Narcotic Plants

1. Marijuana (Bhang):-
Botanical Name:- Cannabis sativa
Family:- Cannabaceae
Cannabinoids:-
> These are the group of chemicals, which interact with the cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Natural cannabinoids are obtained from the plant Cannabis sativa.
> Leaves, flowers tops and resins of Cannabis are used in combinations in production of marijuana, hashish, charas, ganja, etc.
> These drugs are taken by inhalation and oral ingestion and affect cardiovascular system of the body.

2. Opium Poppy (Afim or Post):-
Botanical Name:- Papaver somniferum
Family:- Papaveraceae
Economic Importance:-
> It is a herb, now grown on a large scale in UP., Jullundur and Hoshiarpur districts of Punjab, M.P. and Rajasthan.
> Opium is the dried juice which exudes from the injured immature capsules of this plant.
> It is highly useful for mankind in relieving the pain, if used in limited doses, mainly due to the presence of some alkaloids. But its heavy doses and to take it as a habit can be so fatal that no other drug has caused so much corruption and tragedy as opium.
> Opium is used to induce sleep, relieve pain and relax spasm.
> Besides other resins and oils, the important alkaloids obtained from the dried latex of the opium plant are morphine, codeine, papaverine and narcotine.
> Morphine is a powerful analgesic, narcotic and stimulant.
> Besides many European countries, India and China are two great sufferors of opium.
Opioids:-
> Opioids or opiates are drugs that bind to opioid receptors present in human central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. 
> These have narcotic, analgesic, sedative and astringent effects. 
> Heroin commonly called smack is a white, crystalline, odourless and bitter compound. It is obtained by acetylation of morphine and chemically heroin is a diacetylmorphine.
> Morphine is extracted from the latex of poppy plant Papaver somniferum. Generally, taken by snorting and injection. It slows down body function as depresses nervous system. It is an effective sedative and a pain killer, used by patients who underwent surgeries.

3. Tobacco:-
Botanical Name:- Nicotiana tabacum
Family:- Solanaceae
Tobacco:-
> It is obtained from tobacco plant which can be smoked and chewed. 
> Tobacco has nicotine which stimulates the adrenal gland to release adrenaline and noradrenaline, increasing the blood pressure and heart rate. 
> The tobacco chewing has some adverse effects on health.
Effects on Health:-
> Tobacco can induce lung cancer, cancer of urinary bladder and throat, bronchitis, emphysema, coronary heart disease, gastric ulcer, oral cancer, etc. 
> Smoking increases carbon monoxide (CO) content in the blood and reduces the concentration of haemoglobin bound oxygen. Thus, leads to the oxygen deficiency in the body. 
> Addicted people require counselling and medical help to get rid of the habit.