Morphine is a drug made from opium and used by millions of people worldwide to stop their pain and feel calmer. However, it plays a critical role in the modern world, affecting politics, economy, international relations, the environment, and, of course, health care. Devereaux et al. note that it is challenging to determine whether morphine is a gift from nature, treating numerous patients from severe pain, or a powerful poison, causing addiction for millions and having history-altering consequences (2406). Undoubtedly, it is essential to pay more attention to the chemistry of the drug to have a better understanding of the issue.
The history of morphine is long and exciting, as its effects were well-known in ancient Greek. According to Brook et al., it is the world’s first true drug and the active ingredient of man’s oldest medical remedies, which has stood the test of time (54). In the 19th century, it became widespread, though its consumption was sometimes irrational and caused adverse effects. Nevertheless, morphine earned enormous popularity and attracted many scholars’ attention. Brook et al. mention, the International Opium Convention, signed in 1912, sought to regulate manufacturing and distribution of morphine, and soon after, anti-narcotic laws began to appear (53). Morphine is still widely used both legally and illegally, and many politicians, activists, scholars, and healthcare providers work diligently to minimize the adverse effects of its misuse.
Furthermore, morphine is a natural product, which is distributed in considerable amounts every year. According to Chu et al., there is no synthetic production process that can compete at the same scale and not require the input of natural sources (14518). The drug is an enduring challenge for synthetic chemistry because of “the combination of potent biological effects and a complex pentacyclic structure bearing five contiguous stereocenters” (Chu et al. 14518). Morphine’s chemical formula is C₁₇H₁₉NO₃. It is a “benzylisoquinoline alkaloid with two additional ring closures” (Bulduk et al. 1). Morphine does not belong to any functional groups that would lead it to undergo hydrolysis but may be susceptible to photolysis in sunlight. Morphine can react with sulfuric acid and formaldehyde to produce morphine sulfate. Morphine can be chemically synthesized, but the complexity of the polycyclic structure makes it easier to extract it from opium (National Center for Biotechnology Information).
Moreover, United Nations reports, “Global manufacture of the drug in 2018 amounted to 388.2 tons, over 80 percent of which was converted into other narcotic drugs or substances not covered by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs” (21). Unfortunately, it is impossible to determine the cost associated with the manufacture and distribution of morphine, as its large amount is produced and sold illegally worldwide. Nevertheless, it is evident that the morphine market involves many stakeholders and generates much money.
In addition, the drug has a substantial impact on the health outcomes of the world population. Krishnamurti and Rao mention the therapeutic actions of morphine, such as analgesia (relieving pain), anxiolysis (stop anxiety), euphoria, and feeling of relaxation (862). Although there are many similar products, none of them has proven to be as effective as morphine. Hence, despite a smaller number of side effects, they have not earned such popularity and attracted little attention.
In conclusion, morphine is an effective drug with many side effects, influencing numerous aspects of life, ranging from politics to health care. It is a gift from nature, helping millions of individuals relieve severe pain, and poison, ruining millions of lives at the same time. The issue is particularly relevant nowadays, as many individuals endeavor to minimize the adverse consequences of drug popularity. Unfortunately, it is often manufactured and distributed illegally; thus, the problem’s alleviation is exceptionally challenging. However, there is hope that a similar drug will be discovered, and the illegal manufacture and distribution will be stopped.
Works Cited
Brook, Karolina, et al. “The Chemical History of Morphine: An 8000-year Journey, from Resin to de-novo Synthesis.” Journal of Anesthesia History, vol. 3, no. 2, 2017, pp. 50-55. Web.
Bulduk, Ibrahim et al. “Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Morphine from Capsules of Papaver somniferum by Response Surface Methodology.” International Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 2015, pp. 1-8. Web.
Chu, Shuyu, et al. “A Cascade Strategy Enables a Total Synthesis of (±)-Morphine.” Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English), vol. 55, no. 46, 2016, pp. 14518-14521. Web.
Devereaux, Andrea, et al. “DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Morphine.” ACS Chemical Neuroscience, vol. 9, no. 10, 2018, pp. 2395-2407. Web.
Krishnamurti, Chandrasekhar, and Ssc Chakra Rao. “The Isolation of Morphine by Serturner.” Indian Journal of Anaesthesia, vol. 60, no. 11, 2016, pp. 861-862. Web.
National Center for Biotechnology Information. “PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5288826, Morphine” PubChem, Web.
United Nations. Estimated World Requirements for 2020 Statistics for 2018. 2020, Web.