DRUGS
| Facts on how drugs hurt you. |
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If you've ever seen "The Wizard of Oz," then you've seen the poppy plant -- the source of a type of drug called opiates. When Dorothy lies down in a field of poppies, she falls into a deep sleep.
Opiates are made from opium, a white liquid in the poppy plant. They're also referred to as narcotics. Maybe you've heard of drugs called heroin, morphine or codeine. These are examples of opiates.
Opiates can produce a quick, intense feeling of pleasure followed by a sense of well-being and a calm drowsiness. But they can also become an addiction. If someone uses opiates again and again, his or her brain is likely to become dependent on them.
What happens to make a person and his or her brain become addicted to an opiate? Long term opiate use changes the way nerve cells in the brain work. These cells grow so used to having the opiate around that they actually need it to work normally.
If opiates are taken away from dependent nerve cells, many cells become overactive. Eventually, these cells will work normally again, but in the meantime, they cause a wide range of symptoms in the brain and body. These are known as withdrawal symptoms.
Have you ever had the flu? You probably experienced symptoms such as aching, fever, sweating, shaking or chills. These are similar to withdrawal symptoms, but withdrawal symptoms are much worse. Yuck!
Did you know that some opiates have important medical uses? They're powerful pain killers. When used properly for medical purposes, opiates don't produce an intense feeling of pleasure, and patients have very little chance of becoming addicted.
