My friend (who is btw, a certified ADIS-Alcoholic and other Drug Information School instructor, WA.StateDSHS) continued to elaborate, from the original knowledge he heard that C.W, about 150 yrs ago if you will, or before the procedure of breaking down chemical components in drugs was a practical process, WAS indeed derived from a natural opiate, not opium per se --some type of opiate, as there are (he guesses) many types around (what other types are around?).
I am not aware of any naturally occuring opiates other than those contained in opium, and endorphins(which are considered the body's natural opiates). 'Original knowledge he heard' sounds like something I would say if I was BSing you, but that might just be me. Ask your friend where he got this knowledge from.
Moreover, he also stated that there are some of opiates, commonly mistaken *for* opium that people grow in their backyards, are actually the deadly types. Anyone know more about these types and how popular they are with everyday, neighborhood people?
You don't grow opium or opiates, you grow papaver somniferum(opium poppy) which contains opium.
Again, I don't think there are any other types of opiates naturally occuring outside of the opium poppy(which is not deadly at recretional doses). There are other varieties of the poppy that do not contain opium, which could possibly contain poisonous chemicals.