Opiates

Opiates is a collective term for drugs, which are derivatives (in the broadest sense of the word) of opium. These include basically two groups of alkaloids: phenanthrenes? and papaverines?. Opiates in the narrower sense of the word are only the phenanthrenes?.

Phenanthrenes?:

Naturally occurring in opium:

• Morphine
• Codeine?

Semisynthetic derivatives:

• Heroin
• Hydromorphone?
• Oxymorphone?
• Hydrocodone?
• Oxycodone?

Fully synthetic:

Phenylheptylamines?:

• Methadone?

Phenylpiperidines?:

• Meperidine?
• Fentanyl?

A high number of opiates are considered to be highly addictive.