Cocaine use during pregnancy can lead to birth defects and low birthweight babies and babies may be born addicted to the drug. People who smoke crack cocaine are more likely to become dependent and to suffer from side effects. Back to top Heroin First time use of heroin can cause nausea, vomiting and severe headaches. Generally, however, the drug creates a high a few minutes after it has been smoked or injected. Injection leads to a quicker, more powerful high, but sharing needles can increase the risk of infection.
Users often experience a feeling of well-being, contentment and detachment from daily worries.
Tolerance builds up with use so greater amounts of the drug are needed to create the high. This can eventually lead to addiction. It also increases the risk of overdosing. Research shows that overdose often occurs after users have tried to come off the drug. When they start taking it again, they often resort to the dose they were on when they stopped, although their tolerance is not as high.