Opiates are drugs used to treat pain derived from the opium plant. These substances are highly addictive and carry a high risk for opiate addiction for anyone who takes them for a prolonged period, even if they are used as prescribed.

For almost as long as opiates have existed, they have been used for both medicinal and recreational (i.e., to get high) purposes. Opiates exist on the drug market in a few different forms: as prescription pharmaceuticals (morphine, codeine, methadone, etc.), and illicit street drugs (heroin, opium, etc).

Reference: written by The Recovery Village®, reviewed by Patrick Moser https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/opiate-addiction/#gref , consulted on july 5th,2019