Heroin

Name It

Smack brown, horse, gear, H, junk, skag, jack.

Know It

• Heroin is painkilling drug made from morphine which is derived from the opium poppy
• It comes as a white powder when pure. Street heroin is usually brownish-white
• It is snorted, smoked or injected.
• Heroin is a Class A drug.

The Effects

• In small doses heroin give the user a sense pf warmth and well-being.
• Higher doses can make them drowsy and relaxed.
• Excessive amounts can result in overdose, coma, and in some cases death
• First time use often leads to side effects like dizziness and vomiting.

The Risks

• Heroin is very addictive. Getting the next fix can dominate a users life.
• Tolerance develops, which means the user needs more heroin to get the same effect.
• Users who from a habit may end up taking the drug just to feel normal.
• Those who start by smoking or snorting heroin, sometimes switch to injection to maximise the high.
• Injecting can damage veins and lead to gangrene
• Sharing needles or syringes puts users at risk of dangerous infections like hepatitis and HIV.
• Withdrawing from heroin can be very hard.
• Many people manage to kick the drug, but mentally may take years to be free.