In the United States today more than 50,000 people die of drug overdoses each year. Many overdose deaths are caused by heroin, a potent opioid drug that is highly addictive and can cause serious long-term health problems. Heroin was once considered a "hard" drug that was only used by the most desperate junkies. Over the past decade, however, heroin has become more readily available in American communities, and it is destroying the hopes and lives of a new generation. This book provides information about the effects of heroin and how this illegal drug is contributing to the ongoing opioid crisis. Opioids are psychoactive drugs derived from the opium poppy, such as heroin or morphine, or synthetic versions that mimic their effects, such as fentanyl or oxycodone. The series Opioid Education examines various aspects of opioid use and treatment in the United States and the rest of the world. The purpose of this series is to provide young readers with a greater understanding of the ongoing opioid crisis.