Heroin

What is Heroin?

Heroin is a highly addictive drug and it is a rapidly acting opioid. Heroin is processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties of poppy plants grown in Mexico, South America, Southeast Asia and Southwest Asia. Heroin comes in several forms, primarily white powder and also “black tar” which is brown powder from Mexico. Most street heroin is “cut” with other drugs or substances such as sugar, starch, quinine and most commonly fentanyl.

Common street names for heroin include:

• Big H, Black Tar

• Chiva

• Hell Dust

• Horse

• Smack

How Do People Use Heroin?

Heroin can be injected, smoked, or snorted. High purity heroin is usually snorted or smoked. Any kind of heroin use is illegal and is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. This means that there is an extremely high risk of misuse and potential for addiction. There is no medical use of heroin treatment in the United States.

Effects of Heroin

Effects on the Mind

When heroin is administered the substance enters the brain very rapidly which makes this substance particularly addictive. Heroin users report feeling of calmness associated with an almost immediate relief. Heroin erases the brain’s ability to produce its own dopamine and instead takes over how the user perceives pleasure and satisfaction. This creates the psychological addiction to this substance very rapidly.

Effects on the Body

When someone engages in heroin use tolerance to the drug is something that can be expected. Once high doses of the drug are used over time, physical dependence and addiction to the drug develops. Some of the physical effects of heroin include drowsiness, constricted pupils, nausea, and heavy extremities. Heroin users are also at a very high risk of overdose as they continue their use.

Common overdose effects include:

• Slow and shallow breathing

• Blue lips and fingernails

• Clammy skin

• Convulsions

• Coma

• Possible death