Opium Essay

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UUN: s1420004
“OPIUM AS AN ISSUE: HOW IT WAS STARTED?”
Introduction
Papaver somniferum or generally known as poppy plant, exudates latex which can be extracted to make opium. Opium or the yellow-brown latex is scrapped off of the seed pods of poppy plant. Opium has a distinct odour which is recognizable and contains various amounts of alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, thebaine and papaverine. It is the key source for many narcotics especially morphine which takes up to 12% of the opium component.
History of Opium: The wars
Opium is a highly addictive non-synthetic narcotic and is widely used in anaesthesia as well as ritualistic purposes way back then. Its application in several activities has been reported dates back as far as Neolithic and ancient times. Acted as a pain reliever and mostly …show more content…

Opium has become an issue since the early of its recreational and medicinal uses. Opium wars between the British and the Chinese brought to the arising of global economic system. Although it has the bad side of the application which is highly addictive, it is still important in pharmaceutical industry. On the other side, the drug economy also provides many livelihoods and incomes in the context of an enduring conflict especially in Afghanistan. Eradication of opium, in some aspect, seems not to be a good idea. It is important to seek intellectually and morally consistent path within a society that respects its own laws. Drug trafficking may not be stop as a whole, but it is surely can be reduced when the laws is strict and unbreakable. Research and education in societies are one of many ways to provide good foundation in managing the risks and benefits of drugs. Thus, no improvement can be expected and opium will constantly remains as an issue if the openness, transparency, accountability, accurate information and real drug enforcement efforts are

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