Heroin

Heroin

Heroin is an opioid drug made from morphine, natural substance taken from the seed pod of the various opium poppy plants grown can be a white or brown powder, or a black sticky substance known as black tar. People inject, sniff, snort, or smoke. Some people mix heroin with crack cocaine, a practice called speedballing. It is addictive and there is a high risk of overdose and death from using it.

It enters the brain rapidly and binds to opioid receptors on cells located in many areas. Sharing drug injection equipment and having impaired judgment from drug use can increase the risk of contracting infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis especially those involved in feelings of pain and pleasure and in controlling heart rate, sleeping, and breathing. Heroin also often contains additives that can clog blood vessels leading to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain.