| Heroin Addiction and Overdose | | | | drowsiness, flushing skin, dryness of the mouth, |
| Perhaps you've had a friend or family member who | | | | slowed breathing, and muscle weakness, while long |
| has recently had a heroin overdose. You don't know | | | | term effects may include collapsed veins, infection of |
| much about heroin and even less about the | | | | the heart lining, decreased liver function, and |
| overdoses caused by them. In this article, I'm going | | | | pneumonia. |
| to explain what heroin is, how it is use, and how an | | | | Overdose of heroin often occurs when a user takes |
| overdose affects one's body. | | | | (either accident or on purpose) more heroin than their |
| Heroin (also known as both diacetylmorphine and | | | | bodies are accustomed to. By purchasing heroin from |
| diamorphine) is synthesized from morphine, which | | | | different suppliers, users often overdose because or |
| comes from the opium poppy. Sometimes heroin is | | | | varying strengths they are not use to. |
| used to help relieve pain from those with serious | | | | Symptoms of a heroin overdose are: no or shallow |
| medical conditions or who are suffering from a | | | | breathing/difficult breathing, extremely small pupils, |
| terminal illness; however, because of its addictive | | | | tongue discoloration, dry mouth, weak pulse, low |
| nature, even taking heroin under the orders of | | | | blood pressure, bluish-colored lips and nails, stomach |
| doctors can be risky. | | | | spasms, coma, delirium, and disorientation. Some |
| Illegally, heroin is used by mixing it with water or acid | | | | heroin overdoses lead to death. |
| to form a liquid for intravenous injection (injecting it | | | | If you find someone who you believe has overdosed |
| into the blood stream by use of a needle), snorting, | | | | on heroin or any other drug, get medical help |
| or smoking. Heroin is used to get a feeling of | | | | immediately and do not try to treat them yourselves. |
| euphoria or well-being along with a feeling of | | | | Never use heroin for recreational purposes. Although |
| relaxation. Although first time users can get a high | | | | some claim that heroin is harmless if used carefully, it |
| from only 5 to 20 mg of heroin, those who have | | | | is still terribly addictive and can, ultimately, ruin or end |
| used it for a period of time will develop a tolerance | | | | your life. |
| that causes them to need up several hundred mg | | | | If you or someone you know think you may have a |
| each day. | | | | problem with this drug I would suggest that you |
| Short term effects of heroin include euphoria and | | | | seek help at once. |