Heroin is an opioid made from morphine. Opioids can slow activity in the central nervous system, including the drive to breathe. Potency and contamination can be unpredictable.
Health effects and risks
Heroin can cause drowsiness, slowed breathing, dependence, and fatal overdose. Signs of opioid overdose can include unresponsiveness and slow, shallow, or stopped breathing. Call 911 immediately if overdose is suspected; naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose when available. Do not delay emergency care.
Testing and next steps
Drug screens vary by specimen and by the substances listed on a test’s panel. Check the instructions and panel before selecting a test; do not assume every product detects this substance. A home screen is preliminary. For more on specimen types, read Drug Testing Methods; for a preliminary positive result, read Unexpected or Preliminary Positive Results. The Substance Information hub lists the current staging test options.
Sources and support
See the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Commonly Abused Drugs chart for a general overview. For confidential U.S. treatment referrals, contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Call 911 for a medical emergency.