The effects of heroin include significant pain relief, but as dose is increased, euphoria is produced. Even at doses where there is strong euphoria, coordination and intellect are only mildly affected. A t higher doses sedation, respiratory depression and coma may occur. People taking opioids with painful medical conditions describe knowing the pain is present, but not caring. Unfortunately tolerance quickly develops with heroin, with more and more required just to feel normal.
Addiction potential is so high some users become criminals or prostitutes to support their habit.
Speedballing is when heroin and cocaine are injected into the body together. This is a deadly combination as it enters the body very quickly when injected into a vein. Speedballing will kill you. T o older Americans, heroin was always a drug that needed to be injected, but the more potent strands readily available today allow the drug to be smoked or sniffed. Suddenly, many people who would never consider trying heroin by injection had new options, options they perceived as less risky.