by Francis Moraes, PH D

Many people believe that everyone who uses heroin is addicted. In fact, this is true of only about 20 percent of heroin users. By clearing up common misconceptions like these, this book provides information that can save the lives of people using the drug. The author recounts heroin's history, details its chemistry, tells what users need to know to avoid addiction, and demystifies the life of a user: from buying to administering to detoxing and staying clean.

THE LITTLE BOOK OF HEROIN is a straight forward look at heroin and who junkies are really. It covers history and the evolution from opium to morphine to heroin; how heroin is procured on the "street" and how it is chemically purified; ways heroin is used and diseases junkies get; methods of detox and the real danger of "sudden death" and much more.

THE LITTLE BOOK OF HEROIN replaces myths with solid information useful to the user for reducing harm; and to concerned family, friends and professionals who want to better understand.

Francis Moraes, Jr., Ph.D., is trained as a research physicist and chemist. He was a physics professor at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon where he became interested in Portland's vibrant heroin subculture--Portland is the number two heroin city according to DEA statistics. He spent several years studying this subculture in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, and New York City. Dr. Moraes has conducted substantial academic and pharmacological research.

Table of Contents

1. What is Heroin?; 2. History of Heroin; 3. Heroin Chic; 4. Heroin Trade; 5. The science of Heroin; 6. Heroin Subculture; 7. Scoring; 8. Purifying Street Heroin; 9. How Heroin is Used; 10. Disease; 11. Addiction; 12. Detox; 13. Sudden Death; 14. The Hardest Drug; About the Author.

Paperback - 96 pages