What is heroin?

• A depressant that slows down the brain and the central nervous system.
• Comes from the opium poppy
• One of a group of very strong pain-killing drugs called narcotic analgesics or opioid (e.g. opium, morphine and codeine, pethidine, methadone)
• Also known as ‘smack’, ‘skag’, ‘hammer’, ‘h’, or ‘horse’
• Usually comes in powder form and can be different colours depending on how refined it is (white powder is usually more refined than brown or pink ‘rocks’, which is a lumpy powder)
• Usually injected, smoked or snorted

Heroin absorbed into the blood and acts on the brain very quickly. People who sell heroin often mix or ‘cut’ the powder with other things that look the same, to make the drug go further. Some mixed-in substances may have unpleasant or harmful effects. It is difficult to tell what is actually in the drug.

Law

• Iillegal in Australia and in most other countries.

Effects

Onset

• Instantaneous

Duration

• 2 - 3 hours

Immediate Effects

• Elation
• Eases physical pain
• Nausea
• Pupil dilation (i.e. makes pupils smaller)
• Shallow breathing 
• Constipation
• Sleepiness

Long Term Effects

• Constipation
• Damaged veins (from injecting)
• Loss of appetite
• Malnutrition (from loss of appetite)
• Menstrual conplications

Find out more

More info

Contact: ACON Alcohol and Other Drugs Program

Tel: (02) 9206 2081
Free Call: 1800 063 060
Hearing Impaired: (02) 9283 2088

Email: aod@acon.org.au