U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Heroin dependence

MedGen UID:
5532
•Concept ID:
C0019337
•
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Synonyms: Addiction, Heroin; Dependence, Heroin; Heroin Addiction; Heroin Dependence
SNOMED CT: Heroin dependence (231477003); Heroin addiction (231477003); Dependence on diamorphine (231477003)
 
HPO: HP:0033517
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0005367

Definition

Addiction to heroin. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVHeroin dependence

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Treatment of Adolescent Heroin Dependence: The End of an Era.
Smyth BP, McCarney G
Ir Med J 2020 Jan 16;113(1):2. PMID: 32298556
Heroin-assisted treatment: has a controversial treatment come of age?†.
Farrell M, Hall W
Br J Psychiatry 2015 Jul;207(1):3-4. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.160986. PMID: 26135569
Pharmacogenetics of alcohol, nicotine and drug addiction treatments.
Sturgess JE, George TP, Kennedy JL, Heinz A, Müller DJ
Addict Biol 2011 Jul;16(3):357-76. Epub 2011 Mar 1 doi: 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2010.00287.x. PMID: 21362114

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of women with heroin dependence in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Morgan N, Daniels W, Subramaney U
S Afr Med J 2020 May 29;110(6):540-545. doi: 10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i6.14304. PMID: 32880569
Lee Robins' studies of heroin use among US Vietnam veterans.
Hall W, Weier M
Addiction 2017 Jan;112(1):176-180. Epub 2016 Sep 20 doi: 10.1111/add.13584. PMID: 27650054
Heroin dependence.
Brown R
WMJ 2004;103(4):20-6. PMID: 15481866
Heroin overdose: research and evidence-based intervention.
Darke S, Hall W
J Urban Health 2003 Jun;80(2):189-200. doi: 10.1093/jurban/jtg022. PMID: 12791795Free PMC Article
The resurgence and abuse of heroin by children in the United States.
Tarabar AF, Nelson LS
Curr Opin Pediatr 2003 Apr;15(2):210-5. doi: 10.1097/00008480-200304000-00013. PMID: 12640281

Diagnosis

DRD2 and ANKK1 genes associate with late-onset heroin dependence in men.
Tsou CC, Chou HW, Ho PS, Kuo SC, Chen CY, Huang CC, Liang CS, Lu RB, Huang SY
World J Biol Psychiatry 2019 Oct;20(8):605-615. Epub 2017 Sep 25 doi: 10.1080/15622975.2017.1372630. PMID: 28854834
Heroin in Malaysia and Singapore.
Sulaiman M, Kunalan V, Yap ATW, Lim WJL, Ng JJY, Loh SWX, Chan KB
Drug Test Anal 2018 Jan;10(1):109-119. Epub 2017 Aug 24 doi: 10.1002/dta.2238. PMID: 28670869
Buprenorphine use: the international experience.
Carrieri MP, Amass L, Lucas GM, Vlahov D, Wodak A, Woody GE
Clin Infect Dis 2006 Dec 15;43 Suppl 4:S197-215. doi: 10.1086/508184. PMID: 17109307
The resurgence and abuse of heroin by children in the United States.
Tarabar AF, Nelson LS
Curr Opin Pediatr 2003 Apr;15(2):210-5. doi: 10.1097/00008480-200304000-00013. PMID: 12640281
Acute heroin overdose.
Sporer KA
Ann Intern Med 1999 Apr 6;130(7):584-90. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-130-7-199904060-00019. PMID: 10189329

Therapy

Does heroin-assisted treatment reduce crime? A review of randomized-controlled trials.
Smart R, Reuter P
Addiction 2022 Mar;117(3):518-531. Epub 2021 Jun 22 doi: 10.1111/add.15601. PMID: 34105206
Overdose prevention sites and heroin assisted treatment.
Sherman S
BMJ 2019 Sep 9;366:l5437. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l5437. PMID: 31501227
Anticonvulsants for cocaine dependence.
Minozzi S, Cinquini M, Amato L, Davoli M, Farrell MF, Pani PP, Vecchi S
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015 Apr 17;2015(4):CD006754. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006754.pub4. PMID: 25882271Free PMC Article
Buprenorphine maintenance versus placebo or methadone maintenance for opioid dependence.
Mattick RP, Breen C, Kimber J, Davoli M
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014 Feb 6;2014(2):CD002207. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002207.pub4. PMID: 24500948Free PMC Article
Anticonvulsants for cocaine dependence.
Minozzi S, Amato L, Davoli M, Farrell M, Lima Reisser AA, Pani PP, Silva de Lima M, Soares B, Vecchi S
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008 Apr 16;(2):CD006754. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006754.pub2. PMID: 18425968

