Synthetic Narcotics

Narcotics were among the earliest drugs used. Opium, a narcotic, was one of the most potent drugs of our ancient pharmacopeia, with a very long history of abuse. Narcotics, whether natural or synthetic, pharmacologically impact us by binding to specific narcotic receptor sites located in the central [Page 756]nervous system and in other tissues. There are several different classes of these receptors, such as the delta, kappa, and mu receptors. Further, there are respective subtypes to the various classes of receptors, each of which have a specific neurological response. Accordingly, as different natural or synthetic narcotics bind to different receptors they produce varying pharmacodynamic responses. One of the most profound pharmacological effects of most narcotics, both natural and synthetic, is analgesia; antidiarrheal and cough suppressant functions have also been utilized. Habitual use of these substances, unfortunately, can readily progress to dependence. Narcotic abuse has been one of the primary targets for developers of drug policies.

In the early 19th century, Friedrich W. Serturner, a German pharmacist, successfully isolated morphine, a constituent of the latex obtained from opium poppies (Papaver somniferum). This landmark scientific discovery opened up an entire new field of study, alkaloidal chemistry. Many other opiates, the various alkaloids derived from opium, were subsequently discovered; these include substances such as codeine, narceine, narcotine, papaverine, and thebaine. These opiates can also be synthesized. For example, codeine, although a natural opiate contained in opium, can be synthesized by methylation of the 3-hydroxy group of the morphine ring. Opioids are biochemical synthetics that produce similar effects to opiates. Heroin is a semisynthetic narcotic that was created in 1874 by C. R. Wright, a British chemist. Many other semisythetic narcotics, also known as semisynthetic opioids, were synthesized, such as hydromorphone, hydrcodone, oxymorphone, oxycodone, dihydrodesoxymorphine, nicomorphine, and nalbuphine. In addition to the semisynthetic narcotics there are many synthetic narcotics.