Heroin

• Heroin is one of a group of drugs known as opiates, made from the opium poppy
• Heroin usually comes as a fine white powder but can also be brown to nearly black.

Street names

Hammer, gear, smack, Horse, junk, Harry, 'chasing the dragon'.

Effects

Initially taking heroin can make you feel good, but after a while people have to take it to stop the pain. A given amount might have a slight effect on one person, but a greater effect on another person. A person may experience the following effects after taking heroin.

• drowsiness
• nausea
• vomiting
• it slows down your breathing
• blood pressure drops.

Illicit drugs like heroin often lead to complicated health problems. Some of these problems are more likely to occur if the drug is injected, for example, skin, heart and lung infections. Diseases like hepatitis and HIV may be transmitted if people share needles, syringes or other injecting equipment.

Heroin is highly addictive and regular users are likely to become dependent on it, even after a few days. Some long-term effects include:

• constipation
• infertility in women
• loss of sex drive in men
• gangrene
• sores, ulcers and damaged tissues and organs
• pneumonia.

Heroin is often mixed with other drugs. Impurities can be very dangerous and lethal. They can cause collapsed veins, tetanus, abscesses and damage to the heart, lungs, liver and brain.

Overdose

The following symptoms may indicate that a person has taken too much of the drug and need help. If you or someone you know have been taking heroin and notice these effects, go to a doctor, the emergency department of the nearest hospital or call an ambulance (000)

• fever and sweating
• blurred vision
• loss of coordination
• collapse
• tremors
• dizziness.

 A person who is dependent on heroin will get severe flu like symptoms, diarrhoea, aches and pains.

Harm minimisation

• Do not share needles, syringes and other injecting equipment.
• Do not buy from dealers you don't know and never mix other drugs with heroin - this will increase the risk of overdose.

Heroin and pregnancy

Regular use of heroin during pregnancy can harm the baby. Due to the lifestyle factors associated with heroin dependency, pregnant women do not usually have adequate nutrition, rest and antenatal care.

Health risks associated with heroin use that may effect the development of the unborn baby:

• hepatitis B & C
• malnutrition
• anaemia
• sexually transmitted infections.

Heroin and the law

Heroin is an illegal drug. It’s against the law to possess or use it. If the police catch you in possession of a bag/gram you can be prosecuted, even if you are not actually using it yourself.

If you’re prosecuted and found guilty, you get a criminal record and criminal records stay with you for the rest of your life.

Things to remember

• Don’t use alone
• Heroin use may result in overdose
• Street heroin is usually a mixture of pure heroin and other substances
• When the purity is unknown and the amount taken is of a high dose, it is easy to overdose and even die.

If a person is concerned about their heroin use, they need to be encouraged to get help from their local Aboriginal Health Service, their doctor or from a drug and alcohol service. Family and friends who are concerned about someone they care about can also get information and support from these places.

• Direct Line; Phone: 1800 888 236
• Family Drug Help; Phone: 1300 660 068
• Youth Substance Abuse Service (YSAS); Phone: 1800 014 446; Website: www.ysas.org.au
  Drug and alcohol services for people aged between 12 and 21 who are experiencing significant problems related to their drug use
• VIVAIDS (Injecting Drug Users Peer Support); Phone: 9419 3633
  Information and education for injecting drug users (IDUs), ex IDUs and carers
• Alcoholism and Drug Treatment Centre - Moreland Hall; Phone: 9386 2876.

This fact sheet has been reproduced with permission from the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO).

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