Opiates

Presently she cast a drug into the wine of which they drank to lull all pain and anger and bring forgetfulness of every sorrow - The Odyssey, Homer, (Ninth century B.C.)

Opiates

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Opiates and Opioids: New Understanding of an Old Problem

Opiates and Opioids are two words (and substances) that can often be intertwined and confused, but have some major differences. Opiates are derived from the opium poppy plant and are naturally occurring substances. Opiate drug types include heroin, opium, morphine, and codeine. While similar to opiates, opioids are synthetic drugs (man-made) that produce opiate-like effects. Opioids include oxycodone (Oxycontin), hydrocodone, and fentanyl.

Opiates have been used for centuries by various ancient cultures for recreational use and pain relief. They were so valued by individuals for their narcotic affects that two wars, in the 19th century, were fought over opium. Morphine was used as…

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Opiates or Opioids — What's the difference?

Opiates are chemical compounds that are extracted or refined from natural plant matter (poppy sap and fibers). Examples of opiates Opium, Morphine, Codeine, Heroin,

Opioid vs Opiate – What is the Difference?

All opiates are opioids, but not all opioids are opiates.

A brief history of opiates, opioid peptides, and opioid receptors

The use of written records to decipher the early history of opium use and abuse is hard because descriptions of drugs by ancient authors are often ambiguous.

Facts You Should Know About Opiates

They may be in the form of a tar-like substance, or white or brownish powder. Three types of opiates are codeine, heroin, and morphine.

Opiates

Opiates are natural opioids, such as heroin, morphine and codeine, derived from poppy seeds. Poppy plants and opium were reported as early as 3400 BC when the poppy plant was called the “joy plant.” The most prescribed opiates are codeine and morphine.

Opioid vs. Opiate

The term opiate refers to drugs that are naturally found in the opium plant. The term opioid describes man-made drugs that are chemically similar to opiates. Today, many people use the word opioid to refer to natural opiates and man-made drugs that are similar to opiates.

What is the difference between opiates and synthetic opioids?

Opiates are substances made from several species of the opium poppy plant that help relieve pain. These plants have been cultivated and used by humans for medicinal and recreational purposes over thousands of years. Morphine and heroin are well-known examples of opiates.

Opiates and Opioids: New Understanding of an Old Problem

Opiate and Opioid use has a lengthy history, and misuse of them has waxed and waned over centuries. In more recent years, the misuse of opiates/opioids has grown to epidemic proportions.