What does opium look like

The latex sap contains a mixture of naturally-occurring narcotic alkaloids including morphine and codeine. Morphine is acetylated to produce diacetylmorphine, better known as heroin. During the late s and early s, the narcotic alkaloids morphine and codeine were available in over-the-counter drugs, such as cough syrups and teething medicines.

In fact, there are cases of young children becoming addicted to opiates. People sought relief from bad coughs, even though some were probably infected with tuberculosis. The medicine bottles shown above are very old. Their original content is unknown. Left: Opium poppy Papaver somniferum , a surprising discovery in the burned forested area along Sunrise Highway.

Note the clasping leaf base red arrow , nodding bud and glaucous, glabrous foliage. Right: Raw opium latex is dripping from the incised seed capsule. Find out more. ACS Chemical Neuroscience.

Booth M. Opium: a history. Understanding drugs and behaviour. Kalant H. Opium revisited: a brief review of its nature, composition, non-medical use and relative risks. World Health Organisation. Toronto: Addiction Research Foundation; Opium addiction and lead poisoing. Journal of Substance Use. Lead poisoning among opium users in Iran: an emerging health hazard. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy. It is believed by some scholars that the opium poppy is referred to on the tablet.

Some objects from the ancient Greek Minoan culture may also suggest the knowledge of the poppy. A goddess from about BC shows her hair adorned probably with poppy-capsules and her closed eyes disclose sedation.

Also juglets probably imitating the poppy-capsules were found in that period in both Cyprus and Egypt. The first authentic reference to the milky juice of the poppy we find by Theophrastus at the beginning of the third century BC. Use of opium with other substances that depress the central nervous system, such as alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, or general anesthetics, increases the risk of life-threatening respiratory depression.

Long-term use can lead to drug tolerance, meaning a person needs more of the drug to get similar euphoric effects. Opium use can also lead to physical dependence and addiction. Withdrawal symptoms can occur if long-term use is reduced or stopped. Signs of use include nausea, confusion and constipation.