Drug abuse

What are the Effects of Opium

Max. D Gray
By Max. D Gray. Updated: January 16, 2017
What are the Effects of Opium

Opium is the liquid that is extracted from poppy plants. From this liquid, some medications and other drugs like heroin are produced. It is considered to be one of the most addictive substances that exists, given that your body develops a high degree of tolerance if you take it regularly.

OneHowTo wants to remind you that opium is illegal in most countries, but if you want to know what the effects of opium are, you'll find the answer here.

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Contents

  1. What is opium
  2. How opium is consumed
  3. The effects of opium
  4. Opium addiction
  5. Precautions

What is opium

The opium poppy plant, commonly known as the poppy, contains a dry liquid from which opium is extracted.

The plant's green seed pods contain this liquid which has a high degree of alkaloids, codeine and especially morphine. The liquid is extracted from poppy seed pods which have not yet matured. This is exposed to the air so the liquid hardens and is turned into blocks of opium.

Opium is used in pharmaceutical products such as some analgesics but its most common use is to make drugs, namely heroin.

How opium is consumed

The most common way of consuming this drug is by mixing it with tobacco or hashish and smoking it like a cigarette. However, there are new ways of consuming opium such as orally, where people often wrap their dose in paper to mask the strong taste of the drug.

What are the Effects of Opium - How opium is consumed

The effects of opium

If you want to know what the effects of opium are, first consider it is slow to take effect, and takes between 15 minutes to 1 hour after taking the drug. Its effects can last up to 12 hours and are stronger if you choose to eat opium instead of smoking it.

When opium is consumed, the alkaloids of the drug reach the part of the brain which receives endorphins, so the feeling of consuming opium is pleasurable and acts as a stimulant. Among the effects of opium the most notable and common are the following:

  • The narcotic effect of this drug produces a feeling of happiness and euphoria.
  • It can affect a person's awareness and vision of reality.
  • An overall feeling of relaxation and sleepiness.
  • The effect of opium stops a person from feeling pain.
  • It does not cause hallucinations like other hallucinogenic drugs.
  • Pupils become smaller (unlike other stimulant drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines which increase the size of the pupils).

Opium addiction

Opium is one of the most addictive drugs that exist if consumed regularly. Its intake can contribute towards a person developing both a psychological and physical dependence on the drug due to its narcotic effect.

To avoid becoming hooked on opium, this drug should be taken spread out over time to avoid the body becoming tolerant and addicted to it.

What are the Effects of Opium - Opium addiction

Precautions

Now you know what the effects of opium are. However, you must consider a number of precautions. Given its highly narcotic effect, a person should avoid doing activities that involve a high degree of concentration if opium has been consumed, such as driving a car or any other motor vehicle.

Also people who have any of these conditions should avoid using opium:

  • Pregnant or lactating mothers
  • People with heart disease
  • People with respiratory problems, including asthma
  • People taking any medication
  • Persons who have epilepsy or are prone to having it

Opium has a strong narcotic effect and should not be mixed with other substances, especially those which have a depressant effect such as alcohol.

OneHowTo reminds you that opium is illegal in most countries. The consumption of this drug is punishable by law.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to What are the Effects of Opium, we recommend you visit our Mental health category.

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