| Heroin is an addictive drug that is processed from | | | | heroin may have additives that do not readily |
| morphine and usually appears as a white or brown | | | | dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels |
| powder. Its street names include smack, H, ska, | | | | that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. This |
| junk, and many others. Heroin use is on the rise | | | | can cause infection or even death of small |
| and it has become a serious problem in America. | | | | patches of cells in vital organs. |
| Heroin abuse is associated with serious health | | | | The Drug Abuse Warning Network reports that |
| conditions, including fatal overdose, spontaneous | | | | eight percent of drug-related emergency |
| abortion, collapsed veins, and, particularly in users | | | | department (ED) visits in the third and fourth |
| who inject the drug, infectious diseases, including | | | | quarters of 2003 involved heroin abuse. |
| HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. | | | | Unspecified opiates, which could include heroin, |
| The short-term effects of heroin abuse appear | | | | were involved in an additional 4 percent of |
| soon after a single dose and disappear in a few | | | | drug-related visits. |
| hours. After an injection of heroin, the user | | | | With regular heroin use, tolerance develops. This |
| reports feeling a surge of euphoria ("rush") | | | | means the abuser must use more to achieve the |
| accompanied by a warm flushing of the skin, a | | | | same intensity of effect. As higher doses are |
| dry mouth, and heavy extremities. Following this | | | | used over time, physical dependence and addiction |
| initial euphoria, the user goes "on the nod," an | | | | develop. With physical dependence, the body has |
| alternately wakeful and drowsy state. Mental | | | | adapted to the presence of the drug and |
| functioning becomes clouded due to the | | | | withdrawal symptoms may occur if use is |
| depression of the central nervous system. | | | | reduced or stopped. |
| Long-term effects of heroin appear after | | | | Withdrawal, which in regular abusers may occur |
| repeated use for some period of time. Chronic | | | | as early as a few hours after the last |
| users may develop collapsed veins, infection of | | | | administration, produces drug craving, |
| the heart lining and valves, abscesses, cellulitis, and | | | | restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, |
| liver disease. Pulmonary complications, including | | | | diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes with goose |
| various types of pneumonia, may result from the | | | | bumps ("cold turkey"), kicking movements |
| poor health condition of the abuser, as well as | | | | ("kicking the habit"), and other symptoms. |
| from heroin's depressing effects on respiration. | | | | Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 48 |
| Heroin abuse during pregnancy and its many | | | | and 72 hours after the last dose and subside |
| associated environmental factors (e.g., lack of | | | | after about a week. Sudden withdrawal by heavily |
| prenatal care) have been associated with adverse | | | | dependent users who are in poor health is |
| consequences including low birth weight, an | | | | occasionally fatal, although heroin withdrawal is |
| important risk factor for later developmental | | | | considered less dangerous than alcohol or |
| delay. | | | | barbiturate withdrawal. |
| In addition to the effects of the drug itself, street | | | | |