Heroin is classified as a narcotic. Narcotics are a type of depressant that suppress the sensation of pain by stimulating the receptor sites that deaden pain. All narcotics come from a plant substance called opium. Heroin is a imitative form of morphine without the disagreeable side effects of morphine. The theory was that heroin was purer than morphine and the impurities heroin lacked is what caused the harmful side effects in morphine. Heroin is two to four times more potent than morphine. The behavioral effects of heroin addiction impact the addicts life in almost every aspect. The addict may quit their job in order to have more time to use and may begin hanging around a crowd they normally would not associate with (other drug addicts).
