Buzz
Papaver Somniferum, commonly known as the Opium Poppy, has been one of the most influential and captivating entities in human history for thousands of years. The poppy produces opium, a potent and euphoric painkiller that serves as the foundation for heroin. The plant’s presence dates back over 6,000 years, with the Sumerians among the first to document it. Revered by some as a divine gift and feared by others for its devastating potential, the poppy has sparked both admiration and trepidation throughout the ages. Regardless of its portrayal, its role in shaping the world is indisputable. Here are ten specific ways in which the plant and its byproduct have left a lasting mark on humanity.
10. Music
“Music is a beautiful opiate, if you don’t take it too seriously.” Henry Miller. Think back to your favorite rock band from the '70s or '80s. I’d wager that at least one of their songs was inspired by, or directly alludes to, heroin. The drug gained popularity in the rock community due to its mild but noticeable effects. It was often associated with creativity, romanticism, fun, and, of course, pleasure. Songs thought to reference heroin include Neil Young’s “The Needle and the Damage Done,” Guns N’ Roses’ “Mr. Brownstone,” Velvet Underground’s “Heroin,” and Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” (which remains a topic of debate). Courtney Love succinctly captured the connection between musicians and heroin: “the drug you do if you’re in a fuckin’ four-star hotel and you can order all the goddamn room service that you want and you can just lay in bed and drool all over yourself because you’ve got a million bucks in the bank. That’s the drug you want to do if you want to be a kid forever.”
9. Surgery
Surgery has been practiced for millennia, with ancient civilizations such as those in Egypt, India, Greece, and China being pioneers. What separates ancient surgery from modern practice is the ability to manage the inevitable pain that accompanies it: anesthesia. While local anesthesia comes from a different plant, the Coca, general anesthesia became achievable through the Opium Poppy. In the 19th century, a breakthrough occurred with the extraction of Morphine, one of the natural opiate alkaloids found in opium. This discovery revolutionized surgery, allowing it to reach levels of complexity we now take for granted. During the Civil War, soldiers were able to self-administer Morphine, easing the pain of bullet removal. While today we have alternative methods of general anesthesia, like hypnotics (propofol) and dissociatives (nitrous oxide), morphine and other opium derivatives are still widely used in medical practice.
8. Beautiful Flowers
Stepping away from the drug that the Opium Poppy produces, let's take a moment to appreciate the flower itself. Once commonly known as the 'garden poppy,' this plant is widely cultivated around the world for ornamental purposes. The flower can range in color from bright red to pure white, with some varieties even sporting purple hues. The capsules that contain opium are distinct and striking, making it easy to recognize the plant as a poppy. Even the tiny black seeds, which are often used to garnish cakes and muffins, come from the same species that produces opium. On a side note, it’s true that consuming poppy seeds can sometimes cause a person to fail a drug test. The seeds contain enough opiate alkaloids to show up in your system. My advice: if you've had poppy seed-laden food before a drug screening, let your employer know before the results come back, or you might find yourself job hunting.
7. Culture
Throughout recorded history, the customs and traditions of societies have likely been influenced more by the Opium Poppy than you may realize. In Ancient Greece, for example, Homer captured opium's pleasant effects in “The Odyssey”: “…had a happy thought. Into the bowl in which their wine was mixed, she slipped a drug that had the power of robbing grief and anger of their sting and banishing all painful memories. No one who swallowed this dissolved in their wine could shed a single tear that day, even for the death of his mother or father, or if they put his brother or his own son to the sword and he were there to see it done…”. Fast-forward to 19th century China, where the drug became so popular that it’s estimated that a quarter of Chinese men were addicted to it. Opium was smoked in opium dens, initially seen as a pleasurable social activity, before its addictive nature became clear. Eventually, the Chinese government outlawed it, sparking the Opium Wars, which will be discussed in the next section. Today, opiates continue to be used recreationally across cultures worldwide.
6. Wars
The Opium Wars were two significant conflicts between China and Britain, both stemming from China’s efforts to stop the opium trade and the impact of these efforts on Britain’s lucrative cash crop. The first war occurred from 1839 to 1842, followed by a second from 1856 to 1860. Opium was being produced on a massive scale in British India, providing a vast source of wealth due to China's insatiable demand for the drug. When the Chinese government realized the devastating impact of widespread addiction, it took action by outlawing opium. In effect, China attempted to quit cold turkey, but despite the government's best efforts, including the destruction of millions of pounds of opium and the arrest of around 1,700 dealers by Governor-general Lin Zexu, smuggling continued. Britain, whose wealth was deeply tied to the opium trade, was severely impacted, and war became inevitable. Eventually, Britain emerged victorious, and China was forced to allow opium imports once again, marking a turning point in both nations' histories.
