What are Opioids? Opioids or opiates are any narcotic alkaloids from immature pods of the Papaver somniferum (opium poppy).  These are considered to be the world’s oldest recognized drug.  This was discovered and used even during the prehistoric eras in the Mediterranean area. The ancient Romans and Greeks believed this drug as the ultimate panacea and it appeared in their Greek pharmacopeia as early as the 5th century BC. With the expansion of Islam, opioid use was spread from Turkey to the other parts of the world. It was the Arab traders in the 8th century BC who introduced this to the Indians and Chinese. When the Chinese emperor prohibited [...]

What is Nicotine? Nicotine, an alkaloid found in the leaves of tobacco plant, is an exceptionally addictive substance and is the active component of tobacco smoke. The crucial question for smokers and healthcare workers is:  How long does nicotine stay in your system?  Tobacco leaves contain around two to seven percent nicotine.  Nicotine  imitates the effects of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and has serious effects on the autonomic nervous system.  It can cause paralysis and respiratory failure even at doses that are below 50 mg. [2] The tobacco plant is  a member of the Solanaceae family. [4] Biosynthesis of nicotine occurs in the roots. It is carried to the leaves for storage. [...]

Cocaine (crack, snow, flake, and blow) is derived from the coca plant, Erythroxylon coca. It is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that has a local anesthetic effect. In the streets, cocaine comes in the form of a powdered hydrochloride salt which is dissolved in water and then injected or snorted. Yet the most critical question that people ask is, “How long does cocaine stay in your system?” According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2009 alone, around 4.8 million young Americans (from age 12 and up) had used cocaine in its various form and that a million had used it at least once before the [...]

How Long Does Alcohol Stay In Your Blood, System,Urine? The question of “How Long Does Alcohol stay in your blood, system,urine?” is an important one for people who consume it, certainly. But it is also important for health care practitioners and law enforcement officials as well.  Alcohol consumption has raised many debates all over the world. Some scientists and health professionals state that alcohol has its benefits. A most important use of alcohol with the highest proof is medicinal. This is listed in the Unites States Pharmacopoeia as a medicine.  More than  half of the health institutions in the largest US metropolitan area have reported offering alcoholic drinks to their [...]

Marijuana comes from the dried leaves and flowers of a hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. This is the most commonly used drug in the USA, that is illegal.  Because of its widespread usage, researchers and healthcare practitioners as well as law enforcement officials need to know, “how long does marijuana stay in your system”. At least one national survey estimated that about  6,000 Americans have tried marijuana for the first time. In addition, more than 25 million people used it last year. When you look world-wide, about 162 million adults smoke marijuana at least once  a year and nearly  22.5 million smoke it daily.  [5] It is the second most widely [...]