Definition:

Opium is a depressant drug, which means it slows down the messages traveling between the brain and body. It is derived from the poppy plant, which mainly grows in Mediterranean areas.

To obtain opium, a milky exudate called latex is collected from the poppy, air dried and manufactured into a brown powder or resin. This latex contains a combination of active chemicals such as morphine and codeine. Opium usually comes in "black tar" or "red rock" variety, named based off of the color of the extract.

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addiction SUD Substance Use Disorder drug drugs opiates Opioid