Background

What is heroin?
Heroin is an illegal drug. It is a depressant type drug and derives from the opium poppy. It is sold as a grey, brown, pink or white powder, usually containing less than 30% pure heroin. It is one of a group of drugs known as opiates – other opiates include morphine, opium, codeine and laudanum. It is classified in law as a Class A type drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Often referred to as H, Junk, Brown, Smack or Scag, It is available in powder form and can be smoked, snorted or injected, or users can 'chase the dragon' ie inhale the fumes of heated heroin.

What is methadone?
Methadone is a depressant drug usually available as a green, amber or blue coloured mixture liquid, or in white tablet form. It is often referred to as 'meth' or 'lintus'. Immediate effects of this drug are similar to heroin, although often thought to be less intensive. Effects, however, tend to be longer lasting. Methadone should only be taken as part of a prescibed and supervised programme of treatment against addiction to opiate drugs (particularly heroin). Associated risk to methadone use can be fatal, especially if abused by a person not used to taking the drug. Longer term usage can result in addiction.

What are the effects of heroin use?
This depends often of the strength, how it is taken, and the person taking it. As with any drug Heroin does affect people in different ways. Felt within a few minutes, users may feel a sense of warmth and a bit of a rush. The intensity can be heightened if injected. Feelings of drowsiness, reduced heart and pulse rate and feelings of euphoria often follow. There is also reduced sensitivity to physical and emotional pain threshhold. First time users can experience further unpleasant side effects including vomiting and nausea.

Health risks
Prolonged and regular use of heroin will be severely detrimental and have serious impact on the health of any individual. Mood swings, anxiety, confusion, hallucinatons, paranoia, inadequate diet, lowered immunity and resistence to disease levels, and risks involved with injecting drugs, eg HIV infection, are to name but a few. Excessive doses and/or the risk of heroin being mixed or bulked up can lead to comma and fatality as a result of respiratory failure. An addict very seldom knows the source of the drug and therefore it is difficult to predict the purity of the heroin sold or used. Heroin carries a high risk of both psychological and physical dependence.

Legal status
Both Heroin and Methadone (if possessed illegally and/or without a prescription) are clasified as Class A drugs and are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The consequences
Possession: for possession both Heroin and Methadone carry sentences up to 7 years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
Production or dealing: for production or dealing both Heroin and Methadone carry sentences up to life imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.