Opium has many long and short-term effects that can be harmful to the body.  Initially, the euphoric state that is caused by the drug can be relaxing and comforting but long-term use of opium can lead to addiction and physical dependence.  Many of the harmful effects of opium are related to the damage caused to the lungs from smoking the drug or to the effects that are caused by derivatives of the drug.

Here you will learn about the long-term effects of opium and the risk of long-term opium use.  For many, the harmful effects of opium will not present until many years of use.  However, for some the effects of opium use are harmful almost immediately and when overdose becomes a problem, there is a risk of death.

This section addresses the:

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• Long-term effects of opium
• Short-term effects of opium
• Effects of opium on the body
• Harmful effects of opium

Opium also has various effects on those who are already addicted to drugs. Opium is a narcotic and for those who become addicted to narcotics, the outcome is a difficult one.  According to the DEA, Opium can only aggravate symptoms for those who are already addicted to other drugs and should not be used.

The analgesic effects of opium are the primary reason that this drug was used for hundreds of years.  Even in Chinese medicine, opium was used to produce an analgesic effect that would promote pain relief.  Today, many other drugs are derived from opium to produce similar effects without producing the same dangers that opium itself produces.