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Heroin is an illegal opiate and
like all opiates, it is a Central Nervous System
(CNS) depressant
(Or sedative).
Normal functioning of the CNS
is essential for a whole range of automatic bodily
functions (such as maintaining your heart beat and
breathing rate and to help you think clearly & make
rational decisions).
The effects of heroin are felt
throughout the whole body - SLOWING DOWN YOUR
PHYSICAL, MENTAL & EMOTIONAL RESPONSES.
HOW DOES HEROIN AFFECT YOU
PHYSICALLY?
It slows down your heart beat &
breathing rate.
The depth of your breathing
becomes shallower.
It slows down the movement in
the Gastro-intestinal tract causing:
Nausea & vomiting
Constipation
Dry, sticky mouth
Heroin decreases muscle tone &
strength resulting in:
Slurred speech
Sluggish movements
Delayed reactions & response, a
heavy sensation in arms & legs
Lack of energy & coordination
HOW DOES HEROIN AFFECT YOU
EMOTIONALLY & MENTALLY?
Heroin causes confusion &
clouds your thought processes
You make irrational decisions
It alters your perception of
reality
Emotional growth becomes
arrested
It suppresses emotions
Heroin causes depression and
lack of motivation
It gives you a false sense of
detachment from reality & the pain it may cause
You have a false sense of
‘normality’
HEROIN CAN ALSO CAUSE TEMPORARY
OR PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE TO THE AREAS OF THE BRAIN
INVOLVING:
Learning & short term memory
Emotional growth & maturity
Decision making & problem
solving
Speech
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU USE HEROIN
FREQUENTLY/REGULARLY?
You develop a greater tolerance
to all opiates
You become physically &
mentally dependent on heroin (or addicted)
Chemical imbalances in the
brain affect your moods & emotions
A depletion in the production
of brain endorphin levels makes you depressed
Your body stops producing its
own naturally occurring endorphins
HEROIN AND PREGNANCY
If you use heroin or other
opiates whilst you are pregnant, the drug will be
carried directly from your blood stream into your
baby’s blood stream!
IF YOU USE HEROIN WHILST
PREGNANT - YOU MAY LOSE YOUR BABY BY MISCARRIAGE!
OR YOUR BABY COULD BE BORN
WITH:
Birth defects
Brain damage
An addiction to heroin
ONCE YOUR BABY IS BORN HE or
SHE WILL GO THROUGH THE SAME PAINFUL SYMPTOMS AS A
“COLD TURKEY” HEROIN DETOX!
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF
HEROIN WITHDRAWAL?
Stomach, leg & arm cramps
Muscle & bone pain
Insomnia, nightmares &
disturbed sleeping patterns
Muscular tremors & spasms
Excessive sweating, goose
bumps, hot flushes & chills
Nausea, vomiting & diarrhoea
Restlessness, agitation &
anxiety
Runny nose & watering eyes
Severe lethargy & excessive
yawning
Hyper-sensitive skin
Severe hunger / loss of
appetite
Quotes from Heroin Addicts:
“Once you have tried Heroin,
the cravings for more can be so intense you feel out
of control!”
“It’s like having 100% tunnel
vision. You simply must fulfill the urge and feed
the cravings…”
“It’s like being a puppet on
strings! The drug makes you do things you never
thought you’d do… like stealing from the people you
love and selling everything you own!”
“It’s like being completely
possessed by an evil spirit! It turns you into a
selfish, horrible monster!”
“It becomes the be all and
end all of your life. Nothing else matters but
getting that shot of heroin”.
"Once you’re addicted to
heroin, there are only three possible ways your life
can go:
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