The Opium Poppy: Blessing and Curse - Research Proposal Example

This is, probably, among the earliest medicinal plants that human beings had discovered. In the present day, cultivation of opium poppy takes place in many countries worldwide, notably Turkey, Poland, Holland, Romania, Iran, Afghanistan, Canada, just to mention a few. This discussion will consider both the negative and positive effects of opium poppy upon the society. According to the United Nations (2009), opiate drugs have a close association with a variety of negative effects upon human society.

Such negative effects include terrorism, wars, international politics, crime, and negative economic issues. For instance, many morphine addicts are willing to do almost anything, including prostitution, robbery, and thievery in order to obtain the drugs. Research has shown that consumption of too much opium can kill. According to Chouvy (2010), opiates can result in severe side effects, dependence, and addition. There is an association between the use of opium and the presence of multiple disorders in diabetic men (Shiri, Hassani, & Ansari, 2006).

According to Najafi, Sheikhvatan, & Ataie-Jafari, (2010), the use of opiate drugs increases the severity of Coronary Heart Disease. Opiate drugs can interfere with the elimination of solid waste in human beings by relaxing the muscles in the intestines, which prevents them from contracting. The United Nations report (2009) has shown that many users of opiate drugs report sulky bowel movements. In spite of its negative effects, opiate drugs are still among the most effective painkillers, and are very crucial in the treatment of terminal illnesses and severe pain.

The research by the United Nations (2009) has shown that the pleasure-giving and painkilling effects of opiate drugs have been significant in ancient cultures for many years. Opium is extremely significant in the medicinal world, and it is useful in hospitals across the world (Moraes & Moraes, 2003). Currently, opium is useful in the treatment of diarrhea and spasms (Hesse, 2002). Therefore, opium poppy is both a blessing and a curse, regarding its usage in human society. However, the negative effects of opium outweigh its positive effects.

Opium has a close association with various crimes because opium users are ready to perform any possible task with an attempt to obtain the drugs (Tian et al., 2011). Medicine is one of the few fields in which opium is useful. Cultivation of the opium poppy is legal in different countries because of the medicinal value of morphine (Dewick, 2009). Annotated Bibliography 1. Chouvy, P. (2010). Opium: uncovering the politics of the poppy. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. In his book, Pierre-Arnauld Chouvy has revealed the long and interesting history of opium, which is a powerful addictive drug.

He has considered the modern-day illegal opium trade in the rural areas of Asia. Chouvy shows that opium production and use started in Afghanistan, from where it spread to the other parts of the world. He draws upon anthropology, geography, development studies, and politics in order to provide answers for various questions regarding opium use and trade. Some questions regard the limitations and shortcomings of forced eradication of Opium. It clear from the text that Opium provides powerful perceptivities into the complex economics and politics of the poppy in the contemporary society. 2. Dewick, P. M. (2009).

Medicinal natural products: a biosynthetic approach (3rd ed.). Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley. This book provides a balanced and comprehensive