This depends on several different factors. The potency of the opium, user tolerance, method of administration, etc... The ingredients in opium that actually cause the "high" or "buzz" are morphine, codeine, thebaine, and several others. These chemicals are known as opium alkaloids or opiates. If you do a little research on these chemicals, and how the body if effected by and uses them, you will get a much better understanding. Opium is actually a "cocktail" of several different narcotic alkaloids. Even opium itself varies from plant to plant, and has different levels of each alkaloid in it. You will easily be able to find MUCH information on how these alkaloids work and how they are used. I can describe how they work, basically, however...
When an opiate enters the body, it is taken into the bloodstream. The blood carries it to the brain, where it attaches to special receptors in the brain (between the synapses) called "opiate receptors" or "opioid receptors" (to be more generic). When these molecules attach to the receptors, they actually slow down the signals from the nerves in the body to the brain. These signals from the body's nerves are what tells the brain "OUCH!" when something hurts you, and you feel the pain. Since the opiates slow down, or almost totally block out these signals, pain is barely, if at all, felt. The body will feel slightly numb, or desensitized for lack of a better word. The opiates also cause the brain to release high levels of serotonin and dopamine, which are natural endorphins that make you feel pleasure or happiness. The high levels that opiates cause the brain to release cause a feeling of euphoria (EXTREME happiness), content, safety and security, confidence, and general well-being and satisfaction. It is a depressant-narcotic, so it slows down the central nervous system (CNS). This can cause dizziness, uncoordinated movement, nausea, lethargy and drowsiness, slowed heartbeat and breathing, and several other side effects. However, side-effects vary greatly from person to person, with some experiencing very few or none, and some experiencing several or almost all. It depends on the person's body chemistry and their opiate tolerance. Different opiates have only slightly different effects, and in essences, they all serve the same basic purpose.
Just do a little research on opiate alkaloids and how they work in the body. You will understand it better. Remember that opium is NOT just one drug, but several different ones that come from the same plant's resin (or latex/gum). Drugs like diacetylmorphine (aka Heroin) are actually semi-synthetic and are NOT found naturally in the opium plant. Drugs like this are instead refined from the natural alkaloids to form new substances. Be sure to look up the NATURAL alkaloids found in opium that have not been tampered with. Examples are, once again,: Morphine, Codeine, Thebaine, and several others...
Little known fact:
Did you know that Heroin is actually a brand-name? It certainly is! Heroin is actually Diacetylmorphine, a chemically altered form of morphine which has a better bio-availability and acts quicker in the body. It was created by what is now know as Bayer Aspirin Co., a German pharmaceutical company. Bayer Aspirin was actually called Bayer Heroin, until the drug was removed from the market and made illegal due to abuse and addiction problems. So next time you see that bottle of Bayer Aspirin, remember what Bayer REALLY got started with! HAHA!
...and No, this is NOT a joke. It IS TRUE!
Most don't and don't mind either.
Bear in mind that there are many pain killers that are not derived from opium. However, America does legally import some opium to use in the pharmaceutical industry; it comes from the nation of Turkey.
There were 2 Opium Wars, the First Opium War was from 1839-1842 the Second Opium War was from 1856-1860
opium poppies
No there is no opium in Methadone
they got it from India then manufactured the opium
selling opium
Opium, you spelled it correctly.
The tea and Opium trade
The opium poppy is a type of plant in which opium and poppy seeds come from. Opium is where many narcotics like morphine, are taken from.
Crude opium is made of the opium poppy's latex. This latex is obtained by cutting the unripe pod of the plant.
Opium is no longer used as an ingredient in perfume because of its additive quality. Though YSL produces a perfume named Opium, there is no ingredient of opium used in the manufacture of the perfume Opium!