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Opium
Poppy, Crude
Opium, Codeine, Heroin,
and Morphine |
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Morphine
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Powdered
Heroin |
Hydromorphone
(Dilaudid) |
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| Opiates are
primarily central nervous
system (CNS) depressants and narcotic analgesics. The use of opiates
typically creates physical as well as psychological dependence and
tolerance. Opium is the milky latex fluid contained in the unripened
seed pod of the opium poppy (papaver somniferum). Opium contains a
number of different alkaloids. But only one family of alkaloids, the
phemanthrene alkaloids, can be converted to narcotic substances. It
is this highly addictive family of alkaloids and their derivatives
that are controlled by national and international law. From this
family comes morphine, codeine, and thebaine - the natural opiates.
The semi-synthetic opiates are then derived from these substances. |
| Drug Class:
CNS Depressant, Narcotic Analgesic |
|
| Street Names:
Hop, Tar |
|
| Description:
Opium is the crudest form and also the least potent of the Opiates.
Opium is the milky latex fluid contained in the unripened seed pod
of the opium poppy. As the fluid is exposed to air, it hardens and
turns black in color. This dried form is typically smoked, but can
also be eaten. |
| Drug Class:
Antitussive,
CNS Depressant, Narcotic Analgesic |
|
| Trade Names:
Duramorph, MS-Contin, Roxanol |
|
| Street Names:
M, Morph, Pain Killers, Pain Pills |
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| Description:
Morphine is found in both legally and illegally manufactured forms.
Legally manufactured morphine is usually found in white to brown
powdered form or in pill form. It is typically injected prior to
painful surgery or childbirth. The pill form is sometimes prescribed
for severe cases of chronic pain. Illegally manufactured morphine is
usually found in powdered form and is either sniffed, injected, or
smoked. |
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| Excretion:
In the 72-hour
urine, 75% of a morphine dose is excreted as morphine-3-glucuronide,
10% as free morphine, and very small amounts of
morphine-6-glucuronide, morphine-3-ethereal sulfate, and
morphine-3,6-diglucuronide. |
| Synonyms:
Methyl Morphine, Morphine Methyl Ester |
|
| Drug Class:
Antitussive,
CNS Depressant, Narcotic Analgesic |
|
| Trade Names:
Tylenol w/Codeine |
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| Street Names:
Pain Killers, Pain Pills |
|
| Description:
More than 90 percent of the morphine produced in the United States
is converted into codeine. It is also the most widely prescribed
narcotic in the United States, prescribed for both pain relief and
as an advanced cough suppressant. Codeine is a controlled substance
that requires a prescription. |
|
| Excretion:
According to a 1989 study: The following compounds were found in
the 24-hour urine samples of 3 subjects receiving an oral dose of 20
mg to 22 mg of codeine base: 32% to 46% conjugated codeine, 5% to
17% free codeine, 10% to 21% conjugated norcodeine, a trace of
free norcodeine, 5% to 13% conjugated morphine, and a trace of free
morphine. |
 |
|
| Synonyms:
Acetomorphine, Diacetylmorphine, Diamorphine |
|
| Drug Class:
CNS Depressant, Narcotic Analgesic |
|
| Street Names:
H, Junk, Smack |
|
| Description:
Heroin is a semi-synthetic opiate derived from morphine or codeine
and is the most potent of the opiates. It is typically found in
white to brown powdered form and is injected, sniffed, or smoked. In
the past, powders sold as illicit heroin typically contained only 1%
to 10% of the drug. Since injection is the most efficient manner of
delivering the drug to the central nervous system, heroin was
normally injected. In recent years, however, street supplies have
become much purer. The availability of higher purity heroin has
meant that more users can now sniff or smoke the drug and still
achieve the desired effect. Potential users once turned away by the
stigma surrounding the injection of heroin are now far more likely
to experiment through the already familiar ingestion methods of
sniffing and smoking. |
|
| Excretion:
According to a 1989 study: The following compounds were found in
urine samples of volunteers over a 40-hour period following
intravenous infusion of 70 mg of heroin: 38.3% conjugated morphine,
4.2% morphine, 1.3% 6-acetylmorphine, and 0.1% unchanged heroin.
