Reply #46: Ther downside is addiction, true.

[Spider Jerusalem]

But many things are addictive. The only reason the associated risks of heroin addiction are so great is because it's illegal. Which means that the purity and strength of street heroin is highly variable, hence the overdoses and other problems. Most of the problems of heroin addiction come from not being able to get it...an addict can function quite well as long as he receives a consistent supply of standardised purity, with no ill effects, no organic damage, no serious health problems (aside from needing heroin to function normally, that is). Surprisingly enough, opiates, even though addictive, are among the least physiologically harmful drugs for long-term use. (And, for the record, I've never done heroin, and don't advocate its use...I'm just doing my part to dispel ignorance.)