Opium contains alkaloids that are psychoactive and dangerous to health. The most prevalent alkaloid, morphine, makes up 10-16% of opium and can lead to respiratory problems, cardiac arrest, and coma when consumed. Regular usage of morphine can also result in tolerance and dependence. While morphine is used to relieve pain in patients, the regular usage of opium poses health risks like respiratory collapse and addiction.

1. 4/27/2018 Be aware: The dangers of opium | Curtis Cripe's WordPress Blog
https://curtiscripe.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/be-aware-the-dangers-of-opium/ 1/4
Curtis Cripe's Wordpress Blog
Expertise in Behavioral Medicine and Neuroscience
Be aware: The dangers of opium
Posted on November 30, 2017 by Curtis Cripe
For centuries, opium has been a part of the illegal drug trade all around the world. In fact, chemists
have found ways to extract another addictive substance from opium – morphine, which effectively
reduces the bulk weight of the entire shipment by 88 percent. The remaining shipment can be
converted to heroin, which is at least twice as potent. This reduction in bulk makes everything easier
to hide and smuggle.
Image source: locappy.com (h p://www.locappy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/opium-
3.png)
However, opium in itself is already very dangerous. It contains two groups of alkaloids –
phenanthrenes (morphine, codeine, thebaine) and isoquinolines (papaverine and noscapine).
Isoquinolines are not especially harmful and are not illegal under the Controlled Substances Act, but
the phenanthrenes do have psychoactive properties deemed hazardous to one’s health.
As the most prevalent alkaloid in opium (1016 percent), morphine is easily the most harmful
component of the drug. The consumption of morphine can lead to lung edema, respiratory problems,
cardiac arrest, respiratory collapse, and even comatose. Morphine can have very damaging effects on

2. 4/27/2018 Be aware: The dangers of opium | Curtis Cripe's WordPress Blog
https://curtiscripe.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/be-aware-the-dangers-of-opium/ 2/4
the mu opioid receptor in the brain, spinal cord, stomach, and intestines. While morphine can relax
and relieve a suffering patient of his pain, regular usage can lead to a higher tolerance, or worse,
dependence.

3. 4/27/2018 Be aware: The dangers of opium | Curtis Cripe's WordPress Blog
https://curtiscripe.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/be-aware-the-dangers-of-opium/ 3/4
Image source: pinterest.com (h ps://i.pinimg.com/736x/22/51/6f/22516f32385bc5bfee8885b02cb0f181--
opium-den-smoking-pipes.jpg)
Curtis Cripe (h ps://www.flickr.com/people/curtiscripe/), Ph.D., is the director of research and development of
NTL Group, which develops neuroengineering programs to address a broad array of neurological dysfunctions,
including drug addiction. Log on to this website (h ps://www.ntlgroupinc.com/) for more information about
the Dr. Cripe and the NTL Group.
This entry was posted in Curtis Cripe and tagged dangers, opium. Bookmark the permalink.
Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.
Report this ad
Report this ad
Advertisements

4. 4/27/2018 Be aware: The dangers of opium | Curtis Cripe's WordPress Blog
https://curtiscripe.wordpress.com/2017/11/30/be-aware-the-dangers-of-opium/ 4/4