Heroin

Heroin is a depressant drug which means it slows down your body’s reaction to things and also your breathing and heart rate. Heroin is made from opium poppies so it is similar to other opioids such as methadone, codeine and oxycodone.

OTHER NAMES:

Smack, skag, H, dope, junk, hammer, slow, gear, Harry, horse, dragon, poison, chasing the dragon.

FACTS TO KNOW:

• In Victoria heroin usually comes as small white or off white rocks or powder but can also come in a much darker brown colour.
• Heroin is most commonly injected or smoked
• Using heroin can give you feelings of warmth, wellbeing, relaxation and sleepiness
• You might experience itching, sweating and impaired concentration.
• Heroin can also cause dizziness and vomiting
• If you’ve had too much heroin, you might have shallow breathing and extremely small pupils (known as ‘pinned’ pupils)

DURATION

• You will feel the effects within a matter of seconds.
• The peak of effects is from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
• The high usually lasts between three and five hours.
• You will start coming down from 6-12 hours.

STAYING AS SAFE AS YOU CAN:

• Smoke instead of injecting
• Use safe injecting practices
• Avoid mixing with other drugs, especially depressants. Most heroin overdoses also involve other drugs like alcohol or benzos
• Use with someone, not alone
• Know your dealer and ask about strength and purity
• Learn about Naloxone (also known as Narcan), which can reverse an overdose
• Call an ambulance if an overdose is suspected

NB: Naloxone is available from these pharmacies free of charge: Take home naloxone program

This is only a little bit of information check out Harm Reduction Victoria’s fact sheet has heaps more info.

Or there’s this article from ADF in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service providers that has more information about heroin.