As with other opiates, heroin is used both as a pain killer and a recreational drug. Frequent administration quickly leads to tolerance and dependence and has a very high potential for addiction. If sustained use of heroin for as little as three days is stopped abruptly, withdrawal symptoms can appear. This is much quicker than other common opioids such as oxycodine and hydroquinone.

Common Names: black tar, dust, junk, shit, smack

Appearance:White to dark brown powder or tar-like substance. Heroin can be injected, snorted/sniffed, or smoked—routes of administration that rapidly deliver the drug to the brain. Injecting is the use of a needle to release the drug directly into the bloodstream. Snorting is the process of inhaling heroin powder through the nose, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream through the nasal tissues. Smoking involves inhaling heroin smoke into the lungs. All three methods of administering heroin can lead to addiction and other severe health problems.

Short Term Effects:Effects of heroin are almost immediate regardless of how it’s administered. Usually effects last 3-4 hours. Small doses of heroin can give the user a feeling of warmth and well-being. Larger doses can make the user sleepy and relaxed. Effects typically begin with mild to intense nausea, which gives way to a giant, rolling wave of euphoria. It’s this intense rush of pleasure that brings users back. Heroin abuse is associated with serious health conditions, including fatal overdose, spontaneous abortion, and—particularly in users who inject the drug—infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Pulmonary complications, including various types of pneumonia, may result from the poor health of the abuser, as well as from heroin’s depressing effects on respiration.

Long Term Effects: Chronic use of heroin leads to physical dependence, a state in which the body has adapted to the presence of the drug. If a dependent user reduces or stops use of the drug abruptly, they may experience severe symptoms of withdrawal. These symptoms, which can begin as early as a few hours after the last drug administration, include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps.