Opium is a narcotic drug produced from the drying resin of unripe capsules of the opium poppy, Papaver Somniferum. The major constituent of opium is morphine, and these molecules have pain-killing properties similar to those of compounds called endorphins produced in the body. Several used it as a therapeutic drug to relieve depression, as well as physical pain. Opiates first produce a feeling of pleasure and euphoria, which is part of what is responsible for the psychological drive of certain people use this drug. By the 17th century, opium was used strictly for medication in Western Europe, but by the end of the 17th century, addiction became more widespread. At this time, the specific effects of opium on the human body and mind …show more content…
Not everyone accepted this idea, however, with England being as traditional as it was; but many Romantic writers were intrigued with the level of creativity and imagination they believed opium could induce. In Confessions, De Quincey says that he hopes to present a "useful and instructive" record of what he feels to be a remarkable period in his life, and how he feels opium addiction played an important role in his writing. Up until this point, traditional English society had frowned upon people revealing their personal faults and discrepancies. Although it was undeniable that people had their flaws, it was an unspoken rule that you had to keep your weak side hidden. De Quincey opens with an apology that he is "breaking through that delicate and honourable reserve, which, for the most part, restrains us from the public exposure of our own errors and infirmities" (1), because he understand that, normally, "guilt and misery shrink...from public notice" (1). However, he is prepared to stir things up and warns that the following confessions may come as a shock to some readers because it will go against the grain of tradition. De Quincey starts off by suggesting that "infirmity and misery do not, of necessity, imply guilt" (2). In other words, although he does call this his confessions, he means it only in the sense of admittance, not in the sense of being at fault. If
However, like in this novel, guilt can be good as it can motivate a person to attempt to make amends and to try to repair damage. As a result of the guilt these three characters had, they made up for France’s darkest
``In criminal law, confession evidence is a prosecutor’s most potent weapon’’ (Kassin, 1997)—“the ‘queen of proofs’ in the law” (Brooks, 2000). Regardless of when in the legal process they occur, statements of confession often provide the most incriminating form of evidence and have been shown to significantly increase the rate of conviction. Legal scholars even argue that a defendant’s confession may be the sole piece of evidence considered during a trial and often guides jurors’ perception of the case (McCormick, 1972). The admission of a false confession can be the deciding point between a suspect’s freedom and their death sentence. To this end, research and analysis of the false confessions-filled Norfolk Four case reveals the
Guilt is a powerful emotion that can greatly affect the course of a person’s life. Dunny’s character, in Robertson Davies’ Fifth Business, first experienced guilt at an early age due to a tragic accident. A snowball that was meant for Dunny hit a pregnant woman, Mrs. Dempster, causing her to go into premature labour. Although her child, Paul Dempster, survived, the guilt that Dunny experienced from his part in the situation would stay with him for the rest of his life. Guilt stayed with Dunny’s character throughout his life, and continually affected all of his actions.
When considering this further, the burden, which the scarlet letter and its separate culpabilities imply, reveals how the character Dimmesdale feels shame in his inability
With a man just trying to make a living with his life, he finds himself involved with something he didn’t want to get involved with at all. He was struggling not to get involved with the trials and yet he still wanted to live his own life not being told what to do by other people while still being like by other people in the community. He didn’t want his name to be ruined by signing that confession. If he did his life would be ruined people would think of him as being evil when his name would be mentioned. He didn’t want
The opioid epidemic in America continues to grow at an alarming rate with no end in sight. All narcotics are derived from the opium poppy plant and then manufactured into different forms of drugs such as morphine, heroin, and other pharmaceutical and synthetic opioid drugs sold on the market for pain. Opium derived drugs block and suppress pain by binding to and stimulating the natural receptor sites for endorphins found in the central nervous system of a user’s brain. Patients who are prescribed narcotic drugs can quickly become addicted to the drugs because their body’s will stop producing endorphins and instead
Opioids are drugs that come from opium. Opium is the dried latex which comes from the opium poppy seed. These drugs create an euphoric effect on the brain. They attach to receptors in the brain to release opium. There are four classes of opioids. Endogenous opioids which the body release on its own at moments of joy. Opium alkaloid, semi-synthetic opioids, and fully-synthetic opioid which are all human made chemically in labs.
