Heroin

Heroin is an illicit drug that is made from morphine, which naturally occurs in the poppy plant. Some of the street names for heroin include smack, H, slag and Mexican Black tar. The use of this drug is a very serious problem, especially in North America, where users have the misconception that if they snort or smoke the drug, it is safer.

Some of the medical problems associated with the use of heroin include collapsed veins and in users that share injection paraphernalia, serious diseases such as HIV. Heroin is also known to cause spontaneous abortions among pregnant women using this drug.

Using heroin produces a feeling of euphoria and this can occur within a very short time of taking it. A drowsy period tends to follow on the heels of the joyful state and because of this a person’s mental and cognitive abilities are very much impaired. This is because the drug tends to decrease the functions of the central nervous system.

When a person repeatedly uses heroin over a period of time, long-term effects can become apparent. The heart lining and the valves become susceptible to infection and liver disease can set in. Usually users suffer from poor health and are very susceptible to pulmonary infections, such as pneumonia.

Some of the heroin sold on the street also contains additives that do not readily absolve within the body. Therefore they cause clogged blood vessels leading to the major organs and can cause them to fail, resulting in death.

As with other drugs, the body eventually becomes tolerant of heroin and more is needed to produce the same feelings of euphoria. This results in physical and psychological dependence. The withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping the use of heroin are often severe. Diarrhea, vomiting, muscle and bone pain are just some of these symptoms. In chronic users, the withdrawal symptoms could be so severe as to be fatal.