Heroin
“The US is in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic.”
What is heroin?
Heroin is an opioid drug made from morphine. Prescription opioid pain medicines, such as OxyContin, have effects similar (but weaker) to heroin.
In its original form, heroin is usually a fine, white powder. However, it can be made into a brown powder or a black sticky substance (black tar heroin).
Heroin is commonly “cut” with other substances, including fentanyl, which is responsible for many drug overdose deaths involving heroin. This also causes nearly all heroin users to be addicted to at least one other drug.
Heroin can be injected, sniffed/snorted, or smoked. Injection is more common because it produces a stronger ‘high’ feeling.
What are the effects of heroin?
Heroin controls heart rate, sleeping, and breathing by binding to opioid receptors in the brain. It moves extremely rapidly to the brain after intake, making it very dangerous.
Furthermore, individuals who continuously use heroin may develop insomnia, damaged tissues, heart infections, lung damage, sexual dysfunction, and various, life-long mental disorders.
Individuals who use heroin are extremely susceptible to HIV and HCV.
Like most drugs, the effects depend on many factors, such as age, health, environmental changes, consistency, duration, etc.
“Those who think they can control or maintain a drug like heroin are mistaken. ”
How addictive is heroin?
Heroin is listed as the one of the most addictive illicit drugs.
One can become addicted to heroin in less than two weeks.
People who abuse heroin develop a tolerance. They constantly need higher dosages and withdrawal symptoms are severe.
Individuals who have used heroin consistently for a long time no longer experience the ‘high’ of the drug. They continue to abuse it in order to avoid the painful symptoms of withdrawal.
Links: NIH, CAMH,