More than 3,000 years ago,a flower began to appear in remedies in Ancient Egyptian medical texts.
Across the Mediterranean,the ancient Minoans likely found ways to use the same plant for its high.
Both ancient civilizations were on to something— opium,an extract of the poppy in question,can both induce pleasure and reduce pain.
Though opium has remained in use ever since,it wasn't until the 19th century that one of its chemical compounds,morphine,was identified and isolated for medical use.
Morphine,codeine,and other substances made directly from the poppy are called opiates.
In the 20th century,drug companies created a slew of synthetic substances similar to these opiates,including heroin,hydrocodone,oxycodone,and fentanyl.
Whether synthetic or derived from opium,these compounds are collectively known as opioids.
Synthetic or natural,legal or illicit,opioid drugs are very effective painkillers,but they are also highly addictive.
In the 1980s and 90s,pharmaceutical companies began to market opioid painkillers aggressively,actively downplaying their addictive potential to both the medical community and the public.
The number of opioid painkillers prescriptions skyrocketed,and so did cases of opioid addiction,beginning a crisis that continues today.
