!n! White or speckled brown powder. May be swallowed, dissolved in water & injected, sniffed up the nose, or smoked by heating on silver foil & inhaling fumes !i! ('chasing the dragon').
!n! SHORT-TERM USE: User feels detached from reality & relaxed, drowsy, warm & content, relieved of {stress} & discomfort. For people who have developed physical dependence & tolerance, this positive pleasure is replaced by the relief of obtaining the drug, & a regular !i! need, !n! just to stay 'normal'. 1st experiments with heroin sometimes cause {nausea} & vomiting.
Little interference with the senses, even at doses enough to produce {euphoria}. At higher doses, sedation takes over & overdose results in {stupor} & {coma}. Death can result from respiratory failure. Overdose is more likely if combined with other {depressant} drugs. There can be fatal reactions if mixed with other substances (e.g. glucose powder, flour), by illicit manufacturers & traders.
LONG-TERM USE: As tolerance develops, dosage increases to achieve repeated {euphoria}. A user can overdose when taking a usual dosage after a break (during this time tolerance has faded). Physical dependence develops rapidly with a strong psychological dependence. After several weeks on high doses, an addict who attempts to reduce intake or stop the habit experiences withdrawal symptoms.
Effects are comparable to {influenza}, {muscle} cramps, {nausea} & vomiting. The higher the daily intake reached, the more severe the withdrawal symptoms. They generally fade in 7-10 days, but feelings of weakness last for several months. Unsterile injecting may cause {hepatitis}, {septicemia} or {gangrene}. Injectors also risk {AIDS}. Repeated heroin sniffing can damage {nasal membranes}.
