It’s important to understand that different medications that you may be taking and to understand which of the medications you may be taking are actually derived from opium. Taking multiple opiates could pose a significant risk to your own health and could result in overdose. There are many different drugs that are derived from opium and many are synthetic or semi-synthetic. Understanding which drugs are opium derivatives will help you to be more responsible for your own health and well-being.
Opium derivatives can be broken down into two primary groups which includes those which are derived from opium itself and those which are derived from morphine. Another set of derivatives that actually do not contain opium but that are considered opiates are synthetics which are synthesized versions of drugs that are derived from opium. Finally, there are also semi-synthetics which are partially synthetic and partially derivatives of opium.
The following drugs are directly derived from opium:
- Codeine
- Morphine
- Heroin
From these drugs, there are also some drugs that are derivatives. For instance, Vicodin and Demerol are both derived from Morphine. Certain semi-synthetic drugs also contain a combination of Morphine and synthetic material. The following semi-synthetic drugs include Morphine in addition to synthetic substances:
- Oxycodone
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
Synthetic drugs that act as opiates like opium derivatives do not actually contain any opium in them. These drugs are actually created in laboratories and although they may have similar effects as opium and they may cause similar side effects, they do not contain any derivatives of the poppy plant or opium in them.
The following synthetic drugs are designed to mimic Morphine or to mimic the analgesic effects of opium and other opium derivatives:
- Methadone
- Fentanyl
- Fentanyl Duragesic Patches
- Propoxyphene
- Butorphanol
- Levorphano
- Meperidine
- Oxycontin
- MSContin
Historic Opiate Use -
Opium is a drug that has been around for thousands of years according to the Public Broadcast Systems, Frontline, show “The Opium Kings,” opium has been around in some form or another since 34000BC. When its analgesic properties were first discovered. The knowledge of how to process and use it was gradually passed down for ... 
What is the Opiate Withdrawal Timeline? -
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Warning Signs of Opium Abuse -
Opium abuse can be just as dangerous as any other type of opiate-based drug abuse; according to the DEA, opium is “a highly addictive non-synthetic narcotic,” and its abuse is often combined with that of other dangerous drugs. If you are concerned that someone you know may be abusing opium, here are the warning signs ... 
Short-Term Opium Drug Effects -
Pure opium, as well as opium-derived drugs, all produce strong analgesic effects that work well as pain-relief treatments. Examples of opium-derived drugs include: Codeine Heroin Morphine Synthetically made opium-type drugs also exist in abundance, some of which include: Hydrocodone Oxycodone Percodan Whether natural or synthetic, short-term opium drug effects remain the same. According to the ... 
How Does Opium Addiction Treatment Help Me Stay Drug-Free? -
While most any form of addiction can be difficult to overcome, opiate addictions in particular exert a tremendous hold over a person’s will, thoughts and behaviors. People entering recovering often struggle with the aftereffects of opiates long after they stop using drugs. Without the needed supports in place, it can be especially difficult to stay ...