Final answer:
Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine and was once marketed under the brand name by the pharmaceutical company Bayer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Heroin, which is known for its strong addictive properties, is a result of the chemical modification of morphine. Morphine itself is a major pain-relieving drug found in opium and constitutes about 10% of the crude opium extract. The pharmaceutical company Bayer marketed heroin as the brand name of morphine in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Morphine and its semi-synthetic derivative heroin are part of a broader class of drugs known as opioids, which also includes other prescription pain relievers like codeine, oxycodone, and Vicodin. Opioids interact with receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract to change the way a person experiences pain. The change from morphine to heroin involves converting the two hydroxyl functional groups in morphine to esters of acetic acid, significantly increasing its potency and addictive potential.
In the context of abuse and the black market, the rise of opioid addiction and the subsequent regulation of opiate prescriptions led to a shift from expensive prescription drugs like OxyContin to more affordable, and often illicit, alternatives such as heroin, occasionally laced with potent synthetics like fentanyl or carfentanyl.