Addiction is a chronic and reccurent disease that creates increasing problems in modern times and puts pressure on state institutions responsible for the implementation of programs and policies aimed at reducing the harm caused by addiction. With new addictions, such as Internet and gambling, drugs continue to be the biggest challenge as drug trafficking and smuggling remains the most developed and lucrative crime chain which seems impossible to break. A positive change in combating drug addiction can only be achieved if a change is achieved in the market itself, in the form of a reduction in drug supply and demand. Heroin is still the second drug in Croatia (after cannabis) in terms of the number of seizures, although in the last twenty years there has been a steady decline in the number of heroin addicts with the simultaneous appearance and spreading of new synthetic substances among the younger population. This paper presents a historical overview of the origins and trends of heroin abuse in Croatia and the treatment programs available to addicts in need. The aim of this paper is, based on the statistical data analysis, to show the heroin addict type and the presence of heroin in our area over the past 40 years.