An opioid is made of natural or chemical compounds, depending on whether it is natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. While natural opiates are made of alkaloids that occur naturally in the poppy plant, synthetic opioids contain human-made chemicals. Meanwhile, semi-synthetic opioids are made of chemically modified natural opioids.
All types of opioids—be they natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic—are widely used for pain management. Although they are very potent and effective in relieving pain, they are also highly addictive.
This article will explain what opioids are made of, what makes them addictive, and why ANR is the most effective opioid dependence treatment today.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are a category of natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic drugs that act on the central nervous system (CNS), exerting potent pain-relieving effects. They are prescribed to control moderate-to-severe pain, usually when non-opioid analgesics aren’t tolerated or powerful enough.
Prescription opioids are available in numerous forms, including:
- Tablets
- Capsules
- Injections
- Nasal sprays
- Oral solutions
- Subdermal implants
- Rectal suppositories
- Transdermal patches
- Buccal films and tablets
- Sublingual films and tablets
Furthermore, opioid drugs can come in immediate- or extended-release formulations. Immediate-release opioids have a fast onset of action, and they relieve pain for roughly four to six hours. Meanwhile, extended-release opioids take more time to work but provide pain relief for around 12-24 hours.
Some opioids are also common ingredients in combination painkillers. Acetaminophen/hydrocodone, also known by its brand name Vicodin, was the most commonly prescribed opioid product in the United States in 2022.
Although opioid medications effectively control pain, they have a high potential for misuse, dependence, and addiction. For this reason, most of them are treated as Schedule II controlled substances, with some falling under Schedule III or IV. Heroin, on the other hand, is an illicit Schedule I opioid with no FDA-approved medical uses.
Next, let’s find out what an opioid is made of.
What Are Opioids Made Of?
What opioids are made of primarily depends on how they’re derived. Based on this, opioids are classified into three types: natural, synthetic, and semi-synthetic.
With this in mind, let’s discover what opioids are made of:
#1. Natural Opioids
Also known as opiates, natural opioids are made of opium alkaloids. In other words, what an opiate is made of is the natural compounds found in the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum).
Opium, the latex extracted from unripe poppy seed pods, has been used since at least 3,400 B.C. Meanwhile, the first alkaloid extracted from opium was morphine, a potent analgesic that was isolated at the very beginning of the 19th century. Interestingly, pure morphine was the first alkaloid ever extracted from plants.
Other opium alkaloids include:
- Codeine
- Thebaine
- Noscapine
- Papaverine
While codeine is used for mild-to-moderate pain relief, thebaine is primarily used to produce semi-synthetic opioids. Meanwhile, papaverine is typically prescribed to treat muscle spasms. Noscapine, on the other hand, lacks analgesic effects.
#2. Synthetic Opioids
Synthetic opioids are made of chemical compounds. Unlike opiates, synthetic opioids are not derived naturally; they are produced in labs, meaning they are completely human-made. Put simply, these opioids are created to act on the same receptors in the CNS as natural opioids and mimic their effects without containing them.
Synthetic opioids can be classified into four chemical groups:
- Morphinan derivatives (levorphanol, butorphanol)
- Benzomorphan derivatives (pentazocine, phenazocine)
- Diphenylheptane derivatives (methadone, propoxyphene)
- Phenylpiperidine derivatives (pethidine, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogs like remifentanil)
Most synthetic opioids are significantly more powerful than natural ones. Fentanyl, for example, is up to 100 times more potent than morphine.
In recent years, nitazenes and other novel synthetic opioids (NSOs) have made their way onto the streets, exposing users to an even greater risk of opioid overdose and death.
#3. Semi-Synthetic Opioids
Semi-synthetic opioids are made of natural opioids that are chemically modified to enhance their properties, such as potency and duration of action. They are created by altering the chemical structure of an opiate through chemical reactions. Therefore, semi-synthetic opioids can be traced to opiates, though they are synthesized in labs.
Some examples of semi-synthetic opioids include:
- Codeine derivatives (e.g., dihydrocodeine)
- Thebaine derivatives like buprenorphine and oxycodone
- Morphine derivatives, such as hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and heroin
Meanwhile, hydrocodone can be derived from either codeine or thebaine.
Certain semi-synthetic opioids can also be synthesized to produce other opioids. For example, naloxone and naltrexone are semi-synthetic opioids made of chemically modified oxymorphone.
Now that you know what opioids are made of, let’s learn how they work and affect the body.
How Do Opioids Work, and What Effects Do They Have?
Opioids work by interacting with certain proteins, known as opioid receptors, found in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. By binding to these receptors, they prevent the transmission of pain signals between the body and the brain, thereby reducing pain perception. In doing so, they mimic the effects of natural endorphins.
Besides pain relief, opioids can also cause various side effects. One of the most common of these is opioid-induced constipation, which occurs as these drugs attach themselves to the receptors in the digestive tract, slowing down bowel movements.
Other common side effects of opioids include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Headaches
- Drowsiness
- Abdominal pain
- Lightheadedness
Furthermore, opioids also trigger an excessive flow of dopamine, inducing intense feelings of euphoria and deep relaxation. These rewarding effects amplify their potential for abuse and opioid addiction, as people are wired to repeat actions that stimulate dopamine release.
While taking opioids precisely as prescribed reduces the risk of opioid dependence and addiction, even those who take these drugs as prescribed can become dependent.
On this note, let’s see what exactly makes opioids so addictive.
