Morphine is in the opiate class of drugs delivered by injection, liquid, tablet or capsule. German pharmacist Friedrich Serturner created morphine in the early 1800’s. The drug is derived from opium, found in the unripened seedpods of the Asian poppy plant.  Morphine attaches to opioid receptors in the brain and throughout the central nervous system and blocks the perception of pain. Because morphine was so effective in relieving pain, it quickly became popular. By the mid-19th century, its use was widespread in the US, especially for injured soldiers. Morphine brand names include Apokyn, Duramorph, Infumorph, Kadian, Kynmobi, Mitigo and MS Contin. Morphine’s potentially dangerous effects are well-documented. Gregory Skipper, MD, medical director of the Center for Professional Recovery at the luxury rehabilitation facility Seasons in Malibu, California, warns, “Any drug that stimulates the opioid receptors is going to be addictive.”