Teen Challenge Northern California / Nevada - What is Heroin?
Heroin, a very powerful narcotic, is one of the most addictive drugs on earth, both physically and psychologically. It is classified as a depressant (as opposed to a stimulant) meaning that the user apprears tired, drowsy, or drunk rather than energetic or hyperactive (as one might act when under the influence of a stimulant such as cocaine or speed.) Heroin may be smoked when in pure powder form, "snorted" into the nose through a straw or rolled up dollar bill, "skin popped" (injected just under the skin), or "mainlined" (injecting directly into the vein). Heroin most commonly comes in three forms: black-tar, brown powder, or white powder.

Black-tar heroin appears just as its name implies - a black ball of tar. Addicts place a small amount (for beginners this would be about half the size of a pea or less) of the heroin in a spoon (which is bent so as to sit level without spilling when placed on a table) with a small amount of water which is then. heated over a flame. Once the heroin has melted it is drawn up into a syringe and injected.

Heroin is also produced in a form that looks similar to cocaine - a white powder. And today this form is much more pure and potent than than it has been in the past. While many addicts still inject this form of heroin, because of its purity, many others are able to smoke it through a glass pipe, similar to the way cocaine and speed are smoked. This makes the use of heroin more acceptable to middle and upperclass students and business folk who would other wise shun the stigma of sticking a needle in their arm like a "common junkie" (not to mention the risk of becoming infected with the AIDS virus through the use of dirty needles.) For an alarming report on the increased use of heroin by students and professionals see our excerpts from a recent LA Times article called Heroin Use is on the Increase.

Some of the long term physical conditions that accompany heroin addiction include reduced energy level, reduced sex drive, and an overall lethargy and lack of motivation when it comes to involvement with any activities other than those associated with obatining their next "fix" (the next dose and subsequent injection.) Those "associated activities" include burglery, robbery, prostitution, etc. to get money for their next fix.

Physical Signs of Heroin Usage
When someone has had a sufficient doseage, or from an hour to two hours after injecting "smack" (heroin) he might "nod out" (litterally fall in and out of a sleeping state) in the middle of a conversation or even while driving. Addicts refer to this as being "on the nod." It is not uncommon for heroin addicts to "nod out" while smoking a cigarette and subsequently suffer burns on their fingers where they were holding the cigarette. In the same way they often burn holes in their clothing or in the furniture where they are sitting or lying. Those are a couple of the physical signs that might identify a heroin user.

Some other signs include the pupils of the eyes become "pinned" i.e. they get very small even in dark surroundings when normally one's pupils dilate (become enlarged.) If a person is mainlining (injecting heroin directly into his or her veins) you might see tiny needle sized scabs directly on a vein. When someone is in the beginning stages of "mainlining" the most easily accessible veins and therefore the most common site for injections are the main arteries located in the inner portion of the arm at the elbow joint. These are the same veins doctors and nurses use to obtain blood samples. Addicts sometimes refer to this injection site as "the ditch."

As a person begins down the tragic path to addiction, at first he or she might just experiment with it once a week or even only once a month or less. At this stage the signs are barely noticeable. You probably wouldn't even see one ot two injection sites at a time. But as the experimentation progresses into addiction there will come a point at which the user is "shooting up" (mainlining) at least once a day. Now several injection sites (scabs) become noticeable. Soon the user is "shooting up" more than once a day (if she can afford it.) Over the course of only six months (180 days) of every day usage this person has "slammed" (shot up) more than 180 times. That is when the trails of needle marks become "tracks." You may see trails or "tracks" of tiny scabs extending one, two, or even three inches or more down an addicts arm or leg in a straight line right over a vein. If a person is right handed he would use his right hand to hold the syringe and inject himself in the left arm. So you would first look for "tracks" on the left arm of a right handed person. If a person is left handed he would use his left hand to inject himself in the right arm. As "tracks" become more and more visible addicts often where long sleeves to hide the tell tale marks. If a person has been addicted for a year or more the "tracks" will turn to scars that can remain for the rest of his or her life, even if they manage to kick the habit.

By injecting so repeatedly into the same vein that vein will eventually collapse (users say these collapsed veins are "blown out.") At this point that vien is no longer be useable and the addict must find another vein in which to inject their poison. After "blowing out" most of the viable veins in the arms the next veins of choice are usually the arteries behind the knees or the large veins on the back of the hands, and if necessary a desparate addict can and will "shoot up" into the jugular vein in the neck.

Paraphernalia
Paraphernalia such as: burnt spoons, glass pipes, rolled-up dollar bills and razor blades are always strong signs of drug use.

Common Nicknames for Heroin
Smack, junk, horse, china white, chiva, H, tar, black, fix, speed-balling, dope, brown, dog, food, negra, nod, white horse, and stuff.