About Opiates
Hi, my name's
Sara Bellum. Welcome to my magazine series
exploring the brain's response to drugs.
In this issue, we'll investigate the fascinating
facts about opiates. Some of this information
was only recently discovered by leading
scientists.
If you've ever
seen "The Wizard of Oz," then you've
seen the poppy plant -- the source of
a type of drug called opiates. When Dorothy
lies down in a field of poppies, she
falls into a deep sleep. No wonder the
Latin name of this plant -- Papaver somniferum
-- means "the poppy that makes you sleepy."
Opiates are
made from opium, a white liquid in the
poppy plant. They're also referred to
as narcotics. Maybe you've heard of drugs
called heroin, morphine or codeine. These
are examples of opiates.
Opiates can
produce a quick, intense feeling of pleasure
followed by a sense of well-being and
a calm drowsiness. But they can also
become an addiction. If someone uses
opiates again and again, his or her brain
is likely to become dependent on them.
Source: National Institute on Drug Addiction |
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