5. Literature
I remember feeling incredibly excited for the new Alice in Wonderland movie when it was set to release in March. The story had always intrigued me, so I decided to dive deeper into its origins and the life of its author, Lewis Carroll. To my surprise, I discovered that it's widely believed that Carroll was a regular user of opium, and the drug may have played a key role in shaping the fantastical world of Wonderland and its bizarre characters. While some dispute this claim, laudanum (an opium tincture) was common in Carroll's time, so it isn't entirely implausible. Other renowned authors like Arthur Conan Doyle, Oscar Wilde, and Charles Dickens also found inspiration in the Opium Poppy, illustrating the profound impact this plant had on 19th-century literature. Even the iconic tale of The Wizard of Oz, one of the most beloved and enduring stories of all time, has roots in a book that was influenced by opium. And you might recall the scene in the film where Dorothy falls asleep in the poppy field before reaching the Emerald City. But perhaps the most famous literary work inspired by opium use is Samuel Taylor Coleridge's “Kubla Khan.” While suffering from dysentery, Coleridge used opium and, during a dreamy state, composed one of the most beautiful and vivid poems in English literature.
4. Wealth
The banning of opium in China led to two significant wars, illustrating just how valuable the plant has been throughout history. From the farmers who harvest it to the pharmaceutical companies that use the poppy to produce medicines, and even to the street-level heroin dealers, one thing is certain: the Opium Poppy has long been a profitable crop. It is estimated that growing a kilogram of opium costs a farmer about $300. That same kilogram can be sold to a drug dealer for around $800, yielding a substantial profit. Once the opium is processed into heroin, the dealer can sell it for as much as $16,000, turning a $300 investment into a massive return. A well-known portrayal of this process is the 2006 film “American Gangster,” in which a man rises from poverty to wealth after forging connections with poppy farmers in Vietnam.
3. Addiction
This section really requires little elaboration. The Opium Poppy introduced society to one of the most prevalent and damaging issues of today: drug addiction. While moderate, spiritual use of opium wasn’t problematic, over time, chronic use, harmful consumption methods, and the chemical alteration of the substance led to the fall from grace of what was once viewed as a ‘divine’ plant. It may have been one of the most beneficial, peaceful, and helpful things in history. Or it may be the plant responsible for a father’s neglect or a brother’s death. Regardless of the perspective, the Opium Poppy is undoubtedly one of the most influential plants to have ever graced this Earth.
2. Pharmaceutical Industries
The Opium Poppy may be simple to cultivate, but its genetic properties have generated billions of dollars for pharmaceutical companies. In the 19th century, Bayer marketed Aspirin and Morphine as painkillers for general use. Morphine quickly rose in popularity due to its potency, though it came with the deadly price of addiction. Finally, a solution seemed to emerge: heroin. It was touted as a drug with morphine’s effectiveness but without its addictive drawbacks. As you can guess, heroin proved to be even more addictive. Opioids were soon criminalized in the United States, and their use was strictly controlled by medical professionals. In the 20th century, other opium-derived drugs were introduced, including oxycodone (OxyContin, Percoset), hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), and oxymorphone (Opana, Numorphan). The next time your doctor prescribes you something for pain, chances are it’s made from the Opium Poppy.
1. Pain Relief
Pain relief is crucial in surgery, but its importance extends far beyond that. Opium has long been valued for its powerful painkilling properties. In some parts of the world, the concept of retirement doesn't exist, and many workers rely on opium’s soothing effects to keep going. It's been referred to as 'God’s own medicine' and has been considered sacred and divine by countless cultures. The two key alkaloids responsible for opium’s effect on the brain are morphine and codeine. These compounds have given rise to many opiate derivatives: morphine leads to heroin (diacetylmorphine) and hydromorphone, while codeine gives birth to oxycodone and hydrocodone. Although these derivatives start from the poppy, they must be chemically engineered in labs by pharmaceutical companies before they can be used.
