Opium has been used as folk medicine for a very long time. Only after the Chinese introduced smoking opium for pleasure in the 17th century did the habit of pleasure smoking spread to other parts of the world. Opium maybe the least potent of all the opiates in its crudest form, but it is still highly addictive and long term addiction could lead to devastating effects on health. Opium is a milky liquid found in poppy seeds and in its solid form when it is dry, it can be smoked or eaten. The drug produces a sense of calmness and euphoria; two main reasons why users turn into addicts.
The slang terms on the streets for opium are Block, Black Stuff, Big O, etc.
Some of the opium withdrawal symptoms are cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, spasms, anxiety, insomnia, mood swings, depression, etc. An opium overdose is usually not fatal unless it is consumed in combination with other drugs or alcohol, but the user can be knocked off for days if it is consumed in quantities that the user’s body and brain cannot handle.
The side effects associated with opium are introverted behavior, malnutrition, blood pressure and breathing irregularities, loss of memory, etc.