Maximum urine concentrations of total morphine averaged 116,000 ng/ml
between 5.6 and 8.6 hours following the start of the 7-hour
infusion. |
| Synonyms:
Dihydromorphinone |
|
| Drug Class:
Antitussive,
CNS Depressant, Narcotic Analgesic |
|
| Trade Names:
Dilaudid, Hydrostat |
|
| Street Names:
Dillies, Little D, Lords |
|
| Description:
Hydromorphone is a semi-synthetic opiate derived from thebaine. Its
analgesic potency is from 2 to 8 times that of morphine.
Hydromorphone is marketed both in tablet and injectable forms. Much
sought after by narcotic addicts, hydromorphone is usually obtained
by the abuser through fraudulent prescriptions or theft. The tablets
are often dissolved and injected as a substitute for heroin. |
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| Excretion:
In the 24-hour urine, an average of 30% of a dose is excreted as conjugated hydromorphone
and 6% as free hydromorphone. |
| Synonyms:
Dihydrocodeinone |
|
| Drug Class:
Antitussive,
CNS Depressant, Narcotic Analgesic |
|
| Trade Names:
Anexsia, Hycodan, Hycomine, Lorcet, Lortab, Tussionex, Tylox,
Vicodin |
|
| Description:
Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opiate derived from thebaine. The
therapeutic dose of 5 to 10 mg is pharmacologically equivalent to 60 mg
of oral morphine. Sales and production of this drug have increased
significantly in recent years, as have diversion and illicit use.
Hydrocodone is marketed in combination with other products as an
advanced cough suppressant, by prescription only. These are
available as tablets, capsules and/or syrups. |
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| Metabolism:
In the 72-hour urine, approximately 12% of a single hydrocodone dose
is excreted as unchanged hydrocodone, 5% as norhydrocodone, 4% as conjugated hydromorphone, 3% as
6-hydrocodol, and 0.1% as conjugated 6-hydromorphol. |
| Drug Class:
CNS Depressant, Narcotic Analgesic |
|
| Trade Names:
OxyContin, Percodan, Percocet |
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| Street Names:
Pain Killers, Pain Pills, Percs |
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| Description:
Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opiate derived from thebaine. It is
similar to codeine, but is more potent and has a higher abuse and
dependence potential. It is effective orally and is marketed in
combination with aspirin (Percodan) or acetaminophen (Percocet) for
the relief of pain. Addicts either take these tablets orally or
dissolve them in water, filter out the insoluble material, and
"mainline" the active drug. |
| Baselt, Randall C.,
and Robert H. Cravey. Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in
Man. Chicago: Year Book Medical Publishers, Inc., 1989. |
|
| Beyond the ABC's
Information for Professionals - Opiate Narcotics.
Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission. 07 Sept.
2001 <http://www.nadc.gov.ab.ca/aadac/addictions/beyond/beyond_opiate_narcotics.htm>. |
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| Criminal Justice
Home Page. Lincoln Land Community College. 07 Sept.
2001 <http://www.llcc.cc.il.us/justice/drugs/drugsclass.html>. |
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| Drug Information
- Heroin. The Centre for Recovery. 07 Sept.
2001 <http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/terrace/gjl37/druginfo/heroin.html>. |
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| Drug Photos from
the IPRC Website. Indiana Prevention Resource Center.
07 Sept. 2001 <http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/prevention/iprcpics.html>. |
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| Synthetics &
Other Opiates. Drug Free Workplace. 07 Sept.
2001 <http://www.drugfreeworkplace.com/drugsofabuse/synthetic.htm>. |
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