Suzi Levalley

What Are Opiates?

What are opiates? Opiates include over-the-counter and prescription pain-relief medications that are derived from morphine, which is a natural compound that occurs in certain poppy plants and seeds. These medications, which are officially approved for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain in humans, are also known as opiate pain relievers. They include codeine, diaphragm, hydrocodone, and morphine; however, there are other types of opiates that include oxycodone, hydromorphone, hydromethane, and methadone.