Risks

Compared to other substances the physical addiction to heroin develops quite quickly. Of course, this does not mean that a person develops dependence after only one use. When the use of heroin is more frequent the physical addiction increases.

Use of heroin leads to quick development of tolerance.

When the effects of heroin wear off some or all withdrawal symptoms may occur: the user feels sick, sweats, feels cold and clammy, has goose bumps, has stomach cramps and feels pain in the arms and legs, has a runny nose. Vomiting and diarrhea are also possible. These problems and complaints disappear when the user takes another dose of heroin. In this way, the user enters a vicious cycle.

In addition to physical and psychological addiction heroin brings the following risks:

Overdose, frequently followed by death. Slow breathing, caused by heroin may be lethal. There is a variety of reasons for overdose: consumption of a too high dose at once, consumption of the same dose as before after a period of abstinence, being surprised by an unusual degree of purity.

Inflammation and infection because of careless and unhygienic needle use additional to other risks.

Heroin suppresses the feeling of pain, and therefore the symptoms of different illnesses may go unnoticed.

Heroin use disrupts the menstrual cycle and it is sometimes possible for it to disappear completely.

Newborn babies of mothers, who use, show withdrawal symptoms.

The combination of heroin with other depressants of the central nervous system is dangerous because they intensify each other’s effects. This can have deadly consequences.