Fatal intoxications in Denmark following intake of morphine from opium poppies

Summary In Denmark it is legal to grow opium poppies for the production of poppy seeds and until 1986 for decoration purposes, too. Danish poppy capsules contain 0.3–5 mg morphine per capsule and the content of morphine in opium exuded from the capsules may amount to 24%. This has resulted in misuse as both fresh and dried poppy capsules have been used for the production of opium tea. During the period 1982–1985, seven casualties occurred among drug addicts in Denmark which were solely or partly caused by these opium poppies.