Heroin is in the opiate group of drugs. It is a highly addicitve drug and there is significant risk of overdose. The prevalance of heroin in New Zealand is relatively low. It is estimated that heroin costs $1000 per gram in New Zealand, significantly more expensive than other countries.
Heroin is one of a group of drugs called ‘opiates’. Other opiate drugs include opium, morphine, pethidine, codeine, oxycodone, methadone and buprenorphine.
Opium is produced from the resin in poppy flower seed pods and other opiate drugs are manufactured from opium. As with all illegal drugs, the purity and potency of heroin can be unpredictable, depending the manufacturing process, ingredients, and what additives the final product has been cut with.
Opiates are usually used intravenously, though some forms of opiate drugs can be smoked (opium) or snorted (white heroin). Heroin is a highly addictive drug and there is significant risk of overdose.
Heroin is very expensive in New Zealand so ‘homebake’ and morphine sulphate are used more commonly.
Opiates are classed as depressants. They slow down activity in the brain and central nervous system.
For centuries, opiates have been used both recreationally and medicinally. While recreational use is outlawed in most countries, their medical use as a painkiller is widespread.
Methadone is often used as a replacement therapy for people addicted to opiates. A newer product called buprenorphine is now also used as a replacement therapy for heroin dependence.
Slang
H, Smack, Homebake, Misties, Morph, Morphine, Scag, Dope, Gear, Junk
Short-term effects
When injected, the initial ‘rush’ associated with opiate use is often described as a strong euphoric wave, with a sense of physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. This sensation is very psychologically addictive.
Smaller doses of opiate drugs cause a person to become talkative, energised and confident, while larger doses can result in a trance like state sometimes called going ‘on the nod’.
The effects of opiate drugs peak one or two hours after taking them and can last up to six hours.
Immediate effects:
Using greater amounts of an opiate drug may cause stronger and longer lasting effects such as:
Under medical supervision, the short-term use of opiates does not produce significant health problems, and many people are prescribed opiates such as pethidine for a few days after an operation.
Pure opiates, such as pure heroin, are relatively non-toxic to the body. However, illicit heroin and homebake are usually cut with other substances, such as caffeine and sugar, and sometimes poisonous additives. This makes purity unpredictable and increases the risk of overdose.
Long-term effects
The highly addictive nature of opiate drugs means many users become dependent on them.
Other long-term effects include irregular menstrual cycles, constipation, infertility and loss of sex drive. Long-term opiate users might also suffer from feelings of sadness or depression and mental impairment.
Much of the opiate supply in New Zealand comes from pharmaceutical sources like morphine sulphate tabletswhich contain other ingredients, such as talc, cellulose or cornstarch, When injected therisk of abscesses associated with intravenous drug use is increased.
Injecting opiates can also lead to skin, heart and lung infections, collapsed veins and tetanus. Using dirty injecting equipment and sharing needles increases the risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis.
Dependence and addiction
Opiate drugs are both physically and psychologically addictive. Therefore a person who stops or reduces the amount they use may suffer withdrawal symptoms which include:
Withdrawal symptoms usually peak around two to four days after the last time a person uses the drug. Other symptoms that may last up to a week include:
Sometimes, symptoms can last for months and even years.
Sudden withdrawal from opiates rarely causes death unless the user is using other drugs and/or is in poor health.
Heroin and other opiates are usually injected which increases the risk of overdose and the transmission of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and other blood borne infections. See our Reducing the harm [link] section to learn more about reducing the risk of spreading blood borne infections.
Methadone in the form of a syrup is often used as a substitute therapy for people addicted to opiates. Substitution therapy helps satisfy cravings for the drug without injecting. This reduces the risks associated with injecting and allows for controlled reduction in dose over time as part of a treatment plan.
Overdose
Taking large amounts of heroin or other opiates can lead to overdose and death. There are several reasons why an unintentional overdose might occur.
