A rapid procedure for the evaluation of codeine phosphate drug substance derived from poppy straw or opium concentrate is described. The gradient HPLC procedure employs a pH 2.5 phosphate buffer, methanol and acetonitrile mobile phase at 40°C and a Bondapak C-18 column. Eight opium alkaloids, including the four major alkaloids, are separated from each other. The paper describes details of the assay procedure and presents data documenting the linearity, specificity, precision, and sensitivity of the method.