Opioids

Opioids

Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive drug. It is both the most abused and the most rapidly acting of the opiates.

Heroin is processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties of poppy plant.

 

It is typically sold as a white or brownish powder or as the black sticky substance known on the streets as "black tar heroin."

Although purer heroin is becoming more common, most street heroin is "cut" with other drugs or with substances such as sugar, starch, powdered milk, or quinine. Street heroin also can be cut with strychnine or other poisons.

Because heroin abusers do not know the actual strength of the drug or its true contents, they are at risk of overdose or death.

 

Heroin also poses special problems because of the transmission of HIV and other diseases that can occur from sharing needles or other injection equipment

SIGNS/ SYMPTOMS:

•Shortness of breath

•Dry mouth

•Constricted (small) pupils

•Sudden changes in behavior or actions

•Disorientation

•Cycles of hyper alertness followed by suddenly nodding off

•Droopy appearance, as if extremities are heavy

•Lying or other deceptive behavior

•Substantial increases in time spent sleeping

•Increase in slurred, garbled or incoherent speech

•Sudden worsening of performance in school , including expulsion.

•Decreasing attention to hygiene and physical appearance

•Loss of motivation and apathy toward future goals

•Withdrawal from friends and family, instead spending time with new friends Lack of interest in hobbies and favorite activities

•Repeatedly stealing or borrowing money from loved ones, or unexplained absence of valuables

•Hostile behaviors toward loved ones, including blaming them for withdrawal or broken commitments

•Regular comments indicating a decline in self esteem or worsening body image

•Wearing long pants or long sleeves to hide needle marks, even in very warm weather