Heroin is used in lots of ways. Injection is one of the most common methods, but you have to dissolve the product before drawing it up into a syringe. Depending on the type of heroin, you may need to heat it to dissolve it. Smoking heroin refers to vaporizing it to inhale the resulting fumes, rather than burning and inhaling the smoke. It is commonly smoked in glass pipes made from glassblown Pyrex tubes and light bulbs. Heroin may be smoked from aluminium foil that is heated by a flame underneath it, with the resulting smoke inhaled through a tube of rolled up foil, a method also known as " chasing the dragon". [56] Insufflation In the United States, diamorphine is a Schedule I drug according to the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, making it illegal to possess without a DEA license. [118] Possession of more than 100grams of diamorphine or a mixture containing diamorphine is punishable with a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years of imprisonment in a federal prison. Eason K, Naughton P (13 March 2012). "First murder charge over heroin mix that killed 400". Times Online. London . Retrieved 20 July 2012. The UK Department of Health's Rolleston Committee Report [34] in 1926 established the British approach to diamorphine prescription to users, which was maintained for the next 40 years: dealers were prosecuted, but doctors could prescribe diamorphine to users when withdrawing. In 1964, the Brain Committee recommended that only selected approved doctors working at approved specialized centres be allowed to prescribe diamorphine and cocaine to users. The law was made more restrictive in 1968. Beginning in the 1970s, the emphasis shifted to abstinence and the use of methadone; currently, only a small number of users in the UK are prescribed diamorphine. [35]

The opium poppy was cultivated in lower Mesopotamia as long ago as 3400 BC. [86] The chemical analysis of opium in the 19th century revealed that most of its activity could be ascribed to the alkaloids codeine and morphine.Swiss approve prescription heroin". BBC News Online. 30 November 2008. Archived from the original on 30 November 2008 . Retrieved 30 November 2008. Brown powder: Brown heroin is cheaper but less refined than white heroin. Its color resembles dust or chocolate milk mix.

Since January 2009, Denmark has prescribed diamorphine to a few addicts who have tried methadone and buprenorphine without success. [42] Beginning in February 2010, addicts in Copenhagen and Odense became eligible to receive free diamorphine. Later in 2010, other cities including Århus and Esbjerg joined the scheme. It was estimated that around 230 addicts would be able to receive free diamorphine. [43]Intravenous use of heroin (and any other substance) with needles and syringes or other related equipment may lead to: Del Giudice P (January 2004). "Cutaneous complications of intravenous drug abuse". The British Journal of Dermatology. 150 (1): 1–10. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2004.05607.x. PMID 14746612. S2CID 32380001. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Li W, Li Q, Zhu J, et al. White matter impairment in chronic heroin dependence: a quantitative DTI study. Brain Res. 2013;1531:58-64. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2013.07.036. Poisons Act" (PDF). Government of Australia. 1964. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2015.