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Drug Facts & info
Drug facts & info

Heroin

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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.

Further Reading

Safe Injecting
Safe injection is aimed on encouraging the one-time use of needles and syringes and limiting the sharing of medication vials.

Naloxone
Naloxone is drug that is used to reverse the effects of opioids such as heroin, morphine, methadone, fentanyl and oxycontin.

Naloxone take home list
An range of organisations can supply free naloxone to young people, their families, carers and supporters.

HRV fact sheet
Information sheet from Harm Reduction Victoria.

ADF Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander info
Culturally sensitive recommendations for safe use by the Australian Drug Foundations.

Want to know more or worried about your use?

Give YoDAA a call.

Get help now

YoDAA is a free and confidential online and phone service that offers supports to young people, families and professionals. You can contact 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

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