Drug 1: Narcotics Flashcards
What are the major narcotics?
Opium, morphine, heroin
What makes a drug a narcotic?
Narcotic drugs are opiate derived and related drugs
What effect do narcotics have?
The word narcotic is derived from the Greek word ‘stupor’ because they produce dream-like effects, and at high doses can induce sleep.
What do narcotics do pharmacologically (in the medical setting)?
Have sedative-hypnotic and analgesic (pain killing) properties, they act stereo-typically on endorphin/enkephalin receptors and are antagonized by Naloxone
What drug reverses the effects of a narcotic drug?
Naloxone
What receptors do narcotics act on?
endorphin & enkephalin receptors
What are the 3 categories of narcotics
Opium & 3 natural components extracted from it: morphine, codeine, thebaine
Opium Derviatives: changes to chemical composition of morphine e.g. heroin
Synthetic Opiates: Not chemically related to morphine but produce opiate-like effects e.g. Meperidine (Demerol), Methadone, LAAM.
What is the purpose of creating synthetic opiates?
Synthetic opiates have been created in an attempt replicate the effects (analgesia) of the drugs without the abuse potential. Creating drugs which do not have abuse potential can help in the medical setting and also in rehabilitation of addicts e.g. heroin addicts taking Methadone
What are opium derivatives?
Drugs which have been created by making changed to te chemical composition of morphine e.g. heroin
What drug is an opium derivative?
Heroin
What are synthetic opiates?
Drugs which are not chemically related to morphine but produce similar effects e.g. Methadone
What drug is a synthetic opiate?
Methadone
What are the 3 natural components extracted from opium?
Morphine, codeine, thebaine
Where is opium sourced from?
The opium poppy, not the same as a normal poppy
How is opium sourced?
An incision is made on the seed capsule allowing a milky liquid to ooze out,
Oxidation causes the formation of a reddish, brown syrup which is collegected
What is the active ingredient in narcotics?
Opium
Out of morphine, codeine and thebaine, which is the most potent?
Morphine
Which type of narcotic is 10x more lipid soluble?
Opium derivatives e.g. Heroin
What is heroin often taken with?
Other drugs
What drug is often taken with other drugs such as cocaine?
Heroin
What countries harvest opium?
Fields in hot countries such as Peru, Afghanistan
How far backdated is opium cultivation?
1200BC
When did opium use peak?
19th Century
In china, how was opium primarily taken?
Through smoking