Scientists at Stanford University have devised a way to created strains of yeast capable of producing narcotic drugs. But some experts have raised concerns over the potential of misuse of the technology by drug traffickers.

The technique has been developed to help pharmaceutical sector, but a new debate have been sparked over the chances of it paving the way for home-brewed heroin. These drugs, known as opioids, were until now possible to be developed through only once source – opium poppy.

The Stanford lab is one of many where efforts are being made by researchers to come up with yeast-based alternatives. Pharmaceutical companies, yeast-based alternatives have been keeping a close watch on experiments performed by these labs.

According to experts in rapidly advancing field of bioengineering, it is very much possible to create important chemicals in labs. In the case of painkillers and cough suppressants, scientists at Stanford lab have produced promising results to produce their versions drugs cheaper and more predictable than using poppies.

The researchers, however, need to make further improvements in the technique to finally bring it into use for producing narcotic drugs, which could significantly change the multibillion-dollar pain medication manufacturing business.

The same technique could also be used for making other currently plant-based medicines for fighting cancer, infectious diseases and chronic illnesses.

“This is important because, with further development, it may provide an alternative supply for these essential medicines and allow greater access for most of the global population that currently has insufficient access to pain medication”, said Stanford University bioengineering professor Christina Smolke, who led the research published in the journal Science.