Drug abuse and addiction comprise a public health problem that affects many people and has wide-ranging social consequences. These consequences can include poor health outcomes, increased crime and accidents, and increased unemployment and homelessness. Heroin is a very addictive stimulant drug that affects the central nervous system and has a high potential for abuse. Heroin abuse significantly changes how the brain functions. Overdoses often result in hypoxia, where there is a lack of oxygen reaching the brain. Chronic heroin use results in many damaging effects including physical dependence, tolerance, and deterioration of the brain's white matter. Furthermore, heroin use during pregnancy can result in poor birth outcomes or spontaneous abortions.

Due to the nature of drug addiction, effective treatment programs typically incorporate many components, each directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences. Addiction treatment must help the individual stop using drugs, maintain a drug-free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society. Because addiction is typically a chronic disease, people cannot simply stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Most patients require long-term or repeated episodes of care to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained abstinence and recovery of their lives.