Why Are Opioids So Addictive?
Opioids are so addictive because they alter brain chemistry, which is why even those who follow their doctor’s instructions can become dependent.
Over time, repeated opioid exposure causes the brain to stop producing endorphins and stimulates the production of more opioid receptors, leading to tolerance. Therefore, you’ll eventually need higher doses to achieve the same effects as before.
If the dose you’re taking doesn’t alleviate pain, consult with your doctor. Do not take opioids more frequently or in higher doses than prescribed, as opioid abuse significantly increases the risk of addiction, overdose, and death.
Plus, opioids produce intense rewarding effects. People using opioids may start out with the intention of simply relieving pain, but the pleasure derived from the drug is so great that it can drive them to misuse it for non-medical purposes.
If you find yourself misusing the drug to get “high,” inform your doctor. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for people to seek more potent forms of the drug and faster ways to introduce it into the body as tolerance grows and the effects diminish. This considerably increases the risk of a potentially fatal opioid overdose.
It also doesn’t help that opioid-dependent people suffer from uncomfortable opioid withdrawal symptoms once they stop taking the drug or reduce their dosage, making it incredibly difficult to escape the cycle of opioid abuse.
However, untreated opioid dependence can evolve into addiction. While dependence is mainly physical—it makes your body reliant on opioids—addiction is primarily psychological. Those addicted experience overwhelming cravings and cannot stop using opioids, even when it puts their career, relationships, or life on the line.
If this sounds like you, know there’s hope for a better and healthier life free of opioids. Getting professional opioid addiction treatment is key to reclaiming your life from opioid dependence and addiction.
ANR Treatment for Opioid Dependence
Developed by Dr. Andre Waismann, Accelerated Neuro-Regulation (ANR) is a revolutionary treatment for opioid dependence that can help you return to an opioid-free life safely, quickly, and effectively.
ANR treatment eradicates opioid dependence by addressing its root cause—the opioid-induced neurochemical imbalance.
By re-regulating the endorphin-receptor system, ANR eliminates opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings. As the only treatment that addresses the neurobiological causes of opioid dependence, ANR negates the risk of relapse, contributing to its exceptionally high success rate.
Not to mention, ANR is tailored to each patient individually, making it suitable even for those with complex medical conditions. Since it is performed under sedation, you don’t need to worry about the discomfort of going through opioid withdrawals—this treatment is virtually painless.
Benefits of Undergoing ANR Treatment
Some major benefits of undergoing ANR treatment are long-lasting success, high patient safety standards, and fast recovery.
Let’s explore them in greater detail:
- Long-lasting success. ANR supports long-term recovery from opioid dependence by targeting the root of the problem rather than its symptoms. Since this treatment restores the brain to its pre-dependence state, it allows you to forget about withdrawal symptoms and the fear of relapse.
- High safety standards. ANR procedure is performed by highly experienced and compassionate anesthesiologists, critical care physicians, and other board-certified healthcare professionals. It is always carried out in an ICU setting of fully accredited state-of-the-art hospitals to ensure your safety throughout the procedure.
- Short treatment duration. ANR enables you to break free from opioid dependence within days. The procedure takes roughly 4–6 hours, whereas the hospital stay for most patients lasts only around 36 hours.
ANR has aided nearly 25,000 people worldwide in achieving lifelong recovery from opioid dependence.
Meet David, one of our remarkable patients who successfully conquered opioid dependence after falling victim to these drugs following a tragic boat accident:
To learn more about ANR and how it can help you, contact us today for a free, 100% confidential consultation.
Key Takeaways
Hopefully, this article helped you better understand what opioids are made of and what makes them dangerous.
If possible, it’s in your best interest to avoid using opioids; before initiating opioid therapy, you should first rule out non-opioid pain management alternatives. After all, the only surefire way to prevent opioid dependence is not to take these powerful pain medications.
Let’s go over the key points we covered:
- Opioids encompass a broad class of natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic drugs with pain-relieving properties that have a high potential for misuse and addiction.
- Opioids not only alleviate pain by interacting with opioid receptors but also trigger dopamine release, leading to euphoria and relaxation.
- ANR is a groundbreaking opioid dependence treatment that reverses opioid-induced changes to the brain by modulating the endorphin-receptor system.
What Is Opioid Made of FAQ
The main ingredients in opioids are natural and/or chemical compounds. Specifically, what an opioid is made of depends on its origin. While the main ingredients in natural opioids like morphine are opium alkaloids, synthetic opioids are made of chemically produced compounds that resemble natural compounds.
Opioids are so bad for your well-being because they can lead to dependence and addiction over time. While they effectively relieve pain, they also cause your body to become dependent on them, prompting you to take them in increasing amounts. This amplifies the risk of severe side effects, opioid overdose, and other potentially life-threatening events.
Opioids relieve pain by acting on the opioid receptors located throughout the CNS. By attaching to these receptors, they block pain signals from reaching your brain, thereby altering your perception of pain.
No, ibuprofen is not an opioid. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to relieve fever, inflammation, and mild-to-moderate pain. Unlike opioids, ibuprofen is an over-the-counter medication, which means you don’t need a prescription to obtain it.
The safest way to treat opioid addiction is to opt for ANR, an ultra-modern opioid dependence treatment. By resetting your endorphin-receptor system to its original state, ANR treatment can help you achieve a lasting recovery within a matter of days—even if you’ve been battling opioid dependence for years.
