Question

What are derivatives of drugs? How do they affect the body?

Answer 1

Drug derivatives are substances made from or related to a parent drug. For example, morphine and codeine are derived from opium, while heroin is prepared from morphine by acetylation.

Effects on the body

1. Opium derivatives act on opioid receptors and can relieve pain and reduce anxiety.
2. They may cause drowsiness, lethargy and slowed breathing.
3. Heroin is highly addictive; repeated use can cause tolerance and physical and psychological dependence.
4. Withdrawal may cause vomiting, diarrhoea, shivering, sweating and muscle or abdominal cramps.
5. Overdose may stop respiration and lead to death; injecting drugs with unsterile equipment can transmit serious infections.

Drug derivatives can have medical uses, but unsupervised use can result in dependence, serious harm and fatal overdose.