Editing Heroin (section)

===Legal status===

====Asia====
In Hong Kong, diamorphine is regulated under Schedule 1 of Hong Kong's Chapter 134 ''Dangerous Drugs Ordinance''. It is available by prescription. Anyone supplying diamorphine without a valid prescription can be fined $5,000,000 ([[Hong Kong dollar|HKD]]) and imprisoned for life. The penalty for trafficking or manufacturing diamorphine is a $5,000,000 (HKD) fine and life imprisonment. Possession of diamorphine without a license from the Department of Health is illegal with a $1,000,000 (HKD) fine and seven years of jail time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Heroin, the Poppy|url=http://www.addiction-recovery-expose.com/heroin.html|website=Addiction Recovery Expose|publisher=Randolph Online Solutions Inc|access-date=27 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822084042/http://www.addiction-recovery-expose.com/heroin.html|archive-date=22 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Hong Kong Police – The Dangerous Drug Ordinance – Chapter 134|url=https://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/04_crime_matters/drug/law_pen.html|website=The Hong Kong Police website|publisher=The Hong Kong Police|access-date=5 January 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005070448/https://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/04_crime_matters/drug/law_pen.html|archive-date=5 October 2019}}</ref>

====Europe====
In the Netherlands, diamorphine is a List I drug of the [[Opium Law]]. It is available for prescription under tight regulation exclusively to long-term addicts for whom [[methadone maintenance]] treatment has failed. It cannot be used to treat severe [[pain]] or other illnesses.<ref>{{cite web|title=Canada now allows prescription heroin in severe opioid addiction|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/canada-now-allows-prescription-heroin-in-severe-opioid-addiction-1.3753312|website=cbc.ca|publisher=CBC News|access-date=11 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115200403/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/canada-now-allows-prescription-heroin-in-severe-opioid-addiction-1.3753312|archive-date=15 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, diamorphine is available by prescription, though it is a restricted [[Class A drug]]. According to the 50th edition of the [[British National Formulary]] (BNF), diamorphine [[hydrochloride]] may be used in the treatment of acute pain, [[myocardial infarction]], acute [[pulmonary oedema]], and [[chronic pain]]. The treatment of chronic non-[[malignant]] pain must be supervised by a specialist. The BNF notes that all opioid analgesics cause dependence and tolerance but that this is "no deterrent in the control of pain in terminal illness". When used in the [[palliative care]] of cancer patients, diamorphine is often injected using a [[syringe driver]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Heroin|url=http://www.nacada.go.ke/drugs/heroin/|publisher=NACADA|access-date=27 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203073833/http://www.nacada.go.ke/drugs/heroin/ |archive-date=3 December 2012}}</ref>

