How is heroin linked

to prescription drug
abuse?
See page 3.

from the director:

Research Report Series

Heroin is a highly addictive opioid drug,

and its use has repercussions that
extend far beyond the individual user. The
medical and social consequences of drug
usesuch as hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, fetal
effects, crime, violence, and disruptions
in family, workplace, and educational
environmentshave a devastating impact
on society and cost billions of dollars each
year.
Although heroin use in the general
population is rather low, the numbers
of people starting to use heroin have
been steadily rising since 2007.1 This may
be due in part to a shift from abuse of
prescription pain relievers to heroin as a
readily available, cheaper alternative2-5 and
the misperception that highly pure heroin
is safer than less pure forms because it
does not need to be injected.
Like many other chronic diseases,
addiction can be treated. Medications
are available to treat heroin addiction
while reducing drug cravings and
withdrawal symptoms, improving the
odds of achieving abstinence. There are
now a variety of medications that can
be tailored to a persons recovery needs
while taking into account co-occurring
health conditions. Medication combined
with behavioral therapy is particularly
effective, offering hope to individuals who
suffer from addiction and for those around
them.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse
(NIDA) has developed this publication to
provide an overview of heroin use and
its consequences as well as treatment
options available for those struggling
with heroin addiction. We hope this
compilation of scientific information on
heroin will help to inform readers about
the harmful effects of heroin as well as
assist in prevention and treatment efforts.
Nora D. Volkow, M.D.
Director
National Institute on Drug Abuse

HEROIN
What is heroin and
how is it used?

eroin is an illegal, highly addictive drug processed from morphine, a

naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of certain
varieties of poppy plants. It is typically sold as a white or brownish
powder that is cut with sugars, starch, powdered milk, or quinine. Pure heroin
is a white powder with a bitter taste that predominantly originates in South
America and, to a lesser extent, from Southeast Asia, and dominates U.S. markets
east of the Mississippi River.3 Highly pure heroin can be snorted or smoked and
may be more appealing to new users because it eliminates the stigma associated
with injection drug use. Black tar heroin is sticky like roofing tar or hard like
coal and is predominantly produced in Mexico and sold in U.S. areas west of the
Mississippi River.3 The dark color associated with black tar heroin results from
crude processing methods that leave behind impurities. Impure heroin is usually
dissolved, diluted, and injected into veins, muscles, or under the skin.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | National Institutes of Health

Research Report Series

areas in the United States and selected
foreign countries and provides
community-level surveillance of drug
abuse and its consequences to identify
emerging trends.3
Heroin use no longer predominates
solely in urban areas. Several suburban
and rural communities near Chicago
and St. Louis report increasing amounts
of heroin seized by officials as well as
increasing numbers of overdose deaths
due to heroin use. Heroin use is also
on the rise in many urban areas among
young adults aged 18-25.8 Individuals
in this age group seeking treatment for
heroin abuse increased from 11 percent
of total admissions in 2008 to 26 percent
in the first half of 2012.

Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings, 2012.

What is the scope

of heroin use in the
United States?
According to the National Survey on
Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in
2012 about 669,000 Americans reported
using heroin in the past year,1 a number
that has been on the rise since 2007. This
trend appears to be driven largely by
young adults aged 1825 among whom
there have been the greatest increases.
The number of people using heroin for
the first time is unacceptably high, with
156,000 people starting heroin use in
2012, nearly double the number of people
in 2006 (90,000). In contrast, heroin use
has been declining among teens aged
1217. Past-year heroin use among the
Nations 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-graders is
at its lowest levels in the history of the
Monitoring the Future survey, at less
than 1 percent of those surveyed in all 3
grades from 2005 to 2013.6
It is no surprise that with heroin use
on the rise, more people are experiencing
negative health effects that occur from

