Heroin is a highly addictive opioid drug that is synthesized from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of the Asian opium poppy plant. Heroin usually appears as a white or brown powder or as a black sticky substance, known as “black tar heroin.” These are the pure forms of heroin.
The side effects of heroin include a range of symptoms such as:
Using heroin with other drugs significantly increases the risk of overdose and other severe health complications. Long-term use can lead to addiction, also known as heroin use disorder, among people who use heroin, where they become dependent on the substance to function normally.
Withdrawal symptoms from heroin can include severe cravings, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes with goosebumps and uncontrollable leg movements.
The long-term effects of heroin use can include chronic health issues, mental health disorders, and social and economic problems.
It is especially dangerous to mix heroin with other substances like alcohol or benzodiazepines, as this can amplify the drug's effects and increase the risk of severe respiratory depression and death.
Krokodil (said like “crocodile”) or Russian heroin is homemade Desomorphine, which is created by mixing codeine with organic solvents to create a synthetic form of heroin.
For more information, please call the Banner Poison & Drug Information Center directly at (602) 253-3334 or call (800) 222-1222 for your local poison center.
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