The Risks

• Heroin is a very addictive drug.
• Many users may find their habit spirals out of control.
• Tolerance develops, which means the user needs more heroin to get the same effect.
• Many users who start out smoking heroin turn to injecting for a more intense hit.
• Sharing needles when injecting heroin leaves users at risk of dangerous infections like HIV, hepatitis and gangrene.
• It can be very difficult to withdraw from heroin.
• Users trying to kick the habit may experience a period of diarrhoea, insomnia, vomiting, hot and cold sweats, and cramps. This is known as 'cold turkey'.
• While many people give up heroin successfully, mentally it can take years to be free.