|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Opium Poppy, Crude
Opium, Codeine,
Heroin,
and Morphine | |
Morphine |
Powdered
Heroin |
Hydromorphone
(Dilaudid) |
|
|
|
| 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 |
|
| 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. |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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. |
|
| 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. |
|
| 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 |
|
| Street
Names: Pain Killers, Pain Pills, Percs |
|
| 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. |
|
