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Heroin
What is it?
Heroin is an "opiate" drug, meaning it's derived
naturally from a plant in the poppy family.
What does it look like?
Heroin is a white powder. Most users dissolve it in water, then use a needle to inject it directly into a vein. Many users just snort the powder which is
just as dangerous.
What does it do?
Heroin is a depressant. It makes users feel mellow, dreamy or euphoric, but also tired and nauseous. Their breathing slows down and their pupils contract into pinpoints. Shortly thereafter, they experience
watery eyes, runny nose, yawning, loss of appetite, tremors, panic, chills, sweating, nausea, muscle cramps, and insomnia. NCADI
Heroin is very addictive. As soon as users come down, they want
another fix. The desire for another fix becomes stronger the more heroin they do. Many addicts end up stealing from friends and family, and doing all kinds of other illegal stuff (like selling drugs and selling
their bodies) for money. They end up hurting the people around them and isolating themselves.
What about using needles?
Because people who are high on heroin, or craving the next fix, don't use good judgment, they often
share needles with other users. And sharing needles means massive risk for HIV infection and hepatitis...two incurable diseases which can kill.
What are some other problems with heroin?
Because heroin is illegal and
expensive, dealers often "cut" it with similar-looking powders, like cocaine or even baking soda. Users never know how pure their drug is, so every dose is different. This means that a major overdose could
happen at any time...even one use could result in a coma or death. Other signs of an overdose include difficulty breathing, clammy skin, tiny pupils and convulsions.
People who are addicted to heroin face
serious problems when they quit using. Withdrawal is an ugly and dangerous experience--watery eyes, runny nose, no appetite, tremors, panic, chills, sweating, vomiting, and muscle cramps. Addicts can't sleep, and
their body temperatures and blood pressure rise. And by that time, most of them have alienated themselves from everyone, so they're alone.
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