What is Heroin?
Heroin is a depressant drug, which means it slows down the messages travelling between your brain and body. Heroin belongs to a group of drugs known as ‘opioids’ that are a form of opium poppy.
Heroin comes in many different forms, the most common being white powder, coarse off-white granules, and tiny pieces of light brown ‘rock’.
Street names used for heroin include smack, gear, hammer, the dragon, H, dope, junk, harry, horse, black tar, white dynamite, homebake, china white, Chinese H, poison or Dr Harry.
Short term effects:
- a rush of pleasurable feelings and relief from physical pain
- feeling sick or vomiting
- shallow breathing, dowsiness and sleepiness
- a drop temperature
- narrowing of the pupils
- loss of sex drive
Long term effects:
- collapsed veins and skin abscesses
- risk of contracting various blood-borne viruses and blood poisoning
- chronic constapation
- increased risk of getting pneumonia and other lung problems
- fetility problems
- disturbances of the menstural cycle for women
- impotence for men
- poor nutrition and redumed immunity
- loss of relationships, career and home
- risk of overdose
OVERDOSE!!
One of the most dangerous effects of the use of heroin is the high risk of an overdose. The symptoms of this occurring include:
- dangerously low body temperature
- slowed breathing
- blue lips and fingernails
- cold, clammy skin
- convulsions and coma
In this case, if you see any of the symptoms on a friend of family member, call triple zero (000) immediately for an ambulance.
On Dope, No Hope 