Did You Know That Heroin Was Originally Used as a Cough Remedy?

While recognized today as a highly addictive opioid, heroin was sold in the early 20th century by pharmaceutical and biomedical giant Bayer as a more powerful and less addictive substitute for morphine, as explained in a Stories from the Collection video from the DEA Museum.

Heroin was marketed as a painkiller and cough suppressant and was popular since millions of people suffered from a chronic cough due to pneumonia and tuberculosis. 

But doctors noticed an uptick in their patients' dependence on the drug and their need for larger and larger doses. Heroin was actually more addictive than morphine and Bayer ultimately discontinued its sale of the opioid. Today, heroin is a Schedule I narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning that it has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.

Learn about heroin's effects on the mind and body, common street names, and more with the Heroin Drug Fact Sheet.