"In the United States today more than 50,000 people die of drug overdoses each year. Many overdose deaths are caused by heroin, a potent opioid drug that is highly addictive and can cause serious long-term health problems. Heroin was once considered a 'hard' drug that was only used by the most desperate junkies. Over the past decade, however, heroin has become more readily available in American communities, and it is destroying the hopes and lives of a new generation. This book provides information about the effects of heroin and how this illegal drug is contributing to the ongoing opioid crisis. Opioids are psychoactive drugs derived from the opium poppy, such as heroin or morphine, or synthetic versions that mimic their effects, such as fentanyl or oxycodone"--Provided by the publisher.
General Note
Includes glossary.
Content Note
Chapter 1: Who uses heroin? - Chapter 2: Origins and history of heroin - Chapter 3: How does heroin work? - Chapter 4: The long-term effects of heroin - Chapter 5: How is heroin addiction treated.