Buzz
Heroin is a drug that has undeniably earned its reputation for infamy. It has grown into a global issue, with a sprawling network of black markets and shady street dealers continuously supporting its existence. Over recent decades, substances intended to replace heroin or mimic its effects have inadvertently boosted its demand. Heroin remains cheap and easily accessible, particularly in the United States, enabling addicts to feed their cravings worldwide.
But how did heroin reach this point? What events shaped its transformation into the notorious drug we know today? This article breaks down heroin’s history into ten key moments, providing a chronological narrative that tells the story of how heroin became the substance that now holds its dark reputation.
10. From Opium to Heroin
Heroin, or diamorphine, is made from morphine, a powerful opiate alkaloid derived from the poppy plant. Morphine itself is highly addictive, and heroin was created in an effort to produce a less addictive alternative. By the late 19th century, heroin began to enter the market, marking the start of a new chapter in the history of opiates.
Heroin was initially believed to be less addictive than morphine, and it was sold freely in local stores. However, it didn't take long for the drug to start dominating, leading to widespread addiction, particularly among middle-aged women, many of whom were married.
9. The Creation of Heroin
Heroin was first created in 1874 by chemist C.R. Alder Wright. Initially, it wasn't regarded as a significant discovery. Wright was experimenting with morphine to find new compounds, but his efforts didn’t yield much. It wasn’t until 1897 that Felix Hoffman, a researcher at the Bayer pharmaceutical company, resynthesized it, which marked the beginning of heroin's commercial history.
The creation of heroin was entirely accidental. Hoffman was trying to synthesize codeine, a drug that was less addictive and less potent, from morphine. Instead, he produced diamorphine, which was later named heroin. The result was far stronger than he intended, with potency levels ranging from 50 to 100 percent more than morphine. Despite the dangers of addiction, the potential for success was clear, and the journey to market heroin was just starting.
8. Heroin Becomes Big Business
After discovering the strength of heroin, Bayer was eager to introduce this potent opioid to the public. However, the name 'diamorphine' lacked appeal, so they chose 'Heroin,' drawn from the German word heroisch, meaning 'heroic' in English. The drug was intended to evoke feelings of power, invincibility, and strength—traits they hoped users would associate with it. Interestingly, Bayer had already marketed a drug called 'Heroin' before.
At the time, morphine was known for its addictive qualities, and society was struggling to control its use. Heroin was introduced as a safer alternative, promising relief from morphine addiction. It was marketed in everything from cough syrups to pain relievers, and shockingly, it was even advertised directly to children.
7. The Roaring Twenties
The 1920s were a time of jazz, stock market boom, and a relentless party culture. The effects of the Industrial Revolution had lifted both Europe and the United States, creating an optimistic atmosphere. Despite alcohol being illegal in the U.S., it was still easily available, but the prohibition of alcohol also led to a sharp rise in heroin use during this period.
An article written by William McAdoo, published on March 31, 1923, clearly stated that drug addiction—especially the use of opiates and heroin—was a more pressing issue than alcohol during the Prohibition era in the United States. He is quoted as saying:
There is one thing that makes drug addiction much more serious than drunkenness from alcoholic liquors. The drunkard cannot conceal his vice.
A new player had entered the scene: heroin. Unlike alcohol, heroin was a much less obvious addiction, which made it all the more dangerous. By 1924, heroin was completely banned in the United States, driving its use underground and keeping it hidden from the public eye ever since.
6. The 1930s
By the time the 1930s arrived, heroin was illegal in the U.S., and governments across the globe began recognizing the severe social danger it posed. However, the prohibition created a market vacuum, leaving many users desperate for the drug. This demand fueled the rise of organized crime syndicates that eagerly stepped in to take over the trade abandoned by pharmaceutical companies and drugstores.
In the United States, the Mafia took over the drug trade, filling the gap left by pharmaceutical companies' sudden exit. As heroin became criminalized, its use only grew more widespread, leading to an increase in its illegal distribution.
