What does it look like? Heroin can range from a fine white powder to off-white granules or pieces of brown "rock". It has a bitter taste but no smell and is generally packaged in "foils" (aluminium foil) or small, coloured balloons. How is it used? Heroin is often injected into a vein. It is also smoked ("chasing the dragon"), added to marijuana or tobacco cigarettes, or snorted.