NIDA Research Report Series

repeated use. The number of people

meeting Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders,
4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria for
dependence or abuse of heroin doubled
from 214,000 in 2002 to 467,000 in
2012.1 The recently released DSM-V
no longer separates substance abuse
from dependence, but instead provides
criteria for opioid use disorders that
range from mild to severe, depending
on the number of symptoms a person
has.7 Data on the scope and severity
of opioid use disorders in the United
States are not yet available for these
new criteria.
The impact of heroin use is felt
all across the United States, with
heroin being identified as the most
or one of the most important drug
abuse issues affecting several local
regions from coast to coast. The rising
harm associated with heroin use at
the community level was presented
in a report produced by the NIDA
Community Epidemiology Work Group
(CEWG). The CEWG is comprised of
researchers from major metropolitan

What effects
does heroin have
on the body?
Heroin binds to and activates specific
receptors in the brain called mu-opioid
receptors (MORs). Our bodies contain
naturally occurring chemicals called
neurotransmitters that bind to these
receptors throughout the brain and body
to regulate pain, hormone release, and
feelings of well-being.9 When MORs
are activated in the reward center of the
brain, they stimulate the release of the
neurotransmitter dopamine, causing a
sensation of pleasure.10 The consequences
of activating opioid receptors with
externally administered opioids such
as heroin (versus naturally occurring
chemicals within our bodies) depend on
a variety of factors: how much is used,
where in the brain or body it binds, how
strongly it binds and for how long, how
quickly it gets there, and what happens
afterward.

The greatest
increase in heroin
use is seen in young
adults aged 18-25.

What are the immediate (shortterm) effects of heroin use?

Once heroin enters the brain, it is converted to morphine and binds rapidly
to opioid receptors.11 Abusers typically report feeling a surge of pleasurable
sensationa rush. The intensity of the rush is a function of how much drug
is taken and how rapidly the drug enters the brain and binds to the opioid
receptors. With heroin, the rush is usually accompanied by a warm flushing
of the skin, dry mouth, and a heavy feeling in the extremities, which may be
accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and severe itching. After the initial effects,
users usually will be drowsy for several hours; mental function is clouded; heart
function slows; and breathing is also severely slowed, sometimes enough to be
life-threatening.

Opioids Act on
Many Places in
the Brain and
Nervous System
Opioids can depress breathing
by changing neurochemical
activity in the brain stem,
where automatic body
functions such as breathing
and heart rate are controlled.
Opioids can increase feelings
of pleasure by altering activity
in the limbic system, which
controls emotions.
Opioids can block pain
messages transmitted through
the spinal cord from the body.

What are the long-term

effects of heroin use?
Repeated heroin use changes the physical structure12 and physiology of the
brain, creating long-term imbalances in neuronal and hormonal systems that
are not easily reversed.13,14 Heroin also produces profound degrees of tolerance
and physical dependence. Tolerance occurs when more and more of the drug
is required to achieve the same effects. With physical dependence, the body
adapts to the presence of the drug and withdrawal symptoms occur if use is
reduced abruptly. Withdrawal may occur within a few hours after the last time
the drug is taken. Symptoms of withdrawal include restlessness, muscle and
bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps (cold
turkey), and leg movements. Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 2448
hours after the last dose of heroin and subside after about a week. However,
some people have shown persistent withdrawal signs for many months. Finally,
repeated heroin use often results in addictiona chronic relapsing disease that
goes beyond physical dependence and is characterized by uncontrollable drugseeking no matter the consequences.15 Heroin is extremely addictive no matter
how it is administered, although routes of administration that allow it to reach
the brain the fastest (i.e., injection and smoking) increase the risk of addiction.
Once a person becomes addicted to heroin, seeking and using the drug becomes
their primary purpose in life.

How is heroin linked to prescription drug abuse?

Harmful health consequences
resulting from the abuse of opioid
medications that are prescribed
for the treatment of pain, such as
Oxycontin, Vicodin, and Demerol,
have dramatically increased in recent
years. For example, unintentional
poisoning deaths from prescription
opioids quadrupled from 1999 to
2010 and now outnumber those
from heroin and cocaine combined.16
People often assume prescription
pain relievers are safer than illicit
drugs because they are medically

prescribed; however, when these

drugs are taken for reasons or in
ways or amounts not intended
by a doctor, or taken by someone
other than the person for whom
they are prescribed, they can
result in severe adverse health
effects including addiction,
overdose, and death, especially
when combined with other
drugs or alcohol. Research now
suggests that abuse of these
medications may actually open
the door to heroin use. Nearly half

of young people who inject heroin

surveyed in three recent studies
reported abusing prescription
opioids before starting to use heroin.
Some individuals reported switching
to heroin because it is cheaper and
easier to obtain than prescription
opioids.2-4

NIDA Research Report Series

What are the medical complications of chronic heroin use?

No matter how they ingest the drug, chronic heroin users experience a variety of medical complications including insomnia and
constipation. Lung complications (including various types of pneumonia and tuberculosis) may result from the poor health of the
user as well as from heroins effect of depressing respiration. Many experience mental disorders such as depression and antisocial
personality disorder. Men often experience sexual dysfunction and womens menstrual cycles often become irregular. There are also
specific consequences associated with different routes of administration. For example, people who repeatedly snort heroin can damage
the mucosal tissues in their noses as well as perforate the nasal septum (the tissue that separates the nasal passages).
Medical consequences of chronic injection use include scarred and/or collapsed veins, bacterial infections of the blood vessels
and heart valves, abscesses (boils), and other soft-tissue infections. Many of the additives in street heroin may include substances that
do not readily dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. This can cause infection
or even death of small patches of cells in vital organs. Immune reactions to these or other contaminants can cause arthritis or other
rheumatologic problems.
Sharing of injection equipment or fluids can lead to some of the most severe consequences of heroin abuseinfections with
hepatitis B and C, HIV, and a host of other blood-borne viruses, which drug abusers can then pass on to their sexual partners and
children.

Short- and Long-Term Effects of Heroin Use

Short-Term Effects

Long-Term Effects

Rush

Addiction

Depressed respiration

Infectious disease (e.g., HIV, hepatitis B and C)

Clouded mental functioning

Collapsed veins

Nausea and vomiting

Bacterial infections

Suppression of pain

Abscesses

Spontaneous abortion

Infection of heart lining and valves

Arthritis and other rheumatologic problems
Liver and kidney disease

Why does heroin use create special risk for

contracting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C?

Heroin use increases the risk of being

exposed to HIV, viral hepatitis, and
other infectious agents through contact
with infected blood or body fluids
(e.g., semen, saliva) that results from
the sharing of syringes and injection
paraphernalia that have been used
by infected individuals or through

NIDA Research Report Series

unprotected sexual contact with an

infected person. Snorting or smoking
does not eliminate the risk of infectious
disease like hepatitis and HIV/AIDS
because people under the influence of
drugs still engage in risky sexual and
other behaviors that can expose them to
these diseases.
Injection drug users (IDUs) are the
highest-risk group for acquiring hepatitis
C (HCV) infection and continue to drive
the escalating HCV epidemic: Each IDU
infected with HCV is likely to infect
20 other people.17 Of the 17,000 new
HCV infections occurring in the United
States in 2010, over half (53 percent)
were among IDUs.18 Hepatitis B (HBV)
infection in IDUs was reported to be
as high as 20 percent in the United

States in 2010,19 which is particularly

disheartening since an effective vaccine
that protects against HBV infection is
available. There is currently no vaccine
available to protect against HCV
infection.
Drug use, viral hepatitis and other
infectious diseases, mental illnesses,
social dysfunctions, and stigma are often
co-occuring conditions that affect one
another, creating more complex health
challenges that require comprehensive
treatment plans tailored to meet all
of a patients needs. For example,
NIDA-funded research has found that
drug abuse treatment along with HIV
prevention and community-based
outreach programs can help people who
use drugs change the behaviors that put

stays as compared to infants born of

mothers on methadone maintenance
treatment.20 Research also indicates
that buprenorphine combined with
naloxone (compared to a morphine
taper) is equally safe for treating
babies born with NAS, further
reducing side effects experienced by
infants born to opioid-dependent
mothers.21,22

What can be
done for a heroin
overdose?

A NIDA-funded clinical trial found buprenorphine to be a safe and effective alternative to methadone for treating
opioid dependence during pregnancy. Buprenorphine was also found to be effective in reducing neonatal
abstinence syndrome in newborns born to opioid-dependent mothers.

them at risk for contracting HIV and

other infectious diseases. They can
reduce drug use and drug-related risk
behaviors such as needle sharing and
unsafe sexual practices and, in turn,
reduce the risk of exposure to HIV/
AIDS and other infectious diseases.
Only through coordinated utilization
of effective antiviral therapies coupled
with treatment for drug abuse and
mental illness can the health of those
suffering from these conditions be
restored.

How does heroin

use affect pregnant
women?
Heroin use during pregnancy can
result in neonatal abstinence syndrome
(NAS). NAS occurs when heroin
passes through the placenta to the fetus
during pregnancy, causing the baby
to become dependent along with the
mother. Symptoms include excessive
crying, fever, irritability, seizures,
slow weight gain, tremors, diarrhea,
vomiting, and possibly death. NAS
requires hospitalization and treatment
with medication (often morphine)
to relieve symptoms; the medication
is gradually tapered off until the
baby adjusts to being opioid-free.
Methadone maintenance combined

with prenatal care and a comprehensive

drug treatment program can improve
many of the outcomes associated with
untreated heroin use for both the infant
and mother, although infants exposed to
methadone during pregnancy typically
require treatment for NAS as well.
A recent NIDA-supported clinical
trial demonstrated that buprenorphine
treatment of opioid-dependent mothers
is safe for both the unborn child and the
mother. Once born, these infants require
less morphine and shorter hospital

Overdose is a dangerous and deadly

consequence of heroin use. A large
dose of heroin depresses heart rate
and breathing to such an extent that a
user cannot survive without medical
help. Naloxone (e.g., Narcan) is an
opioid receptor antagonist medication
that can eliminate all signs of opioid
intoxication to reverse an opioid
overdose. It works by rapidly binding
to opioid receptors, preventing heroin
from activating them.23 Because of
the huge increase in overdose deaths
from prescription opioid abuse,
there has been greater demand
for opioid overdose prevention
services. Naloxone that can be used
by nonmedical personnel has been
shown to be cost-effective and save
lives.24 However, a key factor limiting
widespread use of naloxone is that it
is currently only available in injectable
form.25 NIDA and the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) are
working with drug manufacturers
to support the development of
new formulations of naloxone,
such as nasal spray or autoinjector
formulations, to facilitate broader use.
In addition, the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) released
an Opioid Overdose Prevention
Toolkit in August 2013 that provides
helpful information necessary to
develop policies and practices to
prevent opioid-related overdoses and
deaths. The kit provides material
tailored for first responders, treatment
providers, and individuals recovering
from an opioid overdose.

NIDA Research Report Series

What are the

treatments for
heroin addiction?
A variety of effective treatments
are available for heroin addiction,
including both behavioral and
pharmacological (medications).
Both approaches help to restore a
degree of normalcy to brain function
and behavior, resulting in increased
employment rates and lower risk of
HIV and other diseases and criminal
behavior. Although behavioral and
pharmacologic treatments can be
extremely useful when utilized alone,
research shows that for some people,
integrating both types of treatments
is the most effective approach.
Pharmacological Treatment
(Medications)
Scientific research has established
that pharmacological treatment
of opioid addiction increases
retention in treatment programs and
decreases drug use, infectious disease
transmission, and criminal activity.
When people addicted to opioids
first quit, they undergo withdrawal
symptoms (pain, diarrhea, nausea,
and vomiting), which may be severe.
Medications can be helpful in this
detoxification stage to ease craving
and other physical symptoms, which
often prompt a person to relapse.
While not a treatment for addiction
itself, detoxification is a useful first
step when it is followed by some form
of evidence-based treatment.
Medications developed to treat
opioid addiction work through
the same opioid receptors as the
addictive drug, but are safer and
less likely to produce the harmful

NIDA Research Report Series

behaviors that characterize addiction.

Three types of medications include:
(1) agonists, which activate opioid
receptors; (2) partial agonists, which
also activate opioid receptors but
produce a smaller response; and (3)
antagonists, which block the receptor
and interfere with the rewarding
effects of opioids. A particular
medication is used based on a
patients specific medical needs and
other factors. Effective medications
include:
Methadone (Dolophine or
Methadose) is a slow-acting
opioid agonist. Methadone is
taken orally so that it reaches
the brain slowly, dampening the
high that occurs with other
routes of administration while
preventing withdrawal symptoms.
Methadone has been used since
the 1960s to treat heroin addiction
and is still an excellent treatment
option, particularly for patients
who do not respond well to
other medications. Methadone is
only available through approved
outpatient treatment programs,
where it is dispensed to patients on
a daily basis.
Buprenorphine (Subutex)
is a partial opioid agonist.
Buprenorphine relieves drug
cravings without producing the
high or dangerous side effects of
other opioids. Suboxone is a novel
formulation of buprenorphine
that is taken orally or sublingually
and contains naloxone (an opioid
antagonist) to prevent attempts
to get high by injecting the
medication. If an addicted patient
were to inject Suboxone, the
naloxone would induce withdrawal

symptoms, which are averted when

taken orally as prescribed. FDA
approved buprenorphine in 2002,
making it the first medication
eligible to be prescribed by
certified physicians through the
Drug Addiction Treatment Act.
This approval eliminates the need
to visit specialized treatment
clinics, thereby expanding access
to treatment for many who need it.
In February 2013, FDA approved
two generic forms of Suboxone,
making this treatment option more
affordable.
Naltrexone (Depade or Revia) is
an opioid antagonist. Naltrexone
blocks the action of opioids, is not
addictive or sedating, and does
not result in physical dependence;
however, patients often have
trouble complying with the
treatment, and this has limited its
effectiveness. An injectable longacting formulation of naltrexone
(Vivitrol) recently received FDA
approval for treating opioid
addiction. Administered once a
month, Vivitrol may improve
compliance by eliminating the
need for daily dosing.
Behavioral Therapies
The many effective behavioral
treatments available for heroin
addiction can be delivered in
outpatient and residential settings.
Approaches such as contingency
management and cognitivebehavioral therapy have been shown
to effectively treat heroin addiction,
especially when applied in concert
with medications. Contingency
management uses a voucher-based
system in which patients earn
points based on negative drug
tests, which they can exchange for
items that encourage healthy living.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is
designed to help modify the patients
expectations and behaviors related
to drug use and to increase skills in
coping with various life stressors.
An important task is to match the
best treatment approach to meet the
particular needs of the patient.

Glossary
Addiction: A chronic, relapsing disease, characterized
by compulsive drug seeking and use accompanied
by neurochemical and molecular changes in the
brain.
Agonist: A chemical compound that mimics the
action of a natural neurotransmitter and binds to the
same receptor on nerve cells to produce a biological
response.
Antagonist: A drug that binds to the same nerve cell
receptor as the natural neurotransmitter but does not
activate the receptor, instead blocking the effects of
another drug.
Buprenorphine: A partial opioid agonist for the
treatment of opioid addiction that relieves drug
cravings without producing the high or dangerous
side effects of other opioids.
Craving: A powerful, often uncontrollable desire for
drugs.
Detoxification: A process of allowing the body to
rid itself of a drug while managing the symptoms of
withdrawal; often the first step in a drug treatment
program.
Methadone: A long-acting opioid agonist medication
shown to be effective in treating heroin addiction.
Naloxone: An opioid receptor antagonist that rapidly
binds to opioid receptors, blocking heroin from
activating them. An appropriate dose of naloxone
acts in less than 2 minutes and completely eliminates
all signs of opioid intoxication to reverse an opioid
overdose.
Naltrexone: An opioid antagonist medication that
can only be used after a patient has completed
detoxification. Naltrexone is not addictive or
sedating and does not result in physical dependence;
however, poor patient compliance has limited its
effectiveness. A new, long-acting form of naltrexone
called Vivitrol is now available that is injected once
per month, eliminating the need for daily dosing,
improving patient compliance.

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS): NAS occurs

when heroin from the mother passes through
the placenta into the babys bloodstream during
pregnancy, allowing the baby to become addicted
along with the mother. NAS requires hospitalization
and treatment with medication (often a morphine
taper) to relieve symptoms until the baby adjusts to
becoming opioid-free.
Opioid: A natural or synthetic psychoactive chemical
that binds to opioid receptors in the brain and
body. Natural opioids include morphine and heroin
(derived from the opium poppy) as well as opioids
produced by the human body (e.g., endorphins);
semi-synthetic or synthetic opioids include
analgesics such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and
fentanyl.
Opioid use disorder: A problematic pattern of opioid
drug use, leading to clinically significant impairment
or distress that includes cognitive, behavioral,
and physiological symptoms as defined by the
new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-V) criteria. Diagnosis
of an opioid use disorder can be mild, moderate,
or severe depending on the number of symptoms
a person experiences. Tolerance or withdrawal
symptoms that occur during medically supervised
treatment are specifically excluded from an opioid
use disorder diagnosis.
Partial agonist: A substance that binds to and
activates the same nerve cell receptor as a natural
neurotransmitter but produces a diminished
biological response.
Physical dependence: An adaptive physiological
state that occurs with regular drug use and results in
a withdrawal syndrome when drug use is stopped;
usually occurs with tolerance.
Rush: A surge of euphoric pleasure that rapidly
follows administration of a drug.
Tolerance: A condition in which higher doses of
a drug are required to produce the same effect
as during initial use; often leads to physical
dependence.
Withdrawal: A variety of symptoms that occur after
use of an addictive drug is reduced or stopped.

NIDA Research Report Series

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22. Lund, I.O.; Fischer, G.; Welle-Strand, G.K.; OGrady,
K.E.; Debelak, K.; Morrone, W.R.; Jones, H.E.
A comparison of buprenorphine + naloxone to
buprenorphine and methadone in the treatment of
opioid dependence during pregnancy: maternal and
neonatal outcomes. Subst Abuse 7:6174, 2013.
23. Boyer, E.W. Management of opioid analgesic
overdose. N Engl J Med 367(2):146155, 2012.
24. Coffin, P.O.; and Sullivan, S.D. Cost-effectiveness
of distributing naloxone to heroin users for lay
overdose reversal. Ann Intern Med 158(1):19,
2013.
25. Compton, W.M.; Volkow N.D.; Throckmorton, D.C.;
and Lurie, P. Expanded access to opioid overdose
intervention: research, practice, and policy needs.
Ann Intern Med 158(1): 6566, 2013.

Where can I get further information about heroin?

To learn more about heroin
and other drugs of abuse, visit
the NIDA Web site at www.
drugabuse.gov or contact
the DrugPubs Research
Dissemination Center at
877-NIDA-NIH (877-643-2644;
TTY/TDD: 240-645-0228).

Whats on the NIDA Web Site

For Physician Information

Information on drugs of abuse

and related health consequences

www.drugabuse.gov/nidamed
Other Resources
NIDA publications, news, and events
Information on heroin and
Resources for health care professionals
addiction is also available
Funding information (including program
through these other Web
announcements and deadlines)
sites:
Medication-Assisted Treatment
International activities
for Opioid Addiction
Links to related Web sites (access to
www.drugabuse.gov/
Web sites of many other organizations
publications/topics-inin the field)
brief/medication-assistedtreatment-opioid-addiction
NIDA Web Sites
Prescription Drugs
www.drugabuse.gov
www.drugabuse.gov/drugswww.teens.drugabuse.gov
abuse/prescription-drugs
www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/heroin
Medication-Assisted Treatment
www.easyread.drugabuse.gov
for Opioid Addiction
www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principlesadolescent-substance-use-disorder-treatment- www.samhsa.gov/
samhsaNewsLetter/
research-based-guide
Volume_17_Number_5/
TreatingOpioidAddiction.aspx

NIH Publication Number 14-0165

Published October 1997, Revised May 2005, February 2014
Feel free to reprint this publication.

NIDA Research Report Series