What is heroin exactly and what is it made out of? According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Heroin is an opioid drug made from morphine, a natural substance taken from the seed pod of the various opium poppy plants grown in Southeast and Southwest Asia, Mexico, and Columbia.”
Heroin comes in various forms; it can be black and sticky (known as black tar heroin), or it can be a brown or white powder. On the streets, it’s often called “Smack” and “Hell Dust.” It can be injected, snorted, and smoked. Sometimes people like to mix it with crack cocaine – this is referred to as “speedballing.”
Once someone ingests heroin, it quickly enters the brain and binds to the brain’s opioid receptors, specifically affecting the ones that control heart rate, breathing, pain and pleasure. When people use heroine, it’s in seek of that “rush” feeling, which involves a surge of pleasure and euphoria. Because of this rush, heroin is highly addicting.
Common side effects associated with heroine include:
- Dry mouth
- Nausea and vomiting
- A heavy sensation in the legs
- Clouded thinking
- Severe itching
- Going back and forth from consciousness and semi-consciousness
When people use heroine over the long-term, they can develop a long list of negative side effects, such as insomnia, abscesses, constipation, liver and kidney disease, sexual dysfunction (in men), infections in the heart, collapsed veins at the injection site, and damaged tissues inside the nose for individuals who snort it.
Can Heroin Kill You?
Yes, it can be deadly! When people overdose on heroin, it can lead to life-threatening reactions and in worst cases, death. “When people overdose on heroin, their breathing often slows or stops. This can decrease the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain, a condition called hypoxia,” says the NIDA.
In Texas, drug offenses are outlined in the Health and Safety Code, also known as the Texas Controlled Substances Act. If you were caught possessing heroin (a Schedule 1 drug), even a small amount, you are facing felony charges. Depending on the amount and what you intended to do with it (possess, sell, or traffic), you could be facing up to $250,000 in fines and up to 99 years in prison.
For the aggressive legal defense your situation demands, contact The Zendeh Del Law Firm, PLLC to meet with a Plano drug possession attorney.