Abstract
The History Channel’s documentary, Hooked-Opium, Morphine, and Heroin discusses these illegal drugs and how they became that way. The poppy plant has a long history of relieving pain and producing a state of euphoria. Opium, Morphine, and Heroin are all derivatives of the Papaver Somniferum (the poppy plant). Though these drugs were once legal and thought to be a miracle used to treat symptoms of many diseases, you will find that they caused addiction, harmful side effects, and even death. This led to social uproar and prohibition of these drugs. Sadly, much prohibition resulted from the association of these drugs with their use by aliens and minorities. The end result was the legislation of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 and The Harrison Act of 1914. Today, though these opiate derivatives still exist, it is much harder to gain access to these drugs than in the 19th and 20th centuries. …show more content…
Papaver Somniferum, the opium poppy plant, is a natural wonder that soothes pain and inspires euphoria. Poppy was once honored as the gift of the Gods. Six thousand years ago, ancient Babylonians once called it the “joy plant” and drank the sap or dried it into cakes that were eaten to enhance the pleasure of sex. Alexander the Great even gave it to his army. The soldiers were much stronger when they could not feel the pain. Roman gladiators used opium to fight furiously or die painlessly. Before pain killers and anesthesia, opium was considered the “drug of
The History Channel’s documentary, Hooked-Opium, Morphine, and Heroin discusses these illegal drugs and how they became that way. The poppy plant has a long history of relieving pain and producing a state of euphoria. Opium, Morphine, and Heroin are all derivatives of the Papaver Somniferum (the poppy plant). Though these drugs were once legal and thought to be a miracle used to treat symptoms of many diseases, you will find that they caused addiction, harmful side effects, and even death. This led to social uproar and prohibition of these drugs. Sadly, much prohibition resulted from the association of these drugs with their use by aliens and minorities. The end result was the legislation of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 and The Harrison Act of 1914. Today, though these opiate derivatives still exist, it is much harder to gain access to these drugs than in the 19th and 20th centuries. …show more content…
Papaver Somniferum, the opium poppy plant, is a natural wonder that soothes pain and inspires euphoria. Poppy was once honored as the gift of the Gods. Six thousand years ago, ancient Babylonians once called it the “joy plant” and drank the sap or dried it into cakes that were eaten to enhance the pleasure of sex. Alexander the Great even gave it to his army. The soldiers were much stronger when they could not feel the pain. Roman gladiators used opium to fight furiously or die painlessly. Before pain killers and anesthesia, opium was considered the “drug of