How Much Does Morphine Cost On The Street?

Typically used for its powerful pain relief properties, morphine is available for legal consumption by prescription only. However, some people buy opioids such as morphine that are diverted for abuse and resold on the street. In 2025, morphine tablets illicitly purchased cost between $5 and $30, on average, or around $0.52 per mg in the U.S.

The average cost of prescription street drugs will depend on many factors, but is generally dependent on local availability and demand.

How Much Does A Tablet Of Morphine Cost On The Street?

The cost of a tablet of morphine will cost anywhere between $5 and $30 per pill, depending on strength and number purchased.

However, it is not uncommon for this cost to be much higher, as people battling morphine addiction are willing to pay exorbitant amounts to achieve the euphoric high.

Factors That Influence The Cost Of Morphine On The Street

Morphine is a very strong pain medicine that doctors use for serious medical situations. It’s heavily controlled by the government because it’s highly addictive and dangerous when misused. When people sell morphine illegally on the street, the price depends on many different factors.

Factors affecting illicit morphine prices:

• Type of Pill or Liquid: quick-acting pills cost different amounts than slow-release pills or liquid forms
• How Strong the Dose Is: pills with more morphine (like 60mg or 100mg) cost way more than weaker ones
• Where it Comes From: morphine stolen from hospitals might be priced differently from pills from pharmacies
• What Area You’re In: places near big hospitals might have different prices than small towns
• What Other Drugs Are Around: if OxyContin or heroin is easier to get, morphine prices might be lower
• What Customers Want: some people specifically want morphine, while others think other opioids work better
• Police Attention: when morphine gets stolen from medical places, cops pay close attention, making it harder to find
• Computer Tracking: modern systems make it risky for people to illegally get prescription morphine
• Brand Names: famous brand morphine sometimes costs more than generic versions
• How People Use It: liquid morphine, which can be injected, usually costs more than pills

The illegal morphine market is smaller than it used to be because other opioids are easier to get. Since morphine is mostly used in hospitals and closely watched by medical staff, it’s harder to steal or divert than regular prescription pills. Most people who buy street opioids now choose cheaper options like heroin or fentanyl, making morphine a less common but expensive choice on the black market.

Cost Of Morphine By Dosage

Extended-release morphine (MS Contin/ morphine ER) comes in doses ranging from 15 mg to 200 mg. Price ranges for extended-release pills are highly variable.

Cost Of Morphine On The Street Vs. Pharmacy Prices

Due to the illegality of purchasing morphine without a prescription, the street prices will be much higher than pharmacy prices. This is the case for most prescription drugs.

Average morphine prices at the pharmacy will depend on the number of pills purchased and the strength of morphine. Regional price differences and insurance coverage will also impact the final drug cost.

The Hidden Costs Of Morphine Addiction

The financial burden of morphine addiction extends far beyond the street price of the drug itself. As tolerance builds, users require increasingly larger doses to achieve the same effect, meaning the weekly cost of a morphine habit can quickly escalate into hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Many people struggling with addiction resort to selling personal belongings, borrowing money, or engaging in illegal activity to fund their use.

The true cost of morphine addiction includes damaged relationships, lost employment, and serious long-term health consequences. The cost of untreated addiction, including emergency room visits, legal fees, and lost wages, far exceeds the cost of substance use disorder treatment.

If you are facing addiction, taking the first step toward recovery may involve contacting an opioid detox center. Reach out to your primary care provider or an addiction specialist for more information about substance abuse treatment.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff