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7.9 Heroin 7.9.1 Classification Heroin is an opiate drug that is synthesized from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of the Asian opium poppy plant. 7.9.2 Common or Street Names Horse, Scag, Smack, Train 7.9.3 Description/ Comments Heroin usually appears as a white or brown powder or as a black sticky substance, known as "black tar heroin ". It can be injected, snorted/sniffed, or smoked — routes of administration that rapidly deliver the drug to the brain. According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the number of current (past month), heroin users aged 12 or older in the United States increased from 153,000 in 2007 to 213,000 in 2008. There were 114,000 first -time users of heroin aged 12 or older in 2008. 7.9.4 Effects on User Use of heroin can lead to addiction and other severe health problems. It is estimated that about 23 % of individuals who use heroin become dependent on it. Heroin enters the brain, where it is converted to morphine and binds to receptors known as opioid receptors, which are involved in perception of pain and reward, and are important for automatic processes critical for life, such as breathing (respiration), blood pressure, and arousal. Heroin overdoses frequently involve a suppression of respiration. Heroin abuse is associated with serious health conditions, including fatal overdose, infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, and liver or kidney disease. Chronic use leads to physical dependence and subsequent severe symptoms of withdrawal if use of the drug stops. Heroin craving can persist years after drug cessation. Abuse of heroin during pregnancy can lead to low birthweight, developmental delay, physical dependence on heroin by the infant and other serious medical complications. City of Eugene Page 7-15 - DOT(FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Policy September 2010 Information Packet