Morphine is one of the over 40 alkaloids extracted from opium

This report entails a detailed account of the chemistry of morphine. Morphine is one of the over 40 alkaloids extracted from opium. It is a potent analgesic also used as a psychoactive agent. Its use as a therapeutic agent dates back to the 14^th Century when it was first used as a painkiller though sparingly. It was also used as a pain killer by soldiers of the American civil war whereby it was reported to have caused extensive addiction among the soldiers. It has found extensive therapeutic application in the 21^st Century especially in pain relief. Heroin is a synthetic form of morphine that is more potent than the parent drug therefore it has been abused over the ages. This makes it a controlled substance however it is recommended for treatment of alcohol and opium addiction.

Despite morphine having numerous uses in relieving different forms of pain such as back pain and chronic pains, it has been shown to have several side effects on the gastrointestinal tract and the respiratory system. It is also highly addictive and therefore it causes tolerance, physiological and physical dependence.