Heroin is a highly addictive and rapidly acting opiate.

What is Heroin?

Heroin is a drug derived from opium. Specifically, it is produced from morphine, which is a principal component of opium. Opium is a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seedpod of the opium poppy.

Appearance

The appearance of heroin can vary dramatically depending on the region and purity:

  • Eastern United States: Generally sold as a white or off-white powder. Purer heroin is typically whiter, while color variations result from impurities.
  • Western United States: Most available heroin is a solid black substance known as “black tar.” It may be sticky or hard to the touch. A dirty brown powdered heroin is also sold in this region.

Who Uses Heroin?

Individuals of all ages use heroin. Data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse indicates:

  • An estimated 3,091,000 U.S. residents aged 12 and older have used heroin at least once.
  • This includes 76,000 individuals aged 12 to 17 and 474,000 individuals aged 18 to 25.
  • Nearly 2 percent of high school seniors in the United States have used the drug at least once.

How is Heroin Abused?

Heroin is consumed in several ways, all of which lead to the drug reaching the brain rapidly:

  • Injection: Injected into a vein, a muscle, or under the skin.
  • Snorting: Snorted as a powder through the nose.
  • Smoking: Inhaled through a pipe or by heating the substance on foil and inhaling the smoke (often called “chasing the dragon”).

What are the Risks?

Heroin use poses severe health risks, including:

  • Addiction: Heroin is highly addictive, and users quickly develop a physical and psychological dependence.
  • Overdose: Because the purity of street heroin varies and it is often “cut” with other substances, users are at a high risk of fatal overdose.
  • Physical Health: Chronic use can lead to collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, and liver or kidney disease.
  • Disease Transmission: Users who inject the drug risk contracting HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C through the sharing of needles or other equipment.

Common Street Names

  • Big H
  • Black Tar
  • Chiva
  • Diesel
  • Dope
  • Eighth
  • Good H
  • H
  • Hell Dust
  • Horse
  • Junk
  • Negra
  • Poppy
  • Smack
  • Thunder
  • Train
  • White Junk

Legal Status

Yes, heroin is illegal. It is classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule I drugs have a high potential for abuse and serve no legitimate medical purpose in the United States.