Heroin has a very long history of use throughout the world. It is thought that
the Arab traders during the 7th and 8th century AD took opium to China where
it was used medicinally up until the 17th century. In Victorian times opium
was taken by all classes in the form of pills or laudanum. Laudanum is opium
dissolved in alcohol. In 1874 heroin was created to be a cure for those addicted
to morphine. With the intention of being a safe, non-addictive substitute for
morphine, heroin fell short of its expectations. Soon it was noted that heroin
produced addiction exceptionally quickly in many and was made illegal in 1920.
| 1853 |
|
Hypodermic needle-syringes with a point fine enough to pierce the skin are invented simultaneously by Charles Gabriel Pravaz (French surgeon) and Alexander Wood (Scottish physician). It is first used to inject morphine intravenously. |
| 1874 |
|
Heroin is first synthesized from Morphine by chemist C.R. Alder Wright at St. Mary's Hospital in London. Its potential was not recognized. |
| 1897 |
|
Heroin is synthesized by Felix Hoffman at Bayer Pharmaceutical. Bayer immediately recognized its potential and began marketing it heavily for the treatment of a variety of respiratory ailments. |
| 1898 |
|
One year after beginning sales, Bayer exports heroin to 23 countries. |
| Early 1900s |
|
Doctors and pharmacists begin noticing that patients are consuming large amounts of heroin containing cough remedies. |
| 1906 |
|
Pure Food and Drug Act is passed, regulating the
labeling of products containing Alcohol, Opiates, Cocaine, and Cannabis, among others. The law went into effect Jan 1, 1907 |
| 1911 |
|
British Pharmaceutical Codex notes that heroin is as addictive as morphine. |
| 1913 |
|
Bayer ceases producing heroin. |
| 1914 |
|
The Harrison Narcotics Tax Act is passed, regulating and imposing a tax upon the sale of Opium, Heroin and Cocaine for the first time. The Act took effect Mar 1, 1915. |
| 1924 |
|
The Heroin Act passes, making manufacture and possession of heroin illegal in the U.S. |
| 1965-1970 |
|
U.S. involvement in Vietnam is blamed for the surge in illegal heroin being smuggled into the States. |
| 1971 |
|
Between 10-15% of American servicemen in
Vietnam are addicted to heroin. |