Opiate dependence is the state where a person has become dependant on one of the opiate class of drugs or is addicted to an opiate drug. Opiates are in the alkaloid class of drug but not all alkaloids are opiates, cocaine for instance is produced from coca leaves not from opium so cocaine dependence could not be classed as opiate dependence although some people Read more…
Opiate detox and opiate addiction information needs to start with a full explanation of the term opiate. Opiates are the opioid alkaloids which are narcotic, these products in their natural form are a product of the opium poppy, there are also many synthetic forms of opiate.
Opium was the original product formed from the opium poppy and is derived from the sap of the opium poppy seed. The main active opiates in opium are morphine, codeine (a surprise to most people who keep a supply in their medicine cupboard), thebain and papaverine. From these initial compounds are made the drug heroin, there are others but this is the most well known. There are many other alkoloids in opium but these are unimportant when discussing opiate addiction and detox.
Much of the opiates which arise from opium Read more…