Heroin is a derivative of morphine synthesized by a simple aceylation reaction of the parent compound in a manner almost identically to aspirin. It was originally intended to wean morphine addicts from the drug, but has since become a much bigger problem than morphine. The name is derived from "a hero" for it's supposed effect of saving morphine addicts. Currently, heroin has no real medicinal value and is one of the most abused narcotics ever synthesized, being responsible for the destruction of many lives. Heroin addiction is also associated with a high risk of AIDS, due to sharing of needles used to inject solutions of the drug.