This causes changes in brain activity and triggers an intense craving for more of the drug, thus creating a powerful psychological dependence on the drug. The most commonly used narcotics are Heroin, Morphine, Dilaudid, Opium, Codeine, Percodan, Methadone, and Demerol. Heroin accounts for a majority of the illicit opiate abuse in America. The effects of opiates are pinpoint pupils, reduced vision, drowsiness, sleep, constipation, nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression, and restlessness. Medical problems associated with opiate use include infection of the heart valves, skin abscesses, congested lungs, liver disease, tetanus, serum hepatitis, anemia, and pneumonia.
Opiates are extremely addicting, both physically and psychologically.
Black Tar Heroin, a product of Mexico, is about 7-10 times more powerful than regular Southwest Asian or Mexican Brown Heroin. Overdose deaths are a common occurrence among opiate abusers.