Heroin Information
Heroin is a highly addictive, illegal street drug that is in the opiate class of drugs. Heroin is the most commonly abused drug in the opiate family and is derived from morphine, which is a pain reliever that creates a feeling of euphoria in the user. Heroin comes in many different forms, sometimes it is found in a white or brownish powder, or even in the case of “black tar heroin,” is black and sticky. Some of the common street names for Heroin include: smack, H, china white, and junk. Heroin is typically entered into the body intravenously by injection, snorted in powder form, or even smoked.
Heroin is sold on the street and is normally “cut’ with other drugs, which makes the use of this drug a sort of “coin toss,” since most individuals who are abusing the drugs didn’t manufacture them of “cut” them themselves, there is no real way for them to know what the potency or effects of the use will be. Though many times Heroin is cut with substances like starch, sugar or quinine, it is also be noted to be cut with poisons such as strychnine. Another risk for those who are abusing Heroin is the increased incidence in the transmission of Hepatitis, HIV and other medical conditions that result from sharing needles or injection devices.
The fastest and most potent vehicle for administration of this drug is intravenously, and will create a rapid and intense rush for approximately 10 seconds which is followed by a “mellowing out” that begins in approximately five to 10 minutes following injection. Snorting and smoking heroin does not have the same effect as that of intravenous injection, but is just as addictive as the injected method of drug abuse.
