Because significant tolerance to respiratory depression develops quickly with continued use of heroin and is lost just as quickly during withdrawal, it is often difficult to determine whether a heroin death was an accident, suicide or murder. Facts about heroin and how it makes the user feel depends on how much they use, their tolerance, weight, and how often they use. The “high” from heroin can last anywhere from 2 to 8 hours. However, the average is 2-4 hours. The initial rush lasts a couple of minutes, and then a feeling of warmth and tiredness takes hold and lasts the duration. On the psychological level, the study cites a number of research reports indicating many heroin addicts also suffer from psychiatric disorders, including depression, antisocial personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Both new and experienced users risk overdosing on heroin because it is impossible for them to know the purity of the heroin they are using. (Heroin sold on the street often is mixed with other substances such as sugar, starch, or quinine. An added risk results when heroin is mixed with poisons such as strychnine.) Heroin overdoses--which can result whether the drug is snorted, smoked, or injected--can cause slow and shallow breathing, convulsions, coma, and even death. |
