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Heroin

Brief Description

Heroin is an opioid drug made from morphine, a natural substance taken from the seed pod of the various opium poppy plants grown in Southeast and Southwest Asia, Mexico, and Colombia. Heroin can be a white or brown powder, or a black sticky substance known as black tar heroin. Other common names for heroin include big H, horse, hell dust, and smack. Read the DrugFacts

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Statistics and Trends

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Monitoring the Future Study: Trends in Prevalence of Heroin for 8th Graders, 10th Graders, and 12th Graders; 2017 (in percent)*
Drug Time Period 8th Graders 10th Graders 12th Graders
Heroin Lifetime 0.70 0.40 0.70
Past Year 0.30 0.20 0.40
Past Month 0.20 0.10 0.30

* Data in brackets indicate statistically significant change from the previous year. Previous MTF Data

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National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Trends in Prevalence of Heroin for Ages 12 or Older, Ages 12 to 17, Ages 18 to 25, and Ages 26 or Older; 2017 (in percent)*
Drug Time Period Ages 12 or Older Ages 12 to 17 Ages 18 to 25 Ages 26 or Older
Heroin Lifetime 1.90 0.10 1.80 2.20
Past Year 0.30 0.10 0.60 0.30
Past Month 0.20 0.00 0.30 0.20

^ indicate low precision; no estimate reported.
Data in brackets indicate statistically significant change from the previous year. Previous NSDUH Data

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NIDA. (). Heroin. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/heroin

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