Question

Name the plant source of the drug popularly called smack. How does it affect the body of the abuser?

Answer 1

Any chemical substance that when consumed (in any way) causes a change in an organism’s physiological or psychological state. There are various ways to consume drugs, viz., smoking, ingestion, snorting, and injection, absorption via a patch on the skin or dissolution under the tongue. Drugs could be obtained through extraction from medicinal plants, and also by organic synthesis.

Complete answer:
There are several drugs that are abused, especially by the youth; it is matter of concern as it could result in many harmful effects.
The drugs which are commonly abused include opioids, cannabinoids and coca alkaloid. Majority of these are obtained from flowering plants and some from fungi.

Heroin is a white, odorless, bitter crystalline compound. It is commonly known as smack. Some other slang or common names of heroin are-black tar, brown sugar, junk etc. It is chemically diacetylmorphine and is obtained by acetylation of morphine. Heroin is a class of opioids which bind to specific opioid receptors present in our central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Heroin is metabolized to morphine and other metabolites in the body and then binds to the receptors.

Smack or heroin is a highly addictive drug extracted from the latex of poppy plant Papaver somniferum. Opium is derived from the dried latex of unripe capsule (fruit) of white poppy plant.
Heroin is a depressant and slows down body functions, suppresses brain functions. It is taken by snorting and more often intravenously, however it can also be smoked or orally ingested.

Effects of use of smack or heroin-
• Produces temporary euphoria, accompanied by a dry mouth and heavy extremities.
• Depresses respiratory rate
• Constricts pupil
• Nausea
Overdose may cause blue lips and nails, muscle spasms, coma, convulsions and in severe cases death might also occur.

Note: There are several more drugs that are abused like cannabinoids and coca alkaloids.
Cannabinoids- These are hallucinogens, alter thoughts, feelings and perceptions. They bind with the receptors present in the brain. They are obtained from the inflorescences of the plant Cannabis sativa. They have their effects on the user’s cardiovascular system.
Coca alkaloids- Also known as cocaine, obtained from coca plant Erythroxylum coca. It intervenes with the transport of dopamine, a neurotransmitter. It is commonly called coke or crack. It is an analeptic drug (party drug). It stimulates the central nervous system.