Opiate is a term given to any narcotic alkaloids, which are found in opium and other sources or derivatives of alkaloids.
And opium is taken from the latex sap of opium poppies, scientifically known as Papaver somniferum.
It's not a substance from hell or from man's destructive genius, like the fully-synthetic drug methamphetamine, but a natural substance that has its medical use.
Opiates are anesthetics or painkillers used by the ancient Sumerians, Assyrians and Greeks during surgical procedures.
However, human frailty has led to its abuse.
Some get hooked to it after poorly-controlled and -monitored medical use, others just like the sense of calm it gives them, and a few were unfortunately born to opiate-dependent parents.
Ancient China had several opium dens filled with shady characters, people who had been reduced to humanity's dirtiest sketches.
And its evils have survived the ages.
Today, it is warn-torn Afghanistan's major product and it's the world's second most-difficult-to-break addiction, next to alcoholism.
But like any forms of addiction which can be rehabilitated, opiate addicts can be detoxified too.
However, the withdrawal symptoms can be terrible not just to the addict but also to the people who are assisting him and the opiate dependent's loved ones.
Among the symptoms are shaking, shortness of breath, extreme sensitivity of muscles and nerves, total body weakness, vomiting, dizziness and even diarrhea that lasts for a week or more.
These symptoms may seem less fatal than those of other drugs like meth and alcohol but it's the rehabilitation procedure that proves tricky.
Detoxification for opiate dependence is a lot worrisome.
The detoxifying agents include heroin, suboxone, naltrexone, methadone, and other pain meds, and any wrong or prolonged dosage of these substances will expose the patient to another batch of complicated and dreadful experiences, instead of weaning him from opium.
Apart from that, detoxifying is just the beginning; it never does end with the intake of these opiate neutralizers.
The campaign against this highly addictive substance continues for a lifetime.
Being detoxified is not the end, but just a start of living a new and clean life.
Hopefully the cravings remain manageable.
In most successful cases, total withdrawal from opiate is achieved with the support and the assistance of the people around the victim.