Opiates are any drug derived from the opium poppy. Naturally occurring opiates include:
- Opium
- Morphine
- Codeine
- Heroin
These opiates are made with parts of the poppy plant and little else. Opiate derivatives are drugs that use the opium poppy as a component but are also partially synthetic. These are the most common types of opiate derivatives:
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
- Oxycodone (Percocet)
- Long-acting oxycodone (OxyContin)
There is a third group of drugs that are completely synthetic but still mirror the chemical structure of other opiates. This group includes methadone and fentanyl. The term “opioids” refers specifically to this synthetic group, but it is also an umbrella term for any drug that binds to opioid receptors in the brain. For most purposes, “opiates” and “opioids” are the same thing. A program for opioid treatment in Sacramento would cover both opiate and opioid recovery.