Heroin

What is heroin?

Heroin is a depressant drug that slows down the messages between the brain and body. It slows breathing and heart rate leading to drowsiness and sedation.

There are a number of factors that impact how a young person might experience a drug, such as their location, gender, size, mood and if other drugs, alcohol or medication have been taken.

UNDERSTANDING:

Understanding more about why a young person might use heroin can help guide future conversations with them. Young people might use heroin for its pleasurable sensations, feelings of euphoria or to manage physical or emotional pain. While a young person may use for many reasons, sometimes drugs can have unintended side effects.

Here are some ways to support a young person who might have used too much heroin.

• Stay calm and reassure them that you are there to support them
• Try to find out what they have been using (including any alcohol or prescribed depressant drugs)
• Support them to move to a safe place where they are comfortable and sitting down
• Observe the young person’s breathing by looking at their chest rising and falling
• If a young person is unconscious, you observe slow and shallow breathing or choking/gurgling noises call 000 and administer naloxone
• Emergency services will walk you through the steps you need to take until paramedics arrive
  NB: Naloxone is available from these pharmacies free of charge: Take home naloxone program

Check out these articles to understand how to best support your young person

Understanding adolescent development in relation to drug use ADF

Risk taking behaviours and adolescents Headspace

Importance of peer relationship headspace

How to start a conversation about drug use with someone you are concerned about YoDAA video