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HEROIN

Facts

  • Heroin is a synthetic opiate drug that is highly addictive (made from morphine).
  • Heroin is both the most abused and the most rapidly acting of the opiates.
  • Nationally, current heroin users aged 12 and older increased from 153,000 in 2007 to 213,000 in 2008.
  • Heroin abuse is associated with serious health conditions, including frequent fatal overdose, spontaneous abortion, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, infection of the heart lining and valves, and many more.
  • Local Law Enforcement agents report an increase of drug cases involving heroin in Southern Utah, (2012). 
  • Heroin use among youth in Southern Utah has increased over the past 6 years, and is higher than the state average. However, it is still a small percentage of Southern Utah youth who report abusing the drug on a regular basis (less than 1%). 


​Appearance

Heroin is usually a white, or brown powder
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  • Or as a resinous or black sticky liquid (known as “black tar heroin”) 
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​How Heroin is Used/Abused

​​Heroin can be injected directly into a vein using a needle, snorted/sniffed through the nose, or smoked directly into the lungs. These routes of administration will rapidly deliver the drug to the brain.


​The Effects of Heroin

Heroin enters the brain quickly and attaches to opioid receptors. These receptors are located in many areas of the brain, including the brain stem, and are responsible for reward, perception of pain, and critical processes such as breathing, blood pressure, and arousal. The drug slows down these areas of the brain (which is why heroin overdoses frequently involve a suppression of respiration. It slows down the way you think, slows down reaction time, and slows down memory.

​Heroin poses special problems for those who inject it because of the risks of HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other diseases that can occur from sharing needles. These health problems can be passed on to sexual partners and newborns. 

Health Consequences

Heroin abuse comes with serious health conditions, including
  • collapsed or scarred veins
  •  bacterial infection of the heart lining & valves 
  • abscesses & other soft-tissue infections
  • liver & kidney disease
  • pulmonary complications (including various types of pneumonia & tuberculosis)
  • arthritis or other rheumatological problems
  • spontaneous abortion
  • HIV/AIDS and hepatitis
  • fatal overdose
Street heroin often contains toxic contaminants or additives that can clog the blood vessels leading to the lungs, liver, kidneys and brain, causing permanent damage to vital organs. 


Addictive Potential

Heroin is a synthetic opiate drug that is highly addictive. With regular Heroin use, tolerance develops, in which the user’s physiological (and psychological) response to the drug decreases, and more heroin is needed to achieve the same intensity of effect. Heroin users are at high risk for addiction. It is estimated that 23% of individuals who use heroin become dependent on it very quickly. 
​“My experience in dealing with heroin users demonstrates how addictive the substance actually is… good people, who would never have considered chronic drug use (or crime) while in their right mind, find themselves out-of-control, committing crime and hurting loved ones to try and gain access to the drug. It’s an all-too common story here in Southern Utah, and one that I witness on a regular basis,” (Detective Curtis Spragg, Washington County Drug Task Force). 


​Signs & Symptoms of Use

  • Euphoria
  • Drowsiness
  • Impaired mental functioning
  • Slowed respiration
  • Collapsed veins
  • Constricted Pupils

  •  Shallow breathing
  • Pinpoint pupils
  • Clammy skin
  • Convulsions
  • Coma
  • Abscesses (boils)

Common Slang Terms

  • Big H
  • Blacktar
  • Brown sugar
  • Dope
  • Horse 
  •  Junk
  • Mud
  • Skag
  • Smack
  • Skunk

  • White Horse
  • China White
  • Brother
  • Tecata
  • Shit 
  • Dust
  • Mexican Mud
  • Aunt Hazel
  • Big Bag
  • Bonita 

Paraphernalia

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Heroin is typically packaged in plastic baggies, then wrapped in tin foil, then tied into balloons. Small pieces of balloon and tin foil are a sure sign of heroin use. 
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Needles and spoons are other obvious signs of heroin use. Spoons are used to melt down the drug, and are typically held over a candle or lighter, and often bent to allow for easier holding. 
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Tin foil is used to burn heroin and then suck the smoke through a straw or pen.

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Southwest Prevention is a Division of Southwest Behavioral Health Center
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  • Home
  • Information
    • Drug Information >
      • Alcohol
      • Caffeine
      • Club Drugs
      • Cocaine
      • Dimethyltryptamine
      • Ecstasy
      • Heroin
      • Inhalants
      • Cannabis (Marijuana)
      • Methamphetamine
      • Spice
      • Steroids
    • Marijuana - Facts & Science
    • Suicide Prevention >
      • QPR
      • Suicide Prevention-Clinical
      • Suicide Prevention-Education
    • Underage Drinking
    • Prevention Information
    • Current Prevention Science
    • Pornography
    • Rx Dropbox Locations
  • Counties
    • Beaver
    • Garfield
    • Iron
    • Kane
    • Washington
  • Community
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    • AmeriCorps VISTA
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