Opiates

Clare Altman, William Ko, Gregory Lipson, Hannah

Reale, & Ailie Strauss

Opiates: What Are They?

Opiates are derived from the sap
of the poppy plant (papaver
somniferum).
They attach to the brain and
send their own message, which
can cause addiction.
Causes relaxation and a
decrease in alertness,
coordination, or feeling of pain.
3 Kinds of Opiates
Natural - from the poppy plant
and extremely addicting.
Semi-Synthetic - made from
the natural opiate Morphine
and are not as addicting.
Synthetic - artificial and range
in addictiveness.

How Are Opiates

Used?
Drug
How Is It Taken? Why Is It Used?
Relaxation
Relief from stress,
anxiety, and/or pain
Feel Good Chemicals

Opium

Smoked
Swallowed

Heroin

Injected
Pleasure
Smoked
Euphoria
Snorted/Inhaled Pain relief

Prescripti Injected
on Pain Swallowed
Killers Smoked

Relief of
moderate,
severe, or chronic
pains

Prescription
Painkillers

Called narcotics
Morphine Sometimes prescribed by medical professionals.
Codeine An ingredient in some cough medications.
OxyContin Used to relieve severe and chronic pains.
Block pain messengers in the brain: The opioid receptors,
particular parts of the brain which bring messages to the brain,
are targeted, so pain which one would normally feel is not
recognized as being painful.
Can cause euphoria, drowsiness, constipation, pinpoint pupils,
slow and shallow breathing, convulsions, coma, and death.
Short-term effects include energy and concentration problems,
nausea, vomiting, etc.; The main long-term effect is addiction,
where ones mind and body depend too much on the drug to be
able to properly function on their own.
Abuse leads to addiction.
If used to excess, at too high a dose, or taken with alcohol, they
can easily become life-threatening and lead to death.
Pharmacists are required to keep records of all sales of narcotics
because of their highly dangerous qualities.

Heroin
A physically addictive narcotic drug
Processed form of morphine
Depresses the central nervous system, slows breathing

and pulse rate, can cause infection of the heart lining

and valves, can also cause liver disease
Using infected injection needles can lead to infectious
diseases like pneumonia, HIV, and hepatitis B
Overdose may result in a coma or death
People who use it quickly or easily develop a tolerance
of it, and therefore use it more often
Painful withdrawal
Fetal death may occur if the user is pregnant

Risks of Addiction and

Withdrawal Effects

Risks of Overdose
Heroin
Comas, feinting, slowed heart rate, slowed
breathing, and death.
Brain damage, liver disease, or viruses.
Disorientation, delirium, blue lips and finger nails,
or seizures may occur.
Prescription Pain Killers
Confusion/disorientation, tremors, shaking, seizures,
or extremely deep sleeping.
Slowed heart rate or breathing and other respiratory
problems cause a lack of oxygen.
Comas, feinting, and death

Effects on the Brain

and the Body

Short Term Effects

Long Term Effects