Heroin

Heroin can be:

• snorted
• Heated on tin foil then the vapour is inhaled
• Dissolved in water and then injected
• Naloxone is used as antidote for overdose

Highs

• Euphoric and relaxed
• Lethargic and sleepy

Lows

• Dizziness, nauseous and can cause vomiting
• Anxiety, insomnia, and agitation
• Muscle pains, cramps, sweating

Risks

• Intolerance easily to build so will need more and more of the drug to cause the same effects
• Extremely easy to overdose because of the large amounts needed to produce the same effects when you have built up tolerance
• Very rarely pure, so extremely risky because of the effects or known substances in the formula
• When injected often causes skin ulcers, infections and death of skin (gangrene & necrosis)
• Can also very commonly cause blood clots in your veins when injected. These can travel to your lungs are heart and cause serious breathing issues or heart attacks
• Risk of blood-borne virus like hepatitis and HIV from needle sharing or using unclean equipment

The law

• Class A drug
• Possession can lead up to 7 years in prison and/or unlimited fine
• Intent to supply can lead to life in prison and/or unlimited fine

Keeping safe

• If you mainline, use the smallest needle that you can find. Sharp needles reduce vein damage and every time you reuse a needle the point gets progressively duller
• Inject slowly - don't slam it in. The faster you inject the greater your veins are at risk to tearing. It is also harder to monitor your dosage
• Rotate your injection spots. If you find you can no longer inject in lower-risk areas (like the elbow area) you should consider moving away from injecting rather than moving down to higher-risk areas. The risks of serious health complications and lasting pain and disability go up substantially once you move on to riskier injection sites, like the legs, groin, feet, etc
• Don’t mix heroin with benzodiazepines, alcohol, cocaine or other drugs. Mixing substances increases overdose risks. Some prescription drugs can stay in your system for a day or longer, so you have to be careful even when combining heroin with medications you took the day before
• Speak to a member of staff in our services  on your use and for further harm reduction advice. It is also worth getting a hepatitis B vaccine with the service
• Have naloxone on hand  and know how to use it

Always carry Naloxone and know the signs of an overdose:

• Pale face
• Pintpoint pupils
• Blue lips and fingertips
• Unresponsive to their name
• Slow or erratic breathing or no breathing at all
• Heartbeat is slow or has stopped

Helping family or friends

If you know or suspect your loved one uses heroin or are at risk, there are a few things you can consider:

• Talk to your loved one to see if they know about syntehtic opioids, including the emergence of nitazenes. They might not be aware of the substance and its recent emergence in drug supplies across the UK.
• Carry Naloxone and ask them to have a kit on hand. These kits are free of charge and can be collected from the Grove. All kits are given confidentially.
• Share harm reduction advice: always reduce intake, use clean needles and syringes, and never use alone. All these tips can help reduce the harmful effects and save lives. 

For more information on how to administer a naloxone kit and responding to an opioid overdose, please visit: Nyxoid | United Kingdom