Opium is the dried latex obtained from the seed capsule of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.). It contains several naturally occurring alkaloids, including morphine, codeine, and thebaine, which have powerful analgesic (pain-relieving) and sedative properties. Historically, opium was used widely as a painkiller, muscle relaxant, and sleep aid, and was a common ingredient in early medicines such as laudanum and paregoric.
Opium and its derivatives, including morphine and heroin, have been used for centuries for both medical and recreational purposes. However, their highly addictive potential led to widespread dependence and eventually to the development of legal controls and international drug conventions.
Sources: ProjectKnow; HRB