NCJ Number
188903
Date Published
September 2000
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This report presents data on heroin abuse and addiction, medical consequences of abuse, and treatments.
Abstract
Heroin is processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties of poppy plants. Most street heroin is "cut" with other drugs or with substances such as sugar, starch, powdered milk, quinine, and even strychnine or other poisons. Heroin abusers who do not know the actual strength of the drug or its true contents are at risk of overdose or death. Heroin also poses special problems because of the transmission of HIV and other diseases that can result from sharing needles or other injection equipment. According to the 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, an estimated 2.4 million people had used heroin at some time in their lives, and nearly 130,000 had used it in the month preceding the survey. The report describes short- and long-term effects of heroin, its effects on pregnant women, and why heroin users are at special risk for contracting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. It also describes treatments for heroin addiction, including detoxification, methadone programs, LAAM and other medications, and behavioral therapies. The report includes Internet and other sources for further information. Figure, glossary, references