Oxycodone is the main drug I am concentrating on even though there are many opiates or schedule II drugs that are considered Opioids. Oxycodone was created during the process to find a drug that was not addictive like morphine and heroin, which were commonly used in medicine before World War I(? A Forever Recovery. 2014. Web. 10 Mar. 2016?). Oxycodone is an opioid analgesic, ?Pain Killer? that is most often prescribed to control moderate to severe pain that must not be used with other medications. It is a slightly synthetic opiate that was created in 1916. The chemicals found in Poppy plants also make as morphine and heroin. Opiate:?A drug (such as morphine, codeine or heroin) containing or made from opium or the opium poppy, used to alleviate pain, or induce sleep or euphoria. ( A Forever Recovery. 2014. Web. 10 Mar. 2016). Opioid:?A synthetic or semi-synthetic substance producing an opium-like effect, often prescribed for the alleviation of moderate to severe pain; a prescription painkiller in the opiate class.
Society today has been clouded and somewhat overtaken by social drugs. Wherever you may look, a drug is being used, whether it is more commonly a cigarette being smoked on the street, or the covert teens smoking marijuana in secluded areas. In any case, there is not one person who can say drug use is not prevalent, since society has made it clear through news, music and everyday life. However, there are certain drugs that seem to be worse than others, and society once again has taught us that through our laws and restrictions. The worse the drug, the more you pay for having it. Basically, drugs have become a part of our life, and you never know when they can land on your doorstep.
Moreover, another dangerous substance that is consumer is opium. Opium is an addictive drug that is taken from a poppy plant. At first, this drug is used as a narcotic in medicine as an anesthetic as the dangers associated with it are outweighed from the medicinal properties. The prohibition of opium originated from foreign disputes. Professor David F. Musto wrote that “Americans had quickly associated smoking opium with Chinese immigrants who arrive after the Civil War to work on railroad construction. This association was of the earliest examples of a powerful theme in American perception of
The book exposes this aspect in two forms, first of all, the confessions are implying that the person is avoiding any possible transgression in life (McKay, A History of Western Society, p. 24, The Declaration of Innocence). As shown in the first confession ‘’Usekh-nemmt from Anu - I haven't committed sin.’’, it is basically a declaration of innocence since it denies the fact to have committed any possible sin. The representation of the everyday morality is expressed in every confession as a declaration of innocence.
For thousands of years, opiates have been used in the treatment of pain. Opium is believed to have been discovered 6000 BC, and since then, it has had a huge impact on both medicine and the recreations of those seeking euphoria. More recent than the ancient discovery of natural opium are the derivatives of opium, such as the alkaloids morphine, codeine, and thebaine. From these alkaloids, semi-synthetic opiates can by synthesized, such as hydrocodone, and oxycodone. Synthetic opioids are also quite prevalent, which include fentanyl and tramadol. Opium can also be processed into heroin, a morphine derivative. As advancements were made in science and engineering to allow for a wider distribution and usage of opiates, the problems of dependence and overdose also increased drastically. According to Hart and Ksir (2013, p. 302), the invention of the hypodermic needle for intravenous administration of morphine and other drugs allowed for a much faster and more potent dose of the drug. With this increased potency came an increase in the possibility of a recreational intravenous user to overdose. Hart also mentions that some of the wars surrounding the era of the synthesis of morphine may have contributed to the rise of morphine, seeing as a medic soldier’s motto was always “first provide relief” (2013). This relief-driven attitude and extensive use of opioid analgesics in medicine during the time, in addition to the large amount of patent medicines and remedies on the market may
Heroin is a painkilling drug that is made from the Papaverum Somniferum, also known as the opium poppy plant. All opiates are addictive painkillers. Heroin starts as a milky sap of the opium poppy. The sap is then dried and becomes a gum. After washing the gum, it becomes opium. Morphine and codeine are two painkilling alkaloids that
The first written mention of opiates is believed to have come from third-century B.C. Greek culture and the writings of philosopher Theopphrastus. By this time, people had discovered that drying the poppy plant's extracted fluid created a highly powerful drug which would become known as opium. The first opiates are believed to have been cultivated during the Neolithic period in what is now known as Switzerland. The settlements in this area cultivated Papaver which was a source of poppy seeds. Many historians agree that these early individuals discovered the narcotic effect of the poppy plant and therefore were the first users of opiates (Rosen, 2009). Opiate analgesics have been used by humans for thousands of
The content of my paper will be an analysis of Augustine’s Confessions. I will focus on the first nine chapters of the book. First, I will write an introductory page about Augustine. Second, I will explain why Augustine wrote the Confessions and the importance of the Confessions as a philosophical work. I will analyze Augustine’s view of God and show the main theme of his book, which is, the sovereign God of grace and the sovereign grace of God. I will focus on Augustine’s view of God and His grace.