Prognosis

Opioid substitution treatment and heroin dependent adolescents: reductions in heroin use and treatment retention over twelve months.
Smyth BP, Elmusharaf K, Cullen W
BMC Pediatr 2018 May 4;18(1):151. doi: 10.1186/s12887-018-1137-4. PMID: 29728088Free PMC Article
Opioid dependence.
Praveen KT, Law F, O'Shea J, Melichar J
BMJ Clin Evid 2011 Sep 20;2011 PMID: 21929827Free PMC Article
Opioid dependence.
O'Shea J, Law F, Melichar J
BMJ Clin Evid 2009 Jul 24;2009 PMID: 21696648Free PMC Article
Suicide among heroin users: rates, risk factors and methods.
Darke S, Ross J
Addiction 2002 Nov;97(11):1383-94. doi: 10.1046/j.1360-0443.2002.00214.x. PMID: 12410779
Fatal heroin 'overdose': a review.
Darke S, Zador D
Addiction 1996 Dec;91(12):1765-72. doi: 10.1046/j.1360-0443.1996.911217652.x. PMID: 8997759

Clinical prediction guides

Heroin use and neuropsychological impairments: comparison of intravenous and inhalational use.
Ghosh A, Shaktan A, Nehra R, Basu D, Verma A, Rana DK, Modi M, Ahuja CK
Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023 Apr;240(4):909-920. Epub 2023 Feb 13 doi: 10.1007/s00213-023-06332-8. PMID: 36779990
The Competence and Willingness to Consent to Research Among Patients with Heroin Dependence.
Zhao L, Shi H, Ying B, Li Q
Ther Innov Regul Sci 2020 Sep;54(5):1106-1111. Epub 2020 Feb 12 doi: 10.1007/s43441-020-00127-1. PMID: 32052310
Heroin delay discounting and impulsivity: Modulation by DRD1 genetic variation.
Moses TEH, Burmeister M, Greenwald MK
Addict Biol 2020 May;25(3):e12777. Epub 2019 Jun 13 doi: 10.1111/adb.12777. PMID: 31192519Free PMC Article
Association between stress pathway gene (CRHR1⧹CRHBP) polymorphisms and heroin dependence.
Su H, Wang Z, Zhao M
J Clin Neurosci 2018 Aug;54:33-38. Epub 2018 May 28 doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2018.05.009. PMID: 29853227
Clinical and laboratory assessment of the subjective experience of drug craving.
Rosenberg H
Clin Psychol Rev 2009 Aug;29(6):519-34. Epub 2009 Jun 11 doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2009.06.002. PMID: 19577831

Recent systematic reviews

Heroin on trial: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials of diamorphine-prescribing as treatment for refractory heroin addiction†.
Strang J, Groshkova T, Uchtenhagen A, van den Brink W, Haasen C, Schechter MT, Lintzeris N, Bell J, Pirona A, Oviedo-Joekes E, Simon R, Metrebian N
Br J Psychiatry 2015 Jul;207(1):5-14. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.149195. PMID: 26135571
Anticonvulsants for cocaine dependence.
Minozzi S, Cinquini M, Amato L, Davoli M, Farrell MF, Pani PP, Vecchi S
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015 Apr 17;2015(4):CD006754. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006754.pub4. PMID: 25882271Free PMC Article
Buprenorphine maintenance versus placebo or methadone maintenance for opioid dependence.
Mattick RP, Breen C, Kimber J, Davoli M
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014 Feb 6;2014(2):CD002207. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002207.pub4. PMID: 24500948Free PMC Article
Opioid dependence.
Praveen KT, Law F, O'Shea J, Melichar J
BMJ Clin Evid 2011 Sep 20;2011 PMID: 21929827Free PMC Article
Opioid dependence.
O'Shea J, Law F, Melichar J
BMJ Clin Evid 2009 Jul 24;2009 PMID: 21696648Free PMC Article

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.
    • Bookshelf
      See practice and clinical guidelines in NCBI Bookshelf. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Consumer resources

    Reviews

    Related information

    • MeSH
      Related Medical Subject Headings
    • PMC Articles
      Related information in PubMed Central Links
    • PubMed
      Related literature resources in PubMed

    Recent activity

    Clear Turn Off Turn On

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...