Heroin

Heroin is an illegal substance in the opioid class. (Other opioids include morphine, codeine, pethidine, buprenorphine and methadone.) Heroin is made from the sap of the opium poppy. It is highly addictive and people who use it can become dependent and experience cravings.

Initial effects include feelings of wellbeing and relief from physical pain. Longer-term use can cause significant health and lifestyle problems. – to boost their profits. This means that the person using heroin has no idea if the dose will be strong or weak.

Heroin generally takes the form of granules or powder, and can range in colour from white to brown. Users generally inject it intravenously (into a vein), but they can also snort or smoke it. Common slang terms for heroin include ‘smack’, ‘horse’ and ‘hammer’.

Heroin is a central nervous system depressant

This means it slows down a person’s brain function and affects their breathing (which can slow down or even stop). The person’s body temperature and drop, and their heartbeat can become irregular. The person may lose consciousness or lapse into a coma.

Ambulance officers, family and friends can give the medication naloxone to reverse the effects of heroin. The effects of heroin depend on: the effects of other drugs and medication that they might have taken at the same time (or even in the last two days). or even death.

Some of the immediate effects of taking heroin include: loss of sex drive. One of the most dangerous adverse effects of heroin use is the risk of overdose.

The symptoms of overdose include: convulsions and coma

If someone who has taken drugs does not respond when you talk to them, is snoring loudly or making gurgling noises, they may be in a coma and having trouble breathing. Do not assume that they are just ‘sleeping off’ the effects. Their airway may be blocked by their tongue falling back or other blockages.

This is a medical emergency

If you can’t wake them, dial 911 to call an ambulance immediately. Naloxone is a drug that can temporarily reverse heroin overdose. It works by blocking opioid drugs from attaching to opioid receptors in the brain.

Naloxone is also participating in the American Government’s Take-Home Naloxone program. As with some other drugs, a person can build up a tolerance to heroin.

After only a short time, the person using heroin will need to take larger doses to achieve the same effect. Soon their body will start to depend on heroin in order to function ‘normally’. For some people who are dependent on heroin, nothing else in life matters except the drug.

They may ignore their career, and even basic needs like eating. Financial, legal and other personal problems may be related to heroin use. The person craves the drug and this psychological dependence makes them panic if they cannot have it, even temporarily.

Withdrawal symptoms can start after a matter of hours without a dose of heroin. They may include:

• mood swings
• crying. Using heroin on a regular basis can lead to major health
• lifestyle problems including
• or blood poisoning from sharing needles other injecting equipment or using dirty or contaminated equipment risk of overdose

Treatment options for heroin addiction include:

• medication programs such as methadone
• buprenorphine or naltrexone. One of the adverse effects of using heroin is the risk of overdose Dealers usually mix or ‘cut’ heroin with other substances – such as sugar
• paracetamol or caffeine How heroin works blood pressure Effects of heroin the strength of the dose the size
• weight general health
• state of mind of the person taking the heroin If the person has taken other depressants such as sleeping pills
• tranquillisers methadone or alcohol the effects of heroin are increased

This can result in coma a rush of pleasurable feelings and relief from physical pain feeling sick or vomiting shallow breathing, drowsiness and sleepiness a drop in body temperature narrowing of the pupils Symptoms of heroin overdose dangerously low body temperature slowed breathing blue lips and fingernails cold, clammy skin What to do if you suspect an overdose Naloxone Michigan’s Take-Home Naloxone Program available at no cost from pharmacies Heroin dependence and tolerance relationships Symptoms of heroin withdrawal cravings diarrhoea and vomiting stomach cramps sweating bone , joint and muscle pain and twitching Damage caused by long-term heroin use collapsed veins and skin abscesses risk of contracting various blood-borne viruses, such as HIV and hepatitis chronic constipation increased risk of contracting pneumonia and other lung problems fertility problems disturbances of the menstrual cycle for women impotence for men poor nutrition and reduced immunity loss of relationships , career and home as the person’s need for the drug becomes all-consuming damage to the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver , kidneys and brain due to the additives mixed with heroin Treatment for heroin addiction detoxification individual counselling group therapy Where to get help In an emergency, always call 911 Your GP (doctor) – for information or referral to a drug treatment service Alcohol and drug treatment services – for help with dependence, detoxification, individual counselling and group therapy Alcohol and Drug Foundation 1300 85 85 84 DirectLine 1800 888 236 – for 24-hour confidential drug and alcohol telephone counselling, information and referral Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC) (616) 555-0400.

Key Points

• Longer-term use can cause significant health and lifestyle problems
• Common slang terms for heroin include ‘smack’, ‘horse’ and ‘hammer’
• One of the most dangerous adverse effects of heroin use is the risk of overdose
• symptoms of overdose include: convulsions and coma
• Withdrawal symptoms can start after a matter of hours without a dose of heroin