Vaccine to beat heroin addiction 'is just 5 years away'

María Elena Medina Mora, director of the INP, said: 'The vaccine will not be the solution to all addictions, but is one way to confront the problem, above all in the treatment field.

'It is hoped that the vaccinated person will have a lower desire to consume the drug because the dose of the vaccine will block the pleasure of taking it.

'Obviously the drug user has to want to quit drugs and have other types of pyschiatric help.'

During his tour, Mr Chertorivski looked at the advances being made in the drug addiction programmes in the area and also at the quality of medical care in the city.

Heroin is a drug made from morphine, which is extracted from the opium poppy. According to UK charity Talk to Frank, a small dose of heroin gives the user a feeling of warmth and well-being, bigger doses can make you sleepy and very relaxed. Overdoses can lead to coma and even death.

It is highly addictive Class A drug and withdrawal symptoms are severe and include diarrhoea, vomiting, depression, pain sensitivity and fever.