Heroin

H, Junk, Horse, Smack, Sag, Brown, Gear, Diamorphine, China White, Dragon, Boy

Heroin can be a brown powder (impure) or a white powder (pure).

Injection, sniffing or smoking

Heroin provides a feeling of well being, warmth and relaxation. There is sedation of the nervous system and a slowing of the heart and breathing rate. At lower doses the user is conscious and has full control over his sensory and motor skills and appears as if he is living in a dream-like world. With high doses sedation takes over and people become drowsy.

Initial use tends to be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Regular use can lead to dependence, constipation and interruption of the menstrual cycle. High doses can produce stupor, coma and even death due to respiratory failure in some cases. Adverse reactions can occur due to impurities used to 'cut' the heroin by the dealer. Heroin suppresses the appetite and dehydrates the body and this can lead to users not eating properly and their health subsequently suffering. In the long term tolerance can develop to such an extent that heroin is required just to feel 'normal'. The tolerance is what causes people to increase their dosage or to move from sniffing/smoking to injecting. Repeated sniffing can damage the delicate membranes of the nose and injecting can lead to a variety of disorders especially HIV/AIDS. Withdrawal after regular use can produce unpleasant flu like symptoms and may include aches, tremor, sweating and chills and muscular spasms.

Physical dependence to the drug is over shadowed by the strong psychological dependence after long term use.

Heroin is a class A drug so it is illegal to possess them without a prescription. It is illegal to supply or produce or to allow premises to be used for such activities.