What Are Natural Opioids?

Natural opioids, also commonly referred to as opiates, are a type of opioid derived directly from compounds found in the opium poppy plant, without the need for laboratory synthesis or chemical modification. The opium poppy, native to the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia, has been cultivated for thousands of years for its pain-relieving properties, and the natural opioids extracted from it remain among the most used pain medications today.

It’s worth understanding the distinction between the terms opioid and opiate, which are often used interchangeably but aren’t quite the same thing. All opiates are opioids, but not all opioids are opiates. Opiates refer specifically to naturally occurring compounds derived from the poppy plant, such as morphine, codeine, and opium.

How Are Natural Opioids Used?

Natural opioids are taken directly from the opium poppy plant, which is native to the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia. In fact, many parts of the poppy plant can be harvested, and its many uses range from medical painkillers to a simple cooking ingredient (poppy seeds).

The parts of the poppy plant which are used for medical painkillers or in illicit drugs usually have to be treated, refined, and dried before they are ready for use. After this, they are usually made into an injectable liquid or tablet before they can be administered.

Side Effects Of Natural Opioids

It is easy to think that just because something is “natural” that it also automatically means something is healthier or safer. Many times this is the case, but not when it comes to natural opioids.

While there are many pain-relieving medical benefits found with the use of natural opioids, it is also important to note that some uncomfortable side effects may also be present with their use.

Side effects of natural opioids include:

• constipation
• drowsiness
• stomach cramps or abdominal pain
• dry mouth
• headache
• difficult or painful urination
• small pupils
• mood changes
• paranoia
• increased sweating

Many of the side effects that come with natural opioids are the same or similar to side effects that are found with synthetic or semi-synthetic opioids.

Is It Possible To Overdose On Natural Opioids?

It is highly possible to overdose on natural opioids, so like all opioids, they must be handled and taken with care. Of all overdoses that occur in the United States each year, about 70% of them are opioid-related.

Symptoms of a natural opioid overdose include:

• unable to talk
• loss of consciousness
• shallow breathing
• bluish skin
• limp body
• slow heartbeat

It is possible to survive an opioid overdose, but quick action is necessary. The usual treatment is a drug called naloxone, which works by binding to opioid receptors in the body and blocking the effects of other opioids.

The Risk Of Fentanyl Contamination In Natural Opioids

One of the most urgent dangers facing people who use natural opioids today, whether prescribed or obtained illegally, is the widespread contamination of the drug supply with illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Fentanyl is a fully synthetic opioid up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, and it has saturated the illegal drug market to the point where it now shows up in almost every street drug, including heroin and counterfeit prescription pills made to look like legitimate opiates.

For people who use natural opioids like heroin or street morphine, fentanyl contamination is now one of the leading causes of overdose death, often because the person had no idea fentanyl was present in what they were taking. Fentanyl test strips, now legal in the vast majority of states, are one of the most practical harm reduction tools available for detecting fentanyl before use. Naloxone should also be kept on hand by anyone who uses opioids, as it can reverse a fentanyl overdose when administered quickly.

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