Heroin
Heroin, diamorphine or diacetylmorphine is a semi-synthetic 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, diacetylmorphine hydrochloride. It has a high addiction potential, and frequent repeated administration causes a fast development of tolerance to it when compared to other substances, although occasional use without symptoms of withdrawal is also possible. Internationally, Heroin is controlled under Schedules I and IV of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
It is illegal to manufacture, possess, or sell heroin in the United States but, under the name diamorphine, heroin is a legal prescription drug in the United Kingdom. Popular street names for heroin include chiva, diesel, smack, skag, heron, black tar, horse, junk, jenny, brown, brown sugar, dark, Dope and H.
Did you know?
Felix Hoffmann, of Bayer in Elberfeld, Germany created heroin as a medicine 11 days after inventing aspirin. Afraid of the possible side effects of aspirin, Bayer registered heroin (probably from heroisch, German for heroic, chosen because in field studies people using the medicine felt "heroic") as a trademark.
From 1898 through to 1910 it was marketed as a non-addictive morphine substitute and cough medicine for children. Bayer marketed heroin as a "cure" for morphine addiction before it was discovered that heroin is converted to morphine in the liver. All opiates are converted by the human liver into the identical molecule with varying degrees of concentration in the blood stream. The company felt somewhat embarrassed by this new finding and it became a historical blunder for Bayer . As with aspirin, Bayer lost some of its trademark rights to heroin following World War I.
In the United States in 1914 the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act was passed to control the sale and distribution of heroin. The law still allowed heroin to be prescribed and sold for medical purposes. In particular, addicts could often still be legally supplied with heroin. In 1924, the United States Congress passed additional legislation banning the sale, importation or manufacture of heroin in the United States.
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