A composition comprising the tannate of an 
opioid. Suitable opioids include alfentanil, 
buprenorphine, butorphanol, carfentanil, cocaine, 
codeine, 
dezocine, diacetylmorphine, dihydrocodeine, dihydromorphine, 
diphenoxylate, diprenorphine, etorphine, 
fentanyl, 
heroin, 
hydrocodone, 
hydromorphone, beta-hydroxy-3-methylfentanyl, levo-alpha-acetylmethadol, levorphanol, lofentanil, meperidine, 
methadone, 
morphine, nalbuphine, 
nalmefene, o-
methylnaltrexone, naloxone, 
naltrexone, 
oxycodone, 
oxymorphone, pentazocine, pethidine, propoxyphene, remifentanil, 
sufentanil, tilidine and 
tramadol. The 
opioid tannate may be readily prepared by reacting an 
opioid free base with 
tannic acid, either neat or in the presence of up to about 30 wt. % water, at a temperature of about 60 to about 150° C. and thereafter recovering the 
resultant opioid tannate. The opioid tannate may also be prepared by an 
alternative process that involves reacting the opioid 
free base with water at a temperature such that not more than about 10 wt. % of the opioid tannate will be decomposed and thereafter removing the water by freeze-
drying.