WHY DO PEOPLE USE OPIUM?

Receptors exist in the human brain for opiate drugs because the chemical structure of these drugs are similar to those of the endorphins, which the brain itself produces.  These endorphins, which are sometimes called ‘feel good chemicals’, are released by the brain when we feel stress or pain.  The space between neurons or the nerve cells are flooded by these endorphins, thus preventing them from flowing back and forth.  This way the feeling of pain or stress is reduced.

Smoking opium results in effects that are more or less identical to those of using morphine or heroin.  These effects may last for anything between three to six hours and can include relief from pain and anxiety, decrease in alertness and relaxed feeling, slowed breathing or respiratory depression, constricted pupils, constipation, impaired coordination and nausea.

When misused, even the medicinal use of opium results in addiction.  Opium, when first used gives a feeling of extreme calm, euphoria or a feeling of well being to the users.  All their troubles or problems seem unimportant and nothing really seems to matter to them, except the fact that the drug is working.  But when the effects of the drug wears off, nightmares and hallucinations may occur, and it is at this point that the users need more of the opium to satisfy their need.