1. Opiates and Opiods

2. What are opiate drugs?
extracted from 'opium' in poppy plants grown in the Middle East and Southeast Asia
typically used to kill pain
codeine, morphine & other prescription drugs are used for medicinal purposes
HIGH potential for addiction

3. Six overdoses in three days in Plymouth
Heroin epidemic grips Plymouth, Mass., as overdoses skyrocket
Plymouth police respond to four heroin overdoses in four hours
Fatal overdose is Plymouth's 11th of year
WASTED YOUTH: Our ongoing coverage of the region's drug epidemic

4. Don’t march with these guys,
Dead men walking.
DEAD MEN WALKING

5. Heroin: smack, H, skag, junk, brown sugar, horse, and black tar
derived from morphine
2-3x stronger
Heroin was first manufactured in 1898 by the Bayer pharmaceutical company of Germany and marketed as a treatment for tuberculosis as well as a remedy for morphine addiction.
very addictive
In pure form: white powder
Most illicit (illegal) heroin in brownish in color
cut with other substances
never know strength
high risk for overdose
typically injected, may also be smoked, snorted or swallowed
It is a depressant!

6. What Does Heroin Look Like?
Heroin is a white to dark brown powder or tar-like substance.
Since it is derived from the opium poppy, it is a main stay of income for Afghanistan and many other countries that depend on drugs for income.
Heroin is a white to dark brown powder or tar-like substance. Since it is derived from the opium poppy, it is a main stay of income for Afghanistan and many other countries that depend on drugs for income.

7. How Heroin Appears
Black Tar Heroin
Powder Heroin

8. Heroin is an illegal drug processed from morphine, a natural
opiate derived from specific varieties of poppy.
This results in the heroin high, a sudden surge of intense
pleasure known among heroin users as "the rush." During a
heroin rush the skin flushes and the arms and legs feel heavy.
Dry mouth is common, and the heroin user may also
experience nausea, vomiting or intense itchiness.
Once the immediacy of the rush ends, heroin abusers are
drowsy for several hours (being "on the nod.")
Mental functioning is slow and disoriented.
Heart function and breathing slows,
sometimes to the point of unconsciousness, coma and death.

9. Unlike many illegal drugs, the high produced by heroin doesn't last long, so
addicts commonly abuse heroin as many as four times a day.
The frequency of heroin use means heroin addiction develops faster than many other illegal drugs.

10. Heroin: Effects on Health
surge of euphoria (“rush”)
accompanied by dry mouth
warm flushing of the skin
heaviness of the extremities
clouded mental functioning
Following this initial euphoria, the user goes “on the nod,”
an alternately wakeful and drowsy state

11. MORE HEROIN DANGERS:
Intravenous heroin abuse is the most common method
employed so sharing needles used for heroin abuse and
other illegal drugs increases the risk of HIV/AIDS and
hepatitis B and C AND air bubble in vein danger!
Pure heroin is dangerous enough, but when diluted or "cut"
with additives, the drug becomes even more dangerous.
Fentanyl is sometimes sold as heroin or mixed with heroin.
This is especially dangerous as fentanyl is approximately fifty
times as powerful as heroin and can stop lung function almost
immediately. Some addicts using fentanyl in place of heroin
have died so quickly they died with the needles still in their arms
Heroin addiction produces an increasing tolerance for the
drug's effects. A user needs more and more for the high.

12. Some Long-term Effects
Collapsed veins, infection of heart lining and valves, abscesses, cellulites, and liver disease
Pulmonary complications, including various types of pneumonia
Additives that do not dissolve result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys or brain
Over time, physical dependence and addiction develop
Sudden withdrawal by heavily dependent users who are in poor health can be fatal
Long-term effects of heroin appear after repeated use for some period of time. Chronic users may develop collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, cellulites, and liver disease. Pulmonary complications, including various types of pneumonia, may result from the poor health condition of the abuser, as well as from heroin's depressing effects on respiration. In addition to the effects of the drug itself, street heroin may have additives that do not really dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. This can cause infection or even death of small patches of cells in vital organs. With regular heroin use, tolerance develops. This means the abuser must use more heroin to achieve the same intensity or effect. Sudden withdrawal by heavily dependent users who are in poor health can be fatal.

13. What Are Some Of The Signs That A Person Is Using Heroin?
Euphoria
Drowsiness
Impaired mental functioning
Slowed down respiration
Constricted pupils
Nausea
Some of the signs that a person is using heroin are: euphoria, drowsiness, impaired mental functioning, slowed down respiration, constricted pupils and nausea.

14. What Is The DEA Federal Classification Schedule For Heroin?
Heroin is listed as a DEA Federal Classification Schedule I drug, meaning it is in the group of most highly addictive drugs.
Heroin is a DEA Federal Classification Schedule I drug, meaning that it is in the group of the most highly addictive drugs.