Heroin
Heroin or diacetylmorphine (INN) is an alkaloid
opioid. It is the 3,6-diacetyl derivative of morphine (hence
diacetylmorphine) and is synthesised from it by acetylation. The white
crystalline form is commonly the hydrochloride salt, diamorphine
hydrochloride. It is highly addictive when compared to other substances,
although occasional use without symptoms of withdrawal has been noted.
Heroin is controlled under Schedules I and IV of the Single Convention
on Narcotic Drugs[1]. It is not legal to manufacture, possess, or sell
heroin in the United States, but diamorphine is a legal prescription
drug in the United Kingdom.
Heroin may be colloquially referred to as junk, smack, horse, brown
sugar, babania, golden brown, black tar, montega, H, big H, lady H,
dope, skag, juice, jude, diesel, boy, blows, pants, or by a multitude of
other slang terms.
Heroin is a μ-opioid (mu-opioid) agonist. Like all
drugs of its class, it binds to and activates μ-opioid receptors found
in the brain, spinal cord and gut. As a medicine, it is administered
usually in the form of its hydrochloride as an analgesic for severe
pain. It is illegal for any purpose in the United States, but it is
legally used by cancer patients in the United Kingdom and other
countries.