In Switzerland, heroin is produced in injectable or tablet form under the brand name Diaphin by a private company under contract to the Swiss government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/good-crop--bad-crop_-federal-dealer--on-20-years-of-heroin-scheme/37953750|title='Federal dealer' on 20 years of heroin scheme| vauthors = Ochsenbein G |website=SWI swissinfo.ch|date=14 February 2014 |access-date=13 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215221901/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/good-crop--bad-crop_-federal-dealer--on-20-years-of-heroin-scheme/37953750|archive-date=15 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Swiss-produced heroin has been imported into Canada with government approval.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/access-drugs-exceptional-circumstances/list-drugs-urgent-public-health-need.html|title=List of Drugs for an Urgent Public Health Need|publisher=Health Canada|date=28 June 2017|access-date=13 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206220049/https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/access-drugs-exceptional-circumstances/list-drugs-urgent-public-health-need.html|archive-date=6 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Australia====
In Australia, diamorphine is listed as a schedule 9 prohibited substance under the [[Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons|Poisons Standard]] (October 2015).<ref name="Poisons Standard">Poisons Standard October 2015 {{cite web |url=https://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2015L01534 |title=Poisons Standard October 2015 |date=30 September 2015 | publisher = Commonwealth of Australia |access-date=6 January 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119074606/https://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2015L01534/ |archive-date=19 January 2016}}</ref> The state of [[Western Australia]], in its ''Poisons Act 1964'' (Reprint 6: amendments as at 10 September 2004), described a schedule 9 drug as: "Poisons that are drugs of abuse, the manufacture, possession, sale or use of which should be prohibited by law except for amounts which may be necessary for educational, experimental or research purposes conducted with the approval of the Governor."<ref>{{cite act |title=The Poisons Act 1964 |article=20 (2) (i) |page=16 |date=10 September 2004 |legislature=[[Parliament of Western Australia]] |url=https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/former/Swans.nsf/(DownloadFiles)/Poisons+Act+1964.pdf/$file/Poisons+Act+1964.pdf |access-date=15 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116050739/https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/former/Swans.nsf/%28DownloadFiles%29/Poisons+Act+1964.pdf/$file/Poisons+Act+1964.pdf |archive-date=16 November 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====North America====
In Canada, diamorphine is a controlled substance<ref>{{cite news|title=Medically prescribed heroin more cost-effective than methadone, study suggests|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1144818--medically-prescribed-heroin-more-cost-effective-than-methadone-study-suggests|work=[[The Toronto Star]]|access-date=27 May 2012| vauthors = Ubelacker S |date=12 March 2012|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120416015457/http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1144818--medically-prescribed-heroin-more-cost-effective-than-methadone-study-suggests|archive-date=16 April 2012}}</ref> under Schedule I of the [[Controlled Drugs and Substances Act]] (CDSA).<ref>{{cite web|title=Heroin Legal Status|url=http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/heroin/heroin_law.shtml|website=Vaults of Erowid|publisher=[[Erowid]] |access-date=27 May 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514101729/http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/heroin/heroin_law.shtml|archive-date=14 May 2012}}</ref> Any person seeking or obtaining diamorphine without disclosing authorization 30&nbsp;days before obtaining another prescription from a practitioner is guilty of an indictable offense and subject to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years. Possession of diamorphine for the purpose of trafficking is an indictable offense and subject to imprisonment for life.

In the United States, diamorphine is a Schedule I drug according to the [[Controlled Substances Act]] of 1970, making it illegal to possess without a DEA license.<ref name="DOJ 1308.11">{{cite web | title = Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR) 1308.11 | url = http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/21cfr/cfr/1308/1308_11.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090827043725/http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/21cfr/cfr/1308/1308_11.htm | archive-date=27 August 2009 | date = 18 October 2012 }}</ref> Possession of more than 100&nbsp;grams of diamorphine or a mixture containing diamorphine is punishable with a minimum mandatory sentence of five years of imprisonment in a federal prison.

In 2021, the US state of Oregon became the first state to decriminalize the use of heroin after voters passed [[Oregon Ballot Measure 110|Ballot Measure 110]] in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/04/election-drugs-oregon-new-jersey/ |title=Oregon decriminalizes possession of hard drugs, as four other states legalize recreational marijuana |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=5 November 2020 }}</ref> This measure will allow people with small amounts to avoid arrest.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/03/oregon-drugs-decriminalize-arizona-new-jersey-marijuana|title=Oregon becomes first US state to decriminalize possession of hard drugs|date=4 November 2020|website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

====Turkey====
{{See also|Illegal drug trade in Turkey}}
[[Turkey]] maintains strict laws against the use, possession or [[Illegal drug trade|trafficking of illegal drugs]]. If convicted under these offences, one could receive a heavy fine or a prison sentence of 4 to 24 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey/local-laws-and-customs|title=Turkey Travel Advice|access-date=20 March 2013|publisher=[[GOV.UK]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607023012/https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey/local-laws-and-customs|archive-date=7 June 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Misuse of prescription medication====
Misused prescription medicine, such as opioids, can lead to heroin use and dependence.<ref name="Abuse">{{Cite news|url=https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/heroin/how-heroin-linked-to-prescription-drug-abuse|title=How is heroin linked to prescription drug abuse? |author = National Institute on Drug Abuse |access-date=28 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035612/https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/heroin/how-heroin-linked-to-prescription-drug-abuse|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The number of death from illegal opioid overdose follows the increasing number of death caused by prescription opioid overdoses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/analysis.html|title=Opioid Data Analysis |website=U.S. [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC)|access-date=28 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130110545/https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/analysis.html|archive-date=30 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Prescription opioids are relatively easy to obtain.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/whats-a-pill-mill/|title=What's A Pill Mill?|access-date=28 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041552/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/whats-a-pill-mill/|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> This may ultimately lead to heroin injection because heroin is cheaper than prescribed pills.<ref name="Abuse"/>