On: Researchers are beginning to disentangle pain relief from addiction and overdose

[irishsultan]

It seems there are two processes in use, one uses opium as an intermediary, the other doesn't.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphine#Production

The latex used in India would seem to be opium (which is a dried latex obtained from the opium poppy)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium