Heroin
Slang
Junk, smack, skag, H, Brown.
Picture 1 Heroin / Picture 2 Paraphernalia associated with heroin injecting
Description
Acts as a depressant, and is also a drug that reduces pain - users report that the effect is similar to feeling cocooned in cotton wool / back in the womb.
Pure heroin is a white powder with a bitter taste. Street heroin comes in granule, powder, solution or pill forms and varies in colour from white to dark brown, thanks to additives or impurities left from the manufacturing process. The brown heroin sold in the UK is diamorphine base - a product intended mainly for smoking, and is readily soluble in water. But in the UK, heroin is usually a brown powder that can be smoked, sniffed or injected.
Paraphernalia / what to look out for
- Tin foil with blackened/burnt stains
- Rolled tinfoil tubes
- Needles & syringes
- Burnt spoons.
- Not paraphernalia, but the pupils of the user's eyes may be dramatically reduced in size ('pinned').
Possible short-term indicators
- Small amounts make people relaxed and content. Large amount causes sleep.
- Stops pain - effect lasts for several hours; provides feelings of contentment and happiness, like being wrapped in cotton wool.
- Can make people feel sick. Users can experience chronic constipation, menstrual difficulties, and lung disease.
- Makes concentration and quick reactions difficult.
Possible longer-term indicators
- Damage to veins and skin if injected (e.g. track marks) and risk of infections like HIV and hepatitis if injecting equipment is shared.
- Some authorities report that it is easy to become dependent with regular use (the average seems to be a three month period for physical dependence).
- Withdrawal effects can be unpleasant.
Harm reduction
- Allow 3 or 4 days between each use, if you intend to use heroin again.
- Try to avoid injecting. - injecting is by far the most risky way of using heroin. Try smoking it a la chasing the dragon.
- Refer to general suggestions. LINK
- Heroin dependency does not form instantly - watch for increasing use. Dependency can creep up on the user.
- Most of the health risks with heroin come from injecting, but smoking can lead to chest problems, overdose and dependency.
- If heroin is injected, it is vital that equipment is not shared, as blood borne viruses (e.g. Hepatitis and HIV) can be passed on easily - seek advice from a local agency.
- Injecting drugs presents a possible risk of HIV and hepatitis transmission if the injecting equipment is shared with other users. Other health risks can include abscesses, swelling, other blood borne infections, and possible blood clots leading to loss of limb.
Legal status
Class A. Click for legal section