Editing Heroin

[[File:Bayer Heroin bottle.jpg|thumb|right]]
When heroin was first made (around 1900), it was sold as a cough medicine and a painkiller. It was marketed in bottles like this one]]
[[File:Diamorphine ampoules.JPG|thumb|right|Heroin for medical use in hospitals, as a painkiller. It is in liquid form, so it can be given with a [[syringe]] (needle)]]
'''Diacetylmorphine''' or '''Diamorphine''' is a [[drug]].  It is an [[opioid]] - a type of drug which acts like [[morphine]] in the body.  Heroin is called a semi-synthetic opioid, meaning that it was created from an opiate that occurs in nature (morphine). Heroin is a white or brown powder made from the sap of the [[poppy]] [[plant]]. It is an [[analgesic]] drug (a painkiller), and its effects are like other drugs that come from the poppy plant sap, like [[opium]] and morphine. 

People smoke or inject heroin to get a calm feeling of relaxation called "being high," the extreme happiness is known as "[[euphoria]]". Heroin is a very addictive drug. This means that once a person starts taking heroin, they will want to take more and more, even if using heroin makes them sick or harms them. Heroin is an [[illegal drug]] in many countries, unless it is used to treat a medical problem.

== Legality ==
It is illegal to make, sell, and use heroin in most countries, unless a doctor has [[Prescription|prescribed]] it to a person to treat a medical problem. Many people [[Illegal drug trade|smuggle]] heroin and sell it illegally on the streets to make money. 

=== Effects ===
If people use heroin, they may overdose (take too much), which can make them very sick or even kill them.

When people take heroin, they get "high," or intoxicated (like being drunk on [[alcohol]]). When a person is intoxicated, they can get hurt if they drive a car or other vehicle. Also, when a person is intoxicated, they may do dangerous things, like having unsafe [[sex]] or being violent towards others. 

Another danger is "withdrawal", which can happen when a person stops using heroin.  As with other [[addiction]]s, withdrawal is a painful, unpleasant process that involves physical and mental symptoms.  Withdrawal is most common when people stop using heroin suddenly, or when a person who has been using heroin for a while tries to stop.  However, a person can have withdrawal symptoms even after using heroin for just 3 days.  Physical symptoms often include bad body aches, hot and cold sweats, chills, restlessness, [[diarrhea]], and problems with eating and sleeping.  (Sometimes withdrawal feels like a very bad case of the [[flu]].)  People can also have very strong psychological symptoms of withdrawal, like depression and strong cravings for heroin.  Many heroin users are very afraid of withdrawal.  Withdrawal - and fear of withdrawal - is one of the most common reasons why people have trouble quitting heroin.  Medications like [[methadone]] and [[Suboxone]] are sometimes used to treat or prevent withdrawal symptoms, and to decrease cravings for heroin.

Injecting heroin can be very dangerous.  A person can get [[infection]]s by using a needle that has not been cleaned properly.  Also, if people share the same needle, they can infect each other with [[disease]]s that travel in the [[blood]], like [[HIV]] or [[hepatitis C]]. People can also get diseases by having unsafe sex while they are high on heroin.

== Street names ==
There are many slang names, or street names, for heroin.  These names are different in different places. Some of the most common are Dope, Horse, Junk, H, Brown, Black Magic, Juice and Smack.

== Heroin history ==
Heroin was first made in 1898, by the Bayer Company in [[Germany]]. At first, it was used as a cough medicine and a painkiller. People thought that heroin would help decrease [[morphine]] and [[opium]] [[addiction]]. But after twelve years, doctors realized that people became strongly addicted to heroin. In 1914, the United States passed the Harrison Act.  This was the first of many attempts to control the use of heroin.

The word ''heroin'' comes from the German word ''heroisch'', which means powerful and heroic.
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{{Analgesics}}
{{Euphoriants}}
{{Opioid receptor modulators}}
{{Drug use}}
[[Category:Heroin| ]]
[[Category:1874 introductions]]
[[Category:1898 introductions]]
[[Category:Acetate esters]]
[[Category:Brands that became generic]]
[[Category:British inventions]]
[[Category:4,5-Epoxymorphinans]]
[[Category:Euphoriants]]
[[Category:Morphine]]
[[Category:Mu-opioid receptor agonists]]
[[Category:Nephrotoxins]]
[[Category:Opioids]]
[[Category:Phenol ethers]]
[[Category:Prodrugs]]
[[Category:Semisynthetic opioids]]
[[Category:Illegal drugs]]