There is a wealth of information regarding heroin facts and the short term effects of the drug. Soon after injection (or inhalation), heroin crosses the blood-brain barrier. In the brain, heroin is converted to morphine and binds rapidly to opioid receptors. Abusers typically report feeling a surge of pleasurable sensation - a "rush." The intensity of the rush is a function of how much drug is taken and how rapidly the drug enters the brain and binds to the natural opioid receptors.

According to the North Dakota Attorney General’s office, state legislation which controlled sale of over-the-counter cold medications like Sudafed reduced the number of local labs significantly from 190 lab incidents in 2005 to 40 in 2006.

According to Drug Abuse Warning Network, or DAWN, heroin and morphine accounted for 51% of drug deaths ruled accidental or unexpected in 1999.

Facts about heroin and how it makes the user feel depends on how much they use, their tolerance, weight, and how often they use. The “high” from heroin can last anywhere from 2 to 8 hours. However, the average is 2-4 hours. The initial rush lasts a couple of minutes, and then a feeling of warmth and tiredness takes hold and lasts the duration.