What Is Heroin?

Heroin is basically an opioid drug. It is made from morphine, which is a natural substance extracted from the seed pod of various opium poppy plants that are grown in Southeast Asia, and other parts of the world.

It can come in the form of a brown, or white powder. Or even a black substance that is extremely sticky, known as black tar heroin.

People tend to inject, snort, or smoke heroin. Some would even mix the drug with crack cocaine; a practice which has been termed speedballing.

How Do People Use Heroin?

People inject, sniff, snort, or smoke heroin. Some people mix heroin with crack cocaine, a practice called speedballing.

What Are The Effects Of Heroin?

Heroin will rapidly enter the brain, and bind opioid receptors on cells. Particularly those that inculcate feelings of pain or pleasure, and control heart rate or sleeping cycles.

People who have used heroin report feeling a sudden rush, a surge in pleasure, also known as euphoria.

Short-Term Effects

Some short term effects of the drug could include a dry mouth, a heavy feeling in the arms and legs, severe itching across the body, and even nausea or vomiting. ng “on the nod,” a back-and-forth state of being conscious and semiconscious

Long-Term Effects

The long-term effects are extremely harmful and include insomnia, collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, development of liver and kidney diseases, lung complications, among many other serious side effects.

Is Heroin Addictive?

Heroin is more addictive than people know. People who regularly abuse heroin will tend to develop a tolerance to the drug. Which would lead them to taking higher, and more frequent dosages to obtain the desired effects.

Those who wish to alter the habit, and stop immediately may experience certain withdrawal symptoms, such as irritation, sleep problems, severe pain in the muscles and bones, cold flashes, among others.

Researchers are still working on investigating the long term effects of opioid addiction on the brain. Studies have revealed a loss of the brain’s white matter over time.