If you have been in addiction recovery for any length of time, you might have heard the suggestion, “Stay away from poppy seeds – if you eat poppy seeds, you could test positive for opiates on a drug test!” While this might seem like more of an urban legend than a suggestion based on fact or extensive scientific research, it has been proven that the trace amounts of morphine found in poppy seeds can lead to a false positive drug test – and it is suggested that men and women who are in early recovery (and who are still being tested regularly as they complete an inpatient or intensive outpatient program) avoid treats like poppy seed bagels and lemon-poppy seed muffins. All parts of the poppy plant are known to contain trace amounts of opium alkaloids like codeine and morphine. However, even though consuming foods that contain poppy seeds can result in a false positive drug test, the morphine levels in poppy seeds are so low that they will never produce any kind of mood or mind-altering high. In short – no, you cannot get high from poppy seeds. However, it is recommended that individuals in early recovery who are still getting drug tested for any number of reasons maintain a soft distance from poppy seed-containing foods. 
Poppy Seed Tea – A Recipe for Relapse
While consuming excessive amounts of poppy seeds will likely result in nothing more than a stomachache, brewing poppy seed tea can produce psychoactive effects when consumed in large quantities. According to the US National Library of Medicine, and the National Center for Biotechnology Information, unwashed poppy seeds can be used to brew a tea that contains enough opioid content to produce a “high” and result in symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal when use is prolonged and then discontinued abruptly.
Want to Use Poppy Seeds to Get High
The same study suggests that in a recent survey taken among patients who were in inpatient treatment for opioid addiction, 46 percent reported that they had tried poppy seed tea at least once in their lifetimes. Additionally, five out of the 24 interviewed patients reported that poppy seed tea was their primary source of opioids. When poppy seeds are washed, which they typically are before used in food preparation, over 90 percent of their opioid content is eliminated. When unwashed poppy pods, straws, and seeds are used to brew poppy seed tea, an opioid high can result from this mixture that is both physically and psychologically addictive. Several studies point to the fact that a lethal dose of morphine can be created in poppy seed tea that is brewed at home. That is to say while eating a poppy seed bagel might result in a false positive drug test, it is not dangerous for men and women in recovery from opioid addiction to consuming foods made with poppy seeds. However, it is extremely dangerous for men and women who are in recovery from opioid addiction to brew and consume poppy seed tea in any amount. Poppyseed tea is never a safe alternative to other opioid narcotics like heroin and prescription painkillers when ingested in high doses, this form of opioid can be lethal.
Treatment for Opioid Dependence
At Evoke Wellness at Miramar we are well equipped to treat men and women who have been struggling with an opioid addiction of any type or severity. Because many teenagers and young adults have experimented extensively with poppy seed tea, we offer age-specific treatment programs that focus on chemical substances more commonly abused among members of specific demographics. If you are concerned that your teenager might be experimenting with poppy seed tea, and you would like to learn more about this chemical substance and its effects, reach out to us today for more information. if you are someone you love has been suffering from a substance abuse disorder – whether or not opioid narcotics are involved – we will gladly point you in the right direction and get you started on your journey of drug addiction recovery today.
