NAMES
smack, brown, horse, gear, H, junk, skag, jack
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE/HOW IT'S TAKEN
- Heroin is a painkilling drug made from morphine which is derived from the opium poppy.
- It comes as a white powder when pure. Street heroin is usually brownish-white.
- It is snorted, smoked or injected.
- Heroin is a Class A drug.
THE EFFECTS
- In small doses, heroin gives the user a sense of warmth and well-being.
- Higher doses can make them drowsy and relaxed.
- Excessive amounts can result in overdose, coma, and in some cases death.
- First-time use often leads to side-effects like dizziness and vomiting.
THE RISKS
- Heroin is very addictive. Getting the next fix can dominate a user's life.
- Tolerance develops, which means the user needs more heroin to get the same effect.
- Users who form a habit may end up taking the drug just to feel normal.
- Those who start by smoking or snorting heroin sometimes switch to injection to maximise the high.
- Injecting can damage veins and lead to gangrene.
- Sharing needles or syringes puts users at risk of dangerous infections like hepatitis and HIV.
- Withdrawing from heroin can be very hard.
- Many people manage to kick the drug, but mentally it may take years to be free.
THE LAW
Class A.
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