Textbook Chpt. 11 Opioids

Opium is a natural substance derived from the poppy plant, Papaver somniferum, and has been used for medicinal and recreational purposes for thousands of years.

Opioids are a class of drugs that bind to opioid receptors in the central nervous system, producing analgesia, euphoria, and other effects. They can be natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic in origin.

Naturally occurring opioids, like morphine and codeine, are directly extracted from the poppy plant.

Semisynthetic opioids, such as heroin and oxycodone, are chemically modified versions of natural opioids, resulting in altered pharmacological properties.

Routes of administration describe how a drug is delivered into the body. Pharmacokinetics describes the drug's movement in the body, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination.

A term used to describe drugs that induce sleep. However, it's often misused and associated with habit-forming substances.

A loss of sensitivity to pain.

A state of intense pleasure or euphoria.

A physiological state characterized by tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation of the drug.

The opium poppy has been used for medicinal and recreational purposes for thousands of years.

Opium contains several active constituents, with morphine being the most abundant.

Morphine was first isolated from opium by the German chemist Frederick Sertürner in 1805.

Morphine is widely used medically for pain management.

India is the largest producer and only licit supplier of opium to the world's market.

Poppy straw, containing active opioid ingredients, is another source of opioids.

Australia is the leading producer of poppy straw, and the Czech Republic is the main exporter.

The opium supplied by India contains morphine in concentrations of about 9.5-12%.

Various formulations of morphine and other opioids are used for medical and recreational purposes.

The percentage of morphine in opium from Afghanistan varied significantly, with an average of 14.4% but some samples containing as low as 5.1% and as high as 24.8%.

Heroin is created by adding two acetyl groups to a morphine molecule. This process transforms morphine into a more potent and faster-acting opioid.

Heroin reaches the brain faster than morphine due to its higher lipid solubility, leading to a more intense analgesic effect.

Heroin, unlike morphine, cannot be prescribed medically in the US. It's categorized as a Schedule I drug, meaning it has no accepted medical use and high potential for abuse.

About 10 kg of opium is needed to produce just 1 kg of pure heroin. This signifies the significant processing required to extract heroin from its raw source.

Morphine is commonly administered orally, rectally, and via injection, while heroin's common routes are injection, snorting, and smoking.

Codeine, another opioid, is commonly used in oral medications, while heroin is not prescribed in the United States.

Common forms of heroin include white or brownish powder and a sticky black substance called 'black tar heroin'.

Fentanyl, a highly potent opioid, can be administered orally, intranasally, parenterally, and transdermally.

Methadone, used for opioid addiction treatment, is typically administered orally or by injection.

A semisynthetic opioid derived from thebaine, known for its analgesic properties. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain and is available in various formulations, including immediate-release and extended-release tablets.

A semisynthetic opioid derived from thebaine, widely used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is often combined with non-opioid analgesics like acetaminophen or acetylsalicylic acid.

A high-dose, controlled-release, long-acting formulation of oxycodone, originally designed for extended pain relief. However, its abuse potential led to reformulations with abuse-deterrent properties.

A new formulation of OxyContin designed to prevent abuse by reducing the risk of crushing, snorting, or injecting the drug. It includes features that make it less desirable for non-medical use.

A competitive antagonist of opioid receptors, meaning it blocks the effects of opioids. When combined with oxycodone, it reduces the risk of abuse and decreases gastrointestinal side effects.

A naturally occurring opioid found in opium, used in cough suppressants and painkillers.

Codeine is used in some over-the-counter medications, but is also a target for recreational use.

Thebaine is a naturally occurring opioid, present in opium but in much smaller quantities than morphine and codeine.

Opioids are derived from poppies, specifically the Papaver somniferum species.

While codeine is used in OTC medications, morphine is only available by prescription.

Heroin is a semisynthetic opioid derived from morphine. Its use is illegal in most countries except for restricted medical purposes.

Diacetylmorphine and diamorphine are alternative names for heroin when used in a medical setting.

Hydrocodone is a semisynthetic opioid derived from codeine, and is the most commonly prescribed opioid in the United States.

Mixing prescription-strength codeine cough syrup with soda or alcohol creates dangerous and illegal recreational concoctions.

Street names for codeine-based recreational concoctions include "syrup", "sizzurp", "purple drank", and "lean".