Poppy plants are the natural source of which class of abused drugs?

• A. Amphetamines
• B. Opiates
• C. Cocaine
• D. Cannabis

Answer: (B)

Poppy plants naturally produce opioid alkaloids in their latex, most notably morphine and codeine. These compounds are classified as opiates, a group of drugs derived from the opium poppy that act on opioid receptors to produce analgesia and euphoria, with a high potential for abuse. The other listed drugs come from different sources or are synthetic: amphetamines are synthetic stimulants, cocaine comes from the coca plant, and cannabis from the cannabis plant. So the poppy plant is the natural source of opiates.