Heroin is a highly addictive drug and the most rapidly acting of the opiates.
What is its origin?
Heroin is processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties
of poppy plants grown in: Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar (Burma)), Southwest Asia (Afghanistan and Pakistan), Mexico, and Colombia It comes in several forms, the main one being “black tar” from Mexico (found primarily in the western United States) and white heroin from Colombia (primarily sold on the East Coast).
What are common street names?
Common street names for heroin include: Big H, Black Tar, Chiva, Hell Dust, Horse, Negra, Smack, and Thunder
What does it look like?
Heroin is typically sold as a white or brownish powder, or as the black sticky substance known on the streets as “black tar heroin.” Although purer heroin is becoming more common, most street heroin is “cut” with other drugs or with substances such as sugar, starch, powdered milk, or quinine.
How is it abused?
Heroin can be injected, smoked, or sniffed/snorted. High purity heroin is usually snorted or smoked.
What is its effect on the mind?
Because it enters the brain so rapidly, heroin is particularly. addictive, both psychologically and physically. Heroin abusers report feeling a surge of euphoria or “rush,” followed by a twilight state of sleep and wakefulness.
What is its effect on the body?
One of the most significant effects of heroin use is addiction. With regular heroin use, tolerance to the drug develops. Once this happens, the abuser must use more heroin to achieve the same intensity. As higher doses of the drug are used over time, physical dependence and addiction to the drug develop. Physical symptoms of heroin use include: Drowsiness, respiratory depression, constricted pupils, nausea, a warm flushing of the skin, dry mouth, and heavy extremities
What are its overdose effects?
Because heroin abusers do not know the actual strength of. the drug or its true contents, they are at a high risk of overdose or death. The effects of a heroin overdose are: Slow and shallow breathing, blue lips and fingernails, clammy skin, convulsions, coma, and possible death
Which drugs cause similar effects?
Other opioids such as OxyContin®, Vicodin®, codeine,. morphine, methadone, and fentanyl can cause similar effects as heroin.
Provided by Drugs of Abuse resource guide
