What is it?
Heroin, a white-to-brownish tar-like substance or powder, is a highly addictive drug derived from morphine. Today, heroin is purer than ever with a lower price.

How is it used?
Heroin can be injected, smoked or inhaled. Heroin users quickly adopt a tolerance for the drug and must use increasing amounts to get the same effects.

How does it affect you?
Heroin can cause slowed and slurred speech, respiratory depression, an impaired immune system, HIV infection from injection, decreased sexual pleasure, sedation proceeding to coma, reduced appetite, irregular heart rate or blood pressure, or death.

© Information on drugs facts comes from a number of sources, primarily the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Partnership For A Drug-Free America.