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 OD'ing 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
50% have Hepatitis B
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 as nutmeg, sucrose, starch, caffeine, chalk, powdered milk, flour, 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
While its addictiveness has been much exaggerated, heroin remains a highly habit forming substance. See our addiction info for more detail.

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long term use
Despite the myths, heroin is a relatively harmless drug, especially compared to alcohol or nicotine.

However, 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 haemorrhoids. Addicts can also suffer from malnutrition because they're never hungry.