GET HELP NOW!
CALL TOLL FREE
1-888-774-2345

Sat, 25 January 2020

Home arrow Drug Information arrow Heroin arrow Effects & Symptoms of Heroin Use
Main Menu

Most Read
Effects & Symptoms of Heroin Use
Symptoms of Cocaine Use
History of Methamphetamine
What is Methamphetamine?
Effects of Ecstasy


We have 37 guests online

Opinion Poll
Effectiveness of Audio and Video in Drug Education
Do you think educating kids about drugs through audio and video is effective?
  Yes
  No
What do you hope a child will gain after viewing a drug educational video?
  Understanding of what drugs are.
  Change of attitude towards drugs.

Effects & Symptoms of Heroin Use   PDF  Print  Email 
JUMP TO:
Effects & Symptoms of Heroin Use
Page 2
Page 3
Page 1 of 3

What are the immediate (short-term) effects of heroin use?

Soon after injection (or inhalation), heroin crosses the blood-brain barrier. In the brain, heroin is converted to morphine and binds rapidly to opioid receptors. Abusers typically report feeling a surge of pleasurable sensation, a "rush." The intensity of the rush is a function of how much drug is taken and how rapidly the drug enters the brain and binds to the natural opioid receptors. Heroin is particularly addictive because it enters the brain so rapidly. With heroin, the rush is usually accompanied by a warm flushing of the skin, dry mouth, and a heavy feeling in the extremities, which may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and severe itching.

Short-Term Effects of Heroin

  • "Rush"
  • Depressed respiration
  • Clouded mental functioning
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Suppression of pain
  • Spontaneous abortion

After the initial effects, abusers usually will be drowsy for several hours. Mental function is clouded by heroin's effect on the central nervous system. Cardiac functions slow. Breathing is also severely slowed, sometimes to the point of death. Heroin overdose is a particular risk on the street, where the amount and purity of the drug cannot be accurately known.

What are the long-term effects of heroin use?

One of the most detrimental long-term effects of heroin is addiction itself. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, and by neurochemical and molecular changes in the brain. Heroin also produces profound degrees of tolerance and physical dependence, which are also powerful motivating factors for compulsive use and abuse. As with abusers of any addictive drug, heroin abusers gradually spend more and more time and energy obtaining and using the drug. Once they are addicted, the heroin abusers' primary purpose in life becomes seeking and using drugs. The drugs literally change their brains.
<< Start < Previous 1 2 3 Next > End >>

Related Items
What is Heroin?
Heroin Addiction
Side Effects of Commonly Prescribed Anti-Depressant Drugs
Effects of Ecstasy
History of Heroin
Heroin Time Line
What is Cocaine?
What is Methamphetamine?

 
GET HELP NOW!
CALL TOLL FREE: 1-888-774-2345

Copyright © 1995-2020 Friends of Narconon, Intl.  All Rights Reserved.
Narconon, the Narconon logo, and the Narconon "Jumping Man" logo
are trademarks and service marks owned by Association for Better Living
and Education International and are used with its permission.

Website sponsored by Get the Smart Spam Filter - Mailbox Filter
Get the Smart Spam Filter!