Morphine. Scientist measuring out a set weight of morphine to be sent to a pharmaceutical laboratory. The morphine was extracted from harvested opium poppies (Papaver somniferum). This poppy is the source of opium, a narcotic resin that contains the alkaloid morphine, which is used by the pharmaceutical industry as a painkiller (analgesic) and is addictive. Therefore, the transport and use of morphine has to be tightly controlled and regulated. Photographed in France.