections, and death from overdose. Syinges can also carry infections like HIV if used in common.

 Regular usage of Heroin can lead to tolerance and more and more ingestion is needed to get the kick. If stopped the withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, Diarrhea, vomiting and cold flashes with goose bumps.

 Long term effects of Heroin are Insomnia, collapsed veins for people who inject, damaged nose tissue for those who sniff or snort, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, constipation & stomach cramps, liver & kidney disease, lung complications, mental disorders, sexual dysfunction for men and  irregular menstrual cycles for women.