What it is

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