Sensible Disposal Of Unwanted Medicine

Although the English word “drug” was only coined in the early 1300’s, humans have been partaking in the recreational use of substances since prehistoric times. Hallucinogens, alcohol, and opium existed before 6,000 BC; alcohol and tobacco use were common in the 1600’s ; and cocaine, LSD, marijuana, and heroin use rampaged in the last century despite harsh laws put in place.

Next, there is an extensive history of opioid use for pain management, and other symptom management as well. Morphine can be traced back to Civil War veterans trying to manage pain and, consequently, being addicted. “‘Drugs were already on the scene and being consumed at alarming rates long before the start of the war,’ said Mark A Quinoes, a scholar who studied drug abuse during the Civil War.” It was not until 1898 that heroin was on the market for commercial sale, considered a “wonder drug,” it began to spread in use along with users that found out injecting it would increase its effects. There was little known about these new opioids, they were even used as cough suppressants. Heroin worked for what is was being used as, a pain suppressant, and there were few other options. In 1914 the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act imposed a tax on importing and selling opium or coca leaves. In 1924 doctors were avoiding using opioids after being aware of their addictive nature which lead heroin becoming illegal. Without this opioid, doctors had to get creative when treating World War II soldiers, this sparked research into nerve blockers. These nerve blockers managed pain without the use of surgery. This was, unfortunately, not the end of the opioid. While these results were shocking the pharmaceutical industry still faces much leniency from the federal

The earliest form of painkillers was first created in the 16th century where people used laudanum or opium prepared in alcoholic solution as pain relivers. In the early 19th century, people extracted morphine from old opium poppy plants and this form of painkiller was most commonly used in the American Civil War. As Morphine was found to be very addictive, chemists in the 1870s produced heroin that did not turn out to be a success as it was proved to be more addictive than morphine. Many other synthetic opiates such as Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet were produced respectively in 1984, 1995 and 1999. However, these synthetic opiates could only be given if prescribed by a doctor as they could also be addictive. There were also other options of

Dysphoria, formication, anxiety, depression, insomnia and inability to focus on tasks are just some of the many symptoms associated with withdrawing from opiates. Opiates, originally derived from opium plants, have been used medicinally as early as 3400 B.C. Presently, opioids are used to relive pain as they have been shown to aid in decreasing the severity of pain signals moving to the brain. However, long term usage can lead to psychological dependence and neurological changes in the body (Pregolizzi, 2012; Jamison, Butler, Budman, Edwards & Wasan, 2010). As of 2013 opioids were one of the most commonly abused drug in America, second only to marijuana. There have were approximately 1,244,872 emergency department visits related

Drugs first surfaced in the late 1880’s with Opium. Opium at the time was the most in demand drug choice. Opium comes from a flower called, “Opium Poppy”, people would take the “fruit” of the flower, which was the actual opium and let it dry up and then it was either; smoked, injected, eaten or put in drinks. When the drug effects kicks it the user would start

First and foremost is the more favorable side of the topic: medicines created from plants. Most of the medicines made were pain-relievers such as opium and teas. Opium is a liquid from the opium poppy that is also found in many other medicines. “Opium ranked as the most effective pain relieving drug until the development of morphine in the early 1800s” (Herndon). Even though morphine was considered more effective than opium, morphine is a drug that contains

Opium use during the 17th and 18th century the use of opiates was positive and no one saw the harmful effects it could bring. Morphine, heroin, and oxycontin were widely used for helping with pain. In the turn of the 19th century people were having concerns of the side effects of these opiate drugs as well as the health risks that these drugs were bringing about. These drugs were highly addictive and once people were hooked onto the opiate it was very hard to get them off and this was leading to deaths and this was scaring people. Eventually in the 20th century the government saw the risks involved with legal drug use and they started putting regulation over the opiates. They would make the drugs illegal and if people were caught using they

There is a general agreement between many theorist, scientists and Pharmacologists that the Sumerians cultivated poppies and prepared opium from them in the third millennium B.C. (Brownstein 1) Opium and other drugs that derived from the poppy plant were widely used in religious practices for its euphoric properties. However, Opiates have been proven to have addictive qualities and toxic effects on the human body. This did not stop the wide spread demand for the drug. Since those early accounts of opioid use and addiction, the drug has traveled through the Middle East, Asia, and Europe like a plague and is currently a nationwide epidemic in the United States and has been for some time now.

