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I have heard of opiates, but what does it mean when a drug is an opioid? I often see the term "prescription opioids"... opiates OpiatesOpioids are semi-synthetic substances derived from the opium poppy. Many definitions consider them opiates as well. |
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An opioid is a substance (molecule) that is synthetic or partly synthetic, meaning the active ingredients (molecules) are manufactured via chemical synthesis. Opioids may act just like opiates in the human body, because of the similar molecules. |
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opioid - narcotic analgesic that is at least part synthetic, not found in nature |
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Currently many references are using opioid to refer to all opium-like substances (including opiates and opioids), and limiting the use of "opiates" to only natural opium poppy derived drugs like morphine. |