What it is

Heroin is in the opiate group of drugs. Opiates come from the sticky resin from the opium poppy seedpod. Other opiates include opium, morphine, methadone, codeine and pethidine.

It is a highly addictive drug and there is significant risk of overdose.

In New Zealand, 'homebake' can be manufactured from over-the-counter and prescription painkillers, and the most common source is morphine tablets. In other countries, heroin is more common.

Opiates are classed as depressants, although they won't necessarily make a user feel depressed. Depressants slow down activity in the brain and central nervous system. Other forms of depressants include alcohol and cannabis.

For centuries, opiates have been used both recreationally and medicinally. While the recreational use of opiates is outlawed in most countries, their use as a painkiller is widespread, especially when they are produced in laboratories.

Methadone is often used as a replacement therapy for people addicted to opiates. A newer product called buprenorphine is also used as a replacement for heroin.

Slang
H, Smack, Homebake, Misties, Morph, Morphine, Scag, Schmack, Dope, Gear, Junk