Heroin

Brief Description:	Heroin is an addictive drug that is processed from morphine and usually appears as a white or brown powder or as a black, sticky substance. It is injected, snorted, or smoked.
Street Names:	Smack, H, ska, junk More at Street Terms (Office of National Drug Control Policy Web Site)
Effects:	Short-term effects of heroin include a surge of euphoria and clouded thinking followed by alternately wakeful and drowsy states. Heroin depresses breathing, thus, overdose can be fatal. Users who inject the drug risk infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.
Statistics and Trends:	In 2008, 453,000 Americans age 12 and older had abused heroin at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration Web Site). The NIDA-funded 2008 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 0.9% of 8th graders, 0.8% of 10th graders, and 0.7% of 12th graders had abused heroin at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: Monitoring the Future (University of Michigan Web Site)

	NIDA InfoFacts: Heroin. Summary of research findings for a general audience. (Fact sheet). En Español
	NIDA Research Report: Heroin: Abuse and Addiction. More detailed look at the latest research findings. For a general audience. (Report). En Español

View all related NIDA publications >> 1805890since 10/25/99