Codeine is primarily derived from which substance?

Codeine is primarily derived from opium, which is a natural substance obtained from the opium poppy plant. Opium contains several alkaloids, including codeine and morphine, making it the source from which codeine is extracted.

Understanding the context of opium as a raw material is crucial because codeine is a semi-synthetic opioid, meaning it is derived from natural sources but may undergo chemical processing. It is used medically for its analgesic properties and cough suppression.

The other options do not accurately represent the origin of codeine. Heroin is actually synthesized from morphine, which is itself derived from opium. Oxycodone is another synthetic opioid that is derived from thebaine, an alkaloid found in opium, but it is not the direct source of codeine. Lastly, while opiate refers broadly to drugs derived from opium, including codeine and morphine, the most precise answer regarding the substance from which codeine is primarily derived is opium itself.