5. Drug Trafficking
The Mafia and other criminal organizations ensured that the drug trade between the United States and Europe remained steady and thriving. As the 1960s arrived, drug dealers took the business to global levels, with law enforcement struggling to manage the growing networks.
Southeast Asian countries like Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam joined the drug trade when the United States and France provided support to local factions in exchange for their help in fighting Communist uprisings. The military aid included aircraft, but ultimately the intervention was doomed, as foreign meddling often is.
In America, heroin was primarily associated with social outcasts—adult criminals who had always been marginalized and impoverished—while suburban housewives and fathers typically turned to legal amphetamines and alcohol. However, this dynamic shifted dramatically during the Vietnam War, when American soldiers were sent to fight against a perceived Communist threat in a war that was not theirs to begin with.
The irony is that Southeast Asia, with its ideal climate for growing poppies, became involved in the drug trade. Armed with new tools from the Americans and French, local groups began supplying heroin to American troops to ease their nerves, which were frayed by the horrors of the war they were enduring.
4. Vietnam
Vietnam was Hell—just ask anyone who went there, many of whom were drafted at alarmingly young ages. As the war stretched on, addiction among young soldiers escalated, with teenagers sent to witness the death of their comrades in a distant land. They returned home scarred, both physically and mentally, and turned to heroin—the trade of which was sustained in the U.S. by organized crime—to numb their pain and silence the nightmares that haunted them.
Many soldiers who were injured during the war were forced to self-medicate to manage the pain. As these young men returned home, physically and emotionally scarred, they reconnected with old friends. Heroin, once considered a drug for criminals, had now become a popular choice for anyone seeking an escape or a good time.
3. The Unexpected Surge
The modern opioid crisis, which began at the turn of the 21st century and continues to this day, has rocked the Western world. Unlike the previous wave of heroin use, newer, pharmaceutical-grade opioids have surfaced on the streets. Fentanyl, for example, is significantly stronger than heroin, and its impact on society has been equally devastating. Between 2011 and 2016, fentanyl-related deaths increased by over 1,000 percent, claiming tens of thousands of lives in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
One thing is certain: fentanyl makes heroin seem almost benign. With the rise in abuse of both alternative opioids and those legally prescribed, one might expect a decrease in heroin use, right? Wrong.
New demographics, previously untouched by heroin addiction, have started seeking it out on the streets, where dealers continue their trade in neighborhoods across the globe. Many of these new users first became hooked on prescription opioids and, when their prescriptions were cut off, turned to heroin as a cheaper, more accessible alternative.
While the future remains uncertain, there are teams of dedicated scientists working around the clock to find a solution, such as developing non-addictive opioid alternatives. Anyone who's faced a severe injury would likely agree that we need these alternatives. The challenge now is identifying which drugs are safe and which should never be used.
2. Public Policy
The fight against heroin has been approached in two primary ways—education and law enforcement—with one being considered more effective than the other. Legal concerns surrounding the drug have prompted discussions about whether criminalization is the best approach. Despite the establishment of the DEA in the 1970s, heroin remains a persistent problem, leading some to question if the agency has truly succeeded in stopping addiction by halting its distribution.
While few argue that heroin should be fully legalized, many are beginning to challenge how we treat users. There's a growing call for rehabilitation programs rather than long prison sentences, as incarceration often only serves to introduce addicts to more heroin upon their release, which keeps the cycle going.
1. The Superstar Drug
After being resynthesized in the late 1800s, diamorphine was destined to become a renowned drug, both for its powerful effects and its allure. Users described its experience as euphoric and almost intoxicating, offering an escape from the mundane. Its rising fame was amplified by the rockstars and icons who both thrived and perished under its influence.
From Janis Joplin to Sid Vicious, heroin became the drug of choice for rockstars, misfits, and those seeking to send a rebellious message to the youth, becoming an iconic symbol of defiance and chaos in the music world.
In response, the Nixon Administration took a stand with severe drug policies, pushing Congress to approve a $370 million bill aimed at halting the flood of drugs coming from Asia. This led to the creation of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 1973.
