What it is
Heroin (also called diamorphine) is a powerful painkiller. As a street drug it is usually an off white or brown powder. It is also prescribed for treatment of pain in tablets or an injectable liquid form. Heroin is made from opium poppies, which are mainly grown in South West Asia (Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan), Burma, Laos, and Thailand and also in Columbia and Mexico. Opium, codeine and morphine are also made from opium poppies. There are also many man-made heroin-type drugs including methadone, dihydrocodeine (DF118s) and pethidine. Methadone is often prescribed by doctors as a substitute drug to people who are addicted to heroin. The government is also encouraging more doctors to prescribe heroin to addicts. Pethidine is often given to women to ease the pain in childbirth.
Street names
Names for heroin include brown, dragon, gear, H, Harry, jack, junk,shit,skag and smack. Names for methadone include juice, linctus and meth.
How it is taken
Heroin can be smoked (usually on tin foil and is called 'chasing the dragon'), sniffed or prepared for injection. Methadone is usually prescribed as a green or brown syrup, which is drunk, but occasionally comes in injectable form.
Extent of use
Across the population as a whole very few people have tried heroin - probably less than 1 %. In some areas, and particularly poor areas, heroin use is more common. In some areas up to 5% of young people aged over 16 will have tried it. In the last few years use has increased among young people. Prices have fallen and availability has increased.
Effects of use
- Heroin and other opiates are depressant drugs. They slow down how the body works and combat physical and emotional pain.
- Users usually experience a warm, pleasant sensation and feel relaxed and less anxious. It is sometimes described as being wrapped in cotton wool, with unpleasant feelings being blocked out.
- The first time, users often feel sick and vomit but this goes with more regular use.
- With high doses users usually become drowsy and can lose consciousness.
- Effects start quickly and can last several hours
Risks of use
- With regular use tolerance develops so more is needed to get an effect.
- Physical dependence can develop quickly with regular use. Withdrawal will then produce unpleasant, flu like symptoms. While some people give up after becoming addicted this can be very difficult.
- Large doses can result in coma or even death by overdose, especially if people take a lot after having a break from use or combine heroin use with drugs like alcohol, tranquillisers or other opiates.
- The street drug is mixed with all sorts of other things. It is difficult to know how much heroin is being taken or what else is in it.
- Injecting is particularly dangerous. A lot may be taken in one go, there is a risk of abscesses and infections. Hepatitis and/or HIV may be passed from user to user if injecting equipment is shared.
- Regular use may result in chronic constipation, decreased resistance to disease and irregular periods for women. This can be made worse by poor housing, nutrition and hygiene.
- Pregnant women who regularly use may give birth to babies that have lower weight and suffer withdrawal symptoms. These can usually be managed with good medical care. In some cases, withdrawing from heroin during pregnancy can do more damage to a baby that the mother continuing to use.
The law
It is an offence to be in possession of heroin or methadone (unless they have been prescribed by a doctor) or to supply them to other people. They are Class A drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
