Opium is a bitter, yellowish-brown, strongly addictive narcotic drug prepared from the dried juice of unripe pods of the opium poppy and containing alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, and papaverine. It is possibly one of the most versatile drugs known thank to its principle active ingredient, morphenine, opium deadens pain, produces elation, induces sleep and reduces distress. In the long history of opium use around the world, people in search of euphoria and well- being have managed to induce opium and its derivatives into the body in every way imaginable; in addition to being smoked, it has been drunk, eaten, sniffed, rubbed or injected.
             Whatever means is used to consume opium regularly is to risk forging an almost unbreakable and deadly bond. Opium is one of the most addictive and debilitating substances on earth, the opium addict or the person dependent to opium has been called slave, fiend or ghost.
             In the nineteenth century, opium was the prime ingredient in countless numbers of patent medicines that were used to quiet crying babies, calm frayed nerves and restore health to millions. Today, opium is classified as a "narcotic," or opiate which are a group of painkilling drugs that produce a relaxed dreamlike state; moderately high doses often induce sleep. With opiates there is a clouding of consciousness without the reckless abandon, staggering, and slurred speech produced by alcohol and other depressants. Regular use of any of the narcotics can lead to a withdrawal syndrome different that of depressant and characterized by diarrhea, cramps, chills and profuse sweating.
             The purpose of this paper is to further define opium the poppy and the negative as well as positive effects of this drug. I will also attempt to retrieve the long history of the drug and the use of opium and include a brief summary of the infamous Opium Wars. I will conclude my paper with the history of laws against opium and dr...