Heroin was invented in the 1895. (“Opium Throughout History”) It was a new concoction based on morphine, similar to the then popular laudanum, and was initially meant to be used as a cheaper medical substitute at the time. Heroin was never successfully brought into the medical fold, but was popular as a recreational drug almost immediately. Opiates, in one form or another, have been used for medical pain relief and recreationally since as early as 3400 BC. (“Opium throughout History”) Throughout the history of opium, control, regulation, trade, and addiction have been struggles for every society and civilization, starting with the Egyptians, hitting the Romans, the Chinese, and the Portuguese on the way, and continues to be a struggle in every modern society in the world. (“World Drug Report 2010”)

It is necessary to provide a little background on the primary drug being discussed, heroin. Opium is not a new drug; it has been used in eastern cultures as far back as the Neolithic age. It was used then similarly as other opium based drugs today are used to control pain. Opium could be taken orally or by smoking it, both produce similar effects.

Drugs have been around for thousands of years. "A drug is any chemical that produces a therapeutic or non-therapeutic effect in the body (Drugs and Teen Substance Abuse 2000.)" Most drugs were first used for medicinal purposes, such as marijuana. Active substances were not extracted into drugs until the 19th century. Newly discovered substances like morphine, laudanum, and cocaine were completely unregulated and prescribed freely by physicians for a wide variety of ailments. Wounded veterans returned home with their kits of morphine and hypodermic needles (History of Drug Abuse, n.d.) The use of illegal drugs is increasing, especially among young teens. The conflict theory of social problems states that, "society is marked by conflict due

Opiates are historical and natural drugs. It influenced ancient Mediterranean culture, therefore people frequent used in dailylife. On the other hand, opiates had strong effects for neuron system. Ancient people would addict opiates if they took huge amounts of this drug in the short time. Many authors, philosophers, and plant specialists praised opiates for inducing sleep and reliving pains. However, they earned use of opiates for ancient people because opiates were dangerous. It was common to use opiates for a way of commit suicide at this time. Opiates had both benefits and issues. It was depend on how people wanted to use this drug. People have been used opiates in modern world. In contrast, we considering that opiates are dangerous drugs because of high potential addiction. Ancient people knew use of opiates more than modern people how they could use opiates effective and better

Opium always existed for centuries and it has been used in its raw form both medicinal and for pleasure. The origin of opium is in the Middle Eastern, when someone discovered its yearlong life, papaya somniferum produced a substance that, when eaten, eased pain and suffering (Hart, 297). The effects of opium has a huge reaction that its an epidemic, for causing many people to become addicted. Concerning that regulations on the production and administration of opium is necessary, in order to stop harmfully effecting people.

Low concentrations of pharmaceuticals have been detected in the natural environment throughout the world. They vary in composition, and can remain in the environment for months to years. Although a portion of this pollution is from veterinary pharmaceuticals used for the treatment of pasture animals, there is still a significant amount of pollution that derives from pharmaceuticals found in prescribed and over-the-counter medications for humans (Boxall et al., 2012). Health care providers are responsible for adhering to the regulations that govern the disposal and elimination of pharmaceuticals within their respective workplace. Due to the vast amount of time spent with patients, nurses have a special role in the prevention of

Opium was definitely used in more recent times as well. Before the nineteenth century there were few painkillers available. There were few alternatives to using opiates to end suffering for dying people. Long ago opium was not considered harmful and was available to everyone. Doctors advised taking opiates to relieve a number of symptoms