Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

 

Video details

Please install flash player [ Flash player icon ] to see this video.

Related Content


 

Heroin overdose - Overview

Alternative Names

Acetomorphine overdose; Diacetylmorphine overdose

Definition of Heroin overdose:

Heroin is an illegal street drug that is is very addictive. This article discusses overdose due to heroin. An overdose is when you take more than the normal or recommended amount of something, usually a drug. An overdose may result in serious, harmful symptoms or death.

Poisonous Ingredient:

  • Heroin

Where Found:

Heroin is made from morphine. Morphine is a powerful drug, and it naturally occurs in the seedpods of Asian (opium) poppy plants. Street names for heroin include "junk," "smack," and "skag."

See also: Morphine overdose

  • Reviewed last on: 10/24/2007
  • Stephen C. Acosta, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, OR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

References

National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Report Series: Heroin Abuse and Addiction. National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information. October 1997. NIH Publications No. 05-4165. Revised May 2005.