What is heroin?

Heroin is one of the group of drugs known as opiates. Other opiates include opium, morphine, codeine, pethidine, and methadone. It originates from the opium poppy. Heroin is a depressant and slows down the central nervous system and messages going to and from the brain.

Heroin is white to off white granules or pieces of rock. It is usually packaged in foil or capsules. The substance is put on a spoon with water and is heated, dissolved and sterilised and is then injected into a vein. Ground into powder, it can be smoked (‘chasing the dragon’) or inhaled (snorted) into the nose.

Heroin’s impact will vary from person to person and relates to the degree of slowing down of the central nervous
system and the danger involved. It will depend on factors such as weight, health, how it is taken (ie injected or smoked), how much is used, the environment (alone, with other people who are able to notice if someone is becoming unwell and act on it) and whether other drugs or alcohol are taken at the same time.

The immediate effects of heroin

• Instant pleasure
• Pain relief
• Anxiety relief
• Breathing, blood pressure and heart rate slowed down
• Pupils get smaller
• Mouth dries out
• Person becomes drowsy/sleeps
• Nausea and vomitting
• Person becomes sweaty and itchy
• Lasts for three to four hours.

The long term effects of heroin

• Pure heroin is non-toxic to the body, however most heroin is mixed with unknown substances that are often toxic causing collapsed veins, tetanus, abscesses and damage to the lungs, liver, brain and heart.
• Heroin is highly addictive and regular users are likely to become dependant on it, even after a few days.
• Constipation
• Infertility in women
• Loss of libido in men
• Social consequences of heroin dependence include poverty, increased contact with the criminal justice system, increased vulnerability to violence and corruption
• Malnutrition
• Susceptibility to infection due to lowered immune system
• Accidental death and overdose is common because it is difficult to know the purity of heroin on the street
• Hepatitis C and HIV.

Withdrawal symptoms of heroin

Withdrawal symptoms occur because the body has to readjust to functioning without the drug. They usually occur within a few hours after last use and peak around two to four days after last use. They usually subside after six to seven days but some symptoms (craving, loss of appetite, insomnia, depression) may continue for months and even years. Withdrawal symptoms are like flu symptoms and include:

• Stomach and leg cramps
• Vomitting
• Goose bumps
• Runny nose
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Increased heart rate
• Muscle spasms
• Depression

Why do people with mental illness use heroin?

Research shows that people with mental illnesses use drugs and alcohol for the same reason as the rest of the population. These reasons include:

• Makes people feel good
• Makes people feel different to how they feel the rest of the time
• Euphoria
• Social reasons
• Reduction of anxiety
• Physical dependence

However, the impact of drug use for someone with a mental illness is greater due to the symptoms and social consequences of the mental illness.

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