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New York legal term

Opiate in New York Criminal Law

Current through 2026 New York legislative session

In New York criminal law, “Opiate” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the New York criminal code.

What does “Opiate” mean in New York criminal law?

"Opiate" means any substance having an addiction-forming or addiction-sustaining liability similar to morphine or being capable of conversion into a drug having addiction-forming or addiction-sustaining liability. (N.Y. Public Health Law § 3302)

Statutes defining or using this term

Related terms in the same statutes

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.