Opium Epidemic
POPPY SEED TEA ILLUSTRATION
Poppy Seed Tea Illustration
I did this illustration based off an article I read expressing the addictiveness of poppy seeds and or poppy seed tea. Those who have struggled with drug addiction tend to fall back on poppy seed tea after rehab and or without rehab to cope with withdraw. Overtime poppy seed tea leads to an even greater addiction. Like any other drug, one cup of tea becomes two, and two becomes 4, the consumer will always build a tolerance and need more. A very important fact I learned about these poppy seeds are that they are legally sold on sites such as Amazon and Ebay. It is a very harmful addiction and can lead those who do not have drug addiction into a life long struggle of addiction. We as a country need to make this known and become more aware of how addictive poppy seeds are. The selling of poppy seed tea especially on websites like Amazon and Ebay should not be allowed. It is far too easy for young teens to get their hands on poppy seeds, which in fact lead to addiction and in most cases leading into stronger drugs.
GRAFFITI ASSIGNMENT
I used illustration to complete this design. Opium and addiction in my perspective is a major sign of the devil poisoning the world. Below is the completion of the assignment.
Graffiti Assignment
The purpose of this assignment was to create an image or symbol that symbolized the semester focus and or public mission, which in my case is the opium epidemic in the United States. The image is then to be used as graffiti on a building, sign, or any other public object that is relevant to your topic. I chose to put my illustration on a pharmacy sign because medication abuse is enabled through Doctors who overprescribe patients for their own financial benefit.
COMIC ILLUSTRATION
Comic Book Illustration
It is too easy for human beings to receive opium through Doctors and Pharmacies. The overmedication and or overprescribing of doctors in the United States today is very upsetting. Easy access to opioids has been a major factor in the U.S. opium epidemic. This comic book illustration was very heartbreaking to create. It shows a young woman who was has addiction and mental health issues. In the first scene she tells her doctor that her medication wasn't working (hence she is an addict) and he easily prescribed her more medication without any further questions or protocols. What he didn't know is that she is selling her opium and consuming alcohol and other pills. The opium soon was not enough and she needed something stronger. Tragically she overdosed on heroin. This is very sad and very common in our world. We need to do something about this and make humans aware of the effects of overmedicating and opium abuse can have.
INFOGRAPHIC
An Infographic that shows the long term effects of opioid addiction.
STIPPLE ILLUTRATION
I created this illustration using only stippling and erasing. It shows a infected opioid heart of a human with addiction and a white heart that symbolizes a young clean human heart. The abuse of opium leads to heroin addiction especially because heroin is cheaper and is also easy to access. The opioid epidemic is affecting younger generations more now than ever. It is to easy to get access of poppy seeds and opioids in society and on the internet. This issue needs to be brought to the surface and the United States needs to make a priority to educate young generations on the harmful effects of opium. It is also important for humans to be aware of overmedicating and abusing pills. As a country it should not be as easy as it is to access opium.
