DRUG OF ABUSE Opium nonheroin OPIUM WAS BELIEVED

DRUG OF ABUSE: Opium (non-heroin) OPIUM WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE G. O. M. (GOD’S OWN MEDICINE) AND AS A NARCOTIC THAT RELIEVES PAIN, DULLS THE SENSES, AND INDUCE SLEEP IS CONSIDERED AN ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCE.

OPIUM TOPICS OF INTEREST: • THE HISTORY OF HOW THE OPIUM POPPY BECAME THE DRUG IT IS TODAY, AND WHO BROUGHT WITH THEM TO THE UNITED STATES. • THE ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCE OF OPIUM AS A WHOLE, AND HOW IT AFFECTS PEOPLE WHO BECOME ADDICTED TO THE COMPOUND. • THE PROCESS TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE BECOME ‘ENSLAVED’ TO THE EFFECTS OF THE DRUG, AND THE SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR WHEN LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO TRY TO ‘TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM’ THEMSELVES.

WHAT IS OPIUM? OPIUM IS A HIGHLY ADDICTIVE NARCOTIC DRUG ACQUIRED IN THE DRIED LATEX FORM FROM THE OPIUM POPPY (PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM) SEED POD. TRADITIONALLY THE UNRIPEN POD IS SLIT OPEN AND THE SAP SEEPS OUT AND DRIES ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE POD. THE RESULTING YELLOW-BROWN LATEX, WHICH IS SCRAPED OFF OF THE POD, IS BITTER IN TASTE AND CONTAINS VARYING AMOUNTS OF ALKALOIDS SUCH AS MORPHINE, CODEINE, THEBAINE AND PAPAVERINE. Opium Poppy Papaver Somniferum

ADDICTIVENESS OF OPIUM AND HOW IT AFFECTS THE BODY.

ADDICTIVENESS OF OPIUM AND HOW IT AFFECTS YOU (CONTINUE) Why take Opium? Signs of Opium Withdrawal Feelings of well-being Cramps Feelings of relaxation and warmth Depression A pleasurable dreaminess state Anxiety Relief from pain and discomfort Insomnia Lack of inhibitions Sweats Euphoria (high) Shaking Irritability Availability Drowsiness Peer Pressure Psychotic Reactions Family Disruption Seizures (Uncommon) Psychological Trauma Death

A METHOD OF ‘HEALING’ ADDICTION OF OPIUM. • NALTREXONE (TREXAN OR REVIA) IS USED FOR TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLICS AND OPIATE ADDICTS BY BLOCKING THE OPIATE RECEPTORS IN THE BRAIN. • THERE IS NO “CURE” FOR ADDICTION, BUT THE ADDICTS CAN GO INTO REMISSION, WHICH IS TO LEARN TO TAKE OF THEMSELVES AGAIN AND LEARN TO GO SOBER FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. • THE GOAL OF NEUROREGULATION IS TO OFFER A WAY WITH THE RIGHT MEDICINAL TOOLS. • THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THE CURRENT TREATMENT IS TO TEACH ADDICTS HOW TO DEAL WITH THEIR TRIGGERS AND CRAVINGS, BUT THEIR CONDITIONED RESPONSES WILL TAKE TIME TO DISAPPEAR.

EXTRA INFORMATION • ALFRED W. MCCOY, HISTORIAN OF THE 20 TH CENTURY, CLAIMED THAT HAVING OPIUM, MORPHINE, & HEROIN WAS LIKE HAVING COFFEE OR TEA TO EVERYONE ELSE. • MORPHINE TO ‘CURE’ OPIUM & ALCOHOL ADDICTION • HEROIN TO ‘CURE’’ MORPHINE ADDICTION • THERE IS ABOUT A 1 IN 10 CHANCE THERE WOULD BE A RISK OF ADDICTION, REGARDLESS, OF FAMILY HISTORY. • OPIUM SMOKING WAS INTRODUCED BY THE EUROPEAN TRAVELERS, THE SAILORS, AND THE CHINESE IMMIGRANTS IN THE WEST, A. K. A. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AT AROUND THE MID-1800 S. • THE GREEKS USED OPIUM FOR SPIRITUAL OR OCCULTIST WAYS, NOT JUST FOR MEDICINAL. • THE ROMANS VIEWED POPPY’S AS A POWERFUL SYMBOL OF SLEEP AND DEATH. • THE FIRST OPIUM WAR, BETWEEN CHINA, BRITAIN AND OTHER NATIONS, LASTED FROM 1839 TO 1842 AFTER A TREATY OF NANKING WAS SIGNED.

EXTRA INFO. (CONTINUED) o OPIUM IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE MOST DEBILITATING AND ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCE THAT MANY PEOPLE, WHO HAVE USED OPIUM, ARE LABELED AS A SLAVE, FIEND, AND GHOST. o A TYPE OF CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDER IS CALLED OPIATE DEPENDENCY. o THERE IS A VERY HIGH RELAPSE RATE FOR TREATING OPIATE ADDICTION, AND THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM.