Dangers

There are many health risks associated with heroin use:

» overdose (particularly if injected)

» use of needles

» adulterants used to cut the drug

» addiction

» long term health side-effects of regular use

overdose

The biggest risk is death from overdose. It's impossible to judge the purity of street heroin. Many accidental overdoses have occurred when a batch of particularly pure heroin is released onto the streets, overwhelming the built-up tolerances of regular users.

Smoking or snorting, rather than injecting, reduces the chance of overdosing but does not eliminate it.

See our overdose section

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use of needles

We strongly advise you not to inject heroin.

Injecting has two main safety problems: the transmission of HIV and other diseases (especially Hepatitis B & C) through sharing needles, and the dangers of injecting crap under your skin.

About 10% of London's drug users are HIV-positive. Fifty percent have Hepatitis B, while 80-90% have Hepatitis C.

As a rule, never share needles. Sharing equipment just isn't worth the risk. Clean works are available free from Needle Exchanges and some pharmacies.

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adulterants

Heroin is often cut with nutmeg, sucrose, starch, caffeine, chalk, powdered milk, flour and talcum powder.

While none of these substances are dangerous themselves, when injected they can cause chronic problems such as itchy and inflamed skin and veins. The powder solution injected is also likely to contain bacteria

addiction

Heroin remains a highly habit forming substance. See our addiction info for more detail, and visit our heroin rehab centers directory to find facilities that specialize in heroin treatment.

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long term use

Chronic heroin abuse can result in scarred and/or collapsed veins, bacterial infections of the blood vessels and heart valves, abscesses and other soft-tissue infections, and liver or kidney disease.

Constipation caused by a combination of poor eating and the effects of the drug on the bowels can lead to hemorrhoids. Addicts can also suffer from malnutrition because they're never hungry.

Heroin Photos

See more: Drug Photos » Narcotics » Heroin Photos