Opiates

The Brain's Response to Opiates

Hi, my name's Sara Bellum. Welcome to my magazine series exploring the brain's response to drugs. In this issue, we'll investigate the fascinating facts about opiates. Some of this information was only recently discovered by leading scientists.

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.

No wonder the Latin name of this plant -- Papaver somniferum -- means "the poppy that makes you sleepy."

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.

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