Bioengineers from Stanford University are reprogramming yeast cells to make opioid-like medicines like synthetic morphine that are non-addictive.

Prof. Christina Smolke, one of the researchers, said they're very close to replicating an entire opioid production that eliminates the need to grow poppies.

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This development will allow synthetic morphine to be manufactured while removing the potential for illegal use, she added.

Plant-derived opium has been abused for centuries. Morphine, one three pain killers derived from opium, was widely used as a pain killer during World War II.

Under the supervision of the International Narcotics Control Board, a few countries like Australia, France, Hungary, India, Spain and Turkey are allowed to farm poppies.

To make this new substance, researchers worked for a decade chemically refining yeast cells using bioengineering technology.

They're reprogramming the yeast genome into a poppy that can create opiates to be used as a drug,

Researchers programmed bioengineered yeasts to perform final industrial steps like endowing the yeast with genes from bacterium that feeds on dead poppy stalks.

To do this, researchers hacked the yeast genome in different ways to produce opioid formulation like oxycodone and hydrocodone.

Researchers are currently focusing on discovering the missing link that can help them create the biochemical synthesis that can perform the 17 steps needed to create opioid drugs in a single vat.

Prof. Smolke believes this will allow scientists to create large supplies of essential medicines that are more sustainable, cost effective and non-addictive.