HEROIN

Name It
Smack, Brown, Horse, Gear, H, Junk, Skag, Jack

Know It
Heroin is a painkilling drug made from the morphine which is derived from the opium poppy.
It comes as a white powder when pure. Street heroin is usually brownish-white.
It is snorted, smoked or injected.
Heroin is a Class A drug.

The Effects
In small doses, heroin gives the user a sense of warmth and well being.
Higher doses can make them drowsy and relaxed.
Excessive amounts can result in overdose, coma, and in some cases death.
First-time use often leads to side-effects like dizziness and vomiting.

The Risks
Heroin is very addictive. Getting the next fix can dominate a user's life.
Tolerance develops, which means the user needs more heroin to get the same effect.
Users who form a habit may end up taking the drug just to feel normal.
Those who start by smoking or snorting heroin sometimes switch to injection to maximuse the high.
Injecting can damage the veins and lead to gangrene.
Sharing needles or syringes puts the users at risk of dangerous infections like hepatitis and HIV.
Withdrawing from heroin can be very hard.
Many people manage to kick the drug, but mentally is may take years to be free.