Morphine

Let's cut a bit more through confusion and mystery.

Everybody knows by now what benzene is. It is what we know as the prototype of all aromatic hydrocarbons. It is present in gasoline where in the US is regulated to 1% because it's cancerigen.

It is made of a ring of 6 Carbon atoms and 6 Hydrogen ones.

Cyclohexane is also a ring of 6 Carbon atoms but with 12 Hydrogen ones. Here is a 3-D representation of a cyclohexane ring.

To get a 3D interactive animation of many of the molecules below or others one need to paste this link in the browser's address box (which starts with http) than replace the name in English.

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/cyclohexane#section=3D-Conformer&fullscreen=true

Phenatrene contains three benzene rings fused together

Quotes from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/phenanthrenes

"Phenanthrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) derived from coal tar. Classification of Opioids According to Chemical Structure"

"There are numerous chemical structures for opioids:

1. Phenanthrenes: morphine, codeine, heroin, hydromorphone, and oxycodone.

..."

Morphine is made mainly of one full benzene ring and two cyclohexane rings, much like a phenatrane but with more hydrogen atoms attached to and other "additions" like a Nitrogen atom, a Methyl Radical, etc.. Morphine is the "active" ingredient in opium, the dried latex of poppies with a concentration of 10-16%. PubChem 3D Interractive. Hydrocodone, oxycodone are also made of poppy latex.

From Wikipedia and a list from Drug Rehab dot com

Opioidis (morphine like substances) weaker than morphine

Codeine PubChem 3D Interactive


Tramadol PubChem 3D Interactive


Equal in strength with morphine

Hydrocodone vs morphine PubChem 3D Interactive


Stronger than morphine

Oxycodone vs morphine PubChem 3D Interactive

Fentanyl PubChem 3D Interactive


Heroin PubChem 3D Interactive


Non opioid recreational drugs

LSD also has three hexagonal rings PubChem 3D Interactive

THC ("active ingredient" in marijuana - cannabis), again three hexagonal rings (benzene+c-hexane). PubChem 3D Interactive

Other non-opiate recreational drugs are also based on benzene rings

Cocaine PubChem 3D Interactive

Tartazine (known as Yellow 5, E102) is also an extract from coal tar and also has "only" two benzene rings.

Tryciclic antidepressants PubChem 3D Interactive vs phenatrenes:
    
Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, a human hormone produced in two glands located just on top of kidneys PubChem 3D Interactive

is a precursor of Metamphetamine PubChem 3D Interactive







It's hard to say what country produces how much but top poppy seed producers of Papaver somniferum for stated food and medicine purposes are:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papaver_somniferum#Market

Compared to those amounts Afghanistan's today production is negligible.

It is not said how much in the UK.

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