Patterns of Heroin Use: what do we know?

Summary Set against a background of assumptions that heroin use is inevitably problematic, there is significant evidence of its controlled use. This paper attempts to draw together the literature on patterns of heroin use which avoid physical and psychological dependence. However, studies of such patterns of use are hampered by the absence of a common definition. ‘Occasional’ use, ‘recreational’ use and ‘controlled’ use have been used interchangeably. Moreover, these terms have been defined variously by frequency of use, quantities of heroin used and consequences of such use. Nonetheless, these studies suggest that patterns of heroin use which avoid physical and psychological dependence do exist. However there is a paucity of research on non‐dependent patterns of use. Potential issues for future research are accordingly outlined.