During an overdose breathing becomes very slow, the pulse becomes irregular and body temperature drops. Other signs of overdose include blue lips and fingernails, pinpoint pupils, cold skin, convulsions or snoring. See our How to get help section for advice on dealing with an overdose.
Heroin is classified as a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, attracting a maximum term of life imprisonment for importing, manufacturing and/or supplying. Possession carries a six month imprisonment term and/or $1000 fine.
Opium, pethidine, methadone and morphine are classified as Class B drugs with penalties of up to 14 years imprisonment for manufacture, supply and importation, up to 10 years for conspiracy to commit such an offence, and up to three months imprisonment and/or $500 fine for possession.
Some other opiates, including codeine and forms of pethidine, are scheduled as Class C drugs. Importation, supply and manufacture would attract a maximum of eight years in prison, or up to three months in prison and/or a $500 fine for possession.
Opiates are used by a relatively small proportion of the population in New Zealand. Recent surveys indicate that the rate of opiate use is stable.
There is not a lot of heroin use in New Zealand. Opiates here tend more to come from morphine sulphate tablets homebake, methadone and other opiate pharmaceuticals.
New Zealand has a well-developed Needle Exchange Programme, which allows injecting drug users to swap used needles for new ones. This service has reduced infections from communicable diseases like hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. It also helps reduce the number of used needles discarded in public places.
It is estimated heroin costs $1000 per gram in New Zealand, significantly more than in other countries.
According to the latest Drug Use in New Zealand Survey 2007/2008 published in 2010:
The Drug Foundation’s message is clear: no drug use is the safest drug use. However, we know there will be occasions when people ignore warnings and use drugs in a dangerous manner. To help keep communities safe we therefore provide information about proven methods of drug harm reduction.
Intravenous drug use, where drugs are injected directly into a person’s veins, seriously increases the risk of infectious diseases – such as hepatitis and HIV – and skin infections. Always use clean needles obtained from a needle exchange service to minimise these risks.
Never share needles, syringes or other injecting equipment.
Unsanitary injecting environments also increase the risk of contracting infections. It is important that ones hands and the site of injection are clean. This will help reduce the risk of infection.
Because of the high risk of overdose, it is important not to use opiates alone.
If you are using opiate drugs for the first time, or you have had a break from using, be aware that your tolerance for the drug will be low. Reduce your dose.
Always boil and filter your drugs. Because most opiates in New Zealand are impure, the level of contamination with other substances can be high. Using a filter reduces the risk of contamination.
If you feel you or anyone you know needs help, there are a number of treatment organisations you can contact in strict confidence.
DrugHelp is a uniquely New Zealand website for people looking for help with their own or someone else’s drug use. DrugHelp shares the stories, experiences, insight and hope of people who have been there – people who have abused drugs and found a way through. www.drughelp.org.nz
The Alcohol Drug Helpline (0800 787 797) provides free and confidential support for any person concerned about their own or another person's alcohol or drug use. When you call you will talk to an experienced counsellor who is there to listen. You can trust the helpline to provide you with confidential and non-judgemental help when you need it.
The helpline is open from 10am-10pm, every day.
For health information on injecting drug use contact the Needle Exchange Programme. www.needle.co.nz
What to do in a crisis
If someone overdoses, becomes unwell, or has a bad reaction to heroin or any other drug, do not hesitate to get emergency medical assistance. A quick response could save their life:
A list of relevant links to further information and resources about heroin and opiates:
www.needle.co.nz The New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme – For information on needle exchange programmes around New Zealand.
www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/drug-use-in-nz-key-results-of-the-0708-nzadus: Drug Use in New Zealand: Key results of the 2007/08 New Zealand Alcohol and Drug Use Survey.
www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/drug-profiles/heroin Information about the pharmacology and chemistry of heroin from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.
www.druginfo.adf.org.au/druginfo/drugs/drugfacts/heroin.html The Australian Drug Foundation’s Drug Info Clearinghouse heroin factsheet.