Eating culinary poppy seeds gained’t get you excessive, however they may result in a failed drug take a look at. Linda Caldwell/EyeEm by way of Getty Images
The U.S. Defense Department issued a memo on Feb. 17, 2023, warning service members to keep away from consuming poppy seeds as a result of doing so might lead to a constructive urine take a look at for the opiate codeine. Addiction and ache drugs specialist Gary Reisfield explains what impacts the opiate content material of poppy seeds and the way they may affect drug exams.
What are poppy seeds?
Poppy seeds come from a species of poppy plant referred to as Papaver somniferum. “Somniferum” is Latin for “sleep-bringing,” which hints that it would comprise opiates – highly effective compounds that depress the central nervous system and may induce drowsiness and sleep.
There are two primary makes use of for the opium poppy. It is a supply of the opiates utilized in painkillers, probably the most biologically lively of that are morphine and codeine. Its seeds are additionally used for cooking and baking.
Poppy seeds themselves don’t comprise opiates. But throughout harvesting, the seeds can change into contaminated with opiates contained within the milky latex of the seed pod overlaying them.
The milky latex of poppy seed pods comprises opiates.
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What impacts opiate content material in poppy seeds?
Many elements decide the opiate concentrations and ratios of poppies. As with wine grapes, the opiate profile of the poppy plant – and thus its seeds – is affected by its terroir: local weather, soil, quantity of sunshine, topography and time of harvest.
Another issue is the variability or cultivar of the plant. For instance, there are genetically engineered opium poppies that produce no morphine or codeine and others that produce no opium latex in any respect.
Can you get excessive from consuming poppy seeds?
Practically talking, you can’t eat sufficient poppy seeds to get you excessive. Furthermore, processing dramatically decreases opiate content material – for instance, by washing or cooking or baking the seeds.
Do poppy seeds have an effect on drug exams?
Poppy seeds don’t have practically sufficient opiates to intoxicate you. But as a result of drug exams are exquisitely delicate, consuming sure poppy seed meals merchandise can result in constructive urine drug take a look at outcomes for opiates – particularly for morphine, codeine or each.
Under most circumstances, opiate concentrations within the urine are too low to supply a constructive take a look at consequence. But sure meals merchandise – and it’s typically inconceivable to know which of them, as a result of opiate content material doesn’t seem on meals labels – comprise sufficient opiates to supply constructive take a look at outcomes. Moreover, due to overlap in opiate concentrations and morphine-to-codeine ratios, it might probably typically be difficult to tell apart take a look at outcomes which are because of the consumption of poppy seeds from these which are as a result of using opiate medicine.
Processing poppy seeds decreases the opiate content material which may be on the seed.
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This is just not an issue with most office drug testing. Test outcomes are reviewed by a specifically skilled doctor referred to as a medical evaluation officer. Unless the doctor finds proof of unauthorized opiate use, equivalent to needle marks or indicators of opiate intoxication or withdrawal, even comparatively excessive concentrations of opiates within the urine that produce constructive take a look at outcomes are typically dominated to be unfavorable.
It seems, although, that drug testing within the navy is totally different, and poppy seeds pose potential issues. One such downside, as highlighted in current information stories, considerations service members who take a look at constructive for codeine and assert a “poppy seed protection.” They are nonetheless considered having taken codeine, typically with severe penalties, equivalent to a disciplinary motion or discharge from the service.
Gary Reisfield doesn’t work for, seek the advice of, personal shares in or obtain funding from any firm or group that may profit from this text, and has disclosed no related affiliations past their tutorial appointment.
