Opioids_Who_Is_Using.qxd

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Opiates are a class of drugs that are derived from natural sources, such as the sap of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum . This plant grows naturally in Asia and Europe. Opiates come in many different forms, including pills, powders, and liquids.

What Are Opiates?

P oppies are pretty flowers popular in gardens. The California state flower is a poppy, a certain strain that is orange. Opium poppies, though, have a powerful narcotic hidden in their seed pods. These delicate flowers bloom in red, white, or purple in a hot climate. When the flower petals fall off, cuts in seed pods produce a milky sap. This sap contains the narcotic known as opium. Raw opium is formed into lumps or cakes that can be dried out into powder. For centuries, opium was used as a powerful painkiller—one of the few effective drugs. Practitioners smoked it, ate it, or drank it in a sort of tea. It was used to soothe the pain of internal bleeding, broken bones, coughs, cancer, childbirth, and toothaches. Other conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, and fear before battle also responded well to the treatment.

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