Heroin

Street Names Big H Blacktar Brown sugar Dope Horse Junk Mud Skag smack

What is Heroin Highly addictive Derived from morphine which is obtained from the opium poppy It is a downer (depressant)

What does it look like? White to dark drown powder or tar-like substance

How is it used? Can be injected into a vein (mainlining) Injected into a muscle Smoked in a water pipe or standard pipe Mixed in a marijuana joint or cigarette Inhaled as a smoke “chasing the dragon” Snorted as a powder up the nose

Short term effects Appear soon after a single dose and disappear in a few hours Surge of euphoria (“rush”) Warm flushing of the skin Dry mouth

Short term effects con’t Following initial euphoria usre goes “on the nod” On the nod is an alternately wakeful and drowsy state Mental functioning becomes clouded Depression of central nervous system causes slurred speech, slowed movement, droopy eyelids.

Long term effects Collapsed viens Infection of heart lining Liver disease Pulmonary complications, most common is pneumonia

“street heroin” May have other additives that do not dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels to the lungs, liver, kidneys or brain Users develop tolerance… Users develop physical dependance…

Withdraw symptoms May occur as early as a few hours after the last administered dose. Include drug craving Muscle and bone pain Insomnia Diarrhea vomiting Cold flashes Sudden withdraw by heavy users can be fatal

Source of info National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)