What Does Opium Smell Like? And Other Ways To Spot The Drug

Opium is a highly addictive, non-synthetic narcotic, and it comes from opium poppies. They are dark reddish pink poppy flowers with deep burgundy and yellow centers; however, the drug derived from this beautiful plant smells nothing like flowers. 

Opium is derived from the milky-white latex sap the seed pods produce before they bloom. This sap, sometimes referred to as “opium gum” is then dried and processed further to concentrate the narcotic properties of the opium inside. But you may be wondering what does opium smell like.

Opiums Forms

Opium can be a liquid,  a solid, or a powder form. The smell and detectability of opium does change slightly with each form. Opium as a liquid is typically injected intravenously; therefore, you are only likely to smell the drug if it is open near the user or if it has dropped onto them in liquid form during use. It has a faint, ammonia-like smell. When thinking about what does opium smell like, solid Opium is usually heated and processed further before use and smells like vinegar or burning chemicals. 

Detecting Opium

Opium is processed and refined into pharmaceutical drugs such as morphine or codeine and can also be refined into an illicit drug such as heroin. Detecting opium use specifically can be challenging because it shares similar drug reactions to other opiates. It will take proper testing to know precisely which opioid someone may be abusing, but there are some simple signs to be aware of. Euphoria, slurred speech, and small pupils are immediate signs of active opioid use. Other signs can include sensitivity to pain, irritability, constipation, or withdrawal.

Signs Of Abuse

Opium abuse can lead to a slew of nasty side effects, including but not limited to physical dependence on the drug, loss of interest in everyday activities, poor hygiene, financial troubles, the inability to keep appointments, sudden mood changes, or any combination of these problems. Severe opium abuse can lead to all of these problems and more. The emotional and physical dependency that occurs with repeated opium use is incredibly hard for our brains to overcome without medical or legal intervention. 

Withdrawal 

Opium withdrawal sends the body into a nauseating spiral of mental and physical pain. Opium chemical alters our brains in a way that our bodies become convinced that opium is necessary for survival. Going through opiate withdrawal causes spiraling depression as well as severe physical problems. The resulting shock to your body can cause irregular heartbeats, abdominal pain, tremors and shaking, panic attacks, cold sweats, vomiting and diarrhea, or insomnia. These effects can last anywhere from five to ten days. 

Be Vigilant 

So, what does opium smell like? Opium abuse can be hard to determine specifically because it shares properties with many other narcotics. It is essential to be vigilant and to keep a watchful eye on our friends, family, and coworkers. The initial signs may be subtle, such as backing out of plans last minute or never making it to work on time for months. The symptoms of opioid use can take a turn for the worse quickly, and addiction can form at any point, depending on the user.