... death. Heroin can be smoked, sniffed/snorted, or injected. Heroin can be injected in two ways: intravenously or intramuscularly. Injection is the most popular form use today; although, with rising potencies and the decrease in cost, many users have switched to sniffing or snorting it. This form of use has attracted a wider variety of people and age groups to use heroin, particularly the young adults. Shortly after heroin is taken, it crosses the blood brain barrier. It is then converted to morphine and binds with the opioid receptors. This causes the sensation of a "rush." and begins the onset of the short term effects. The user's respiration becomes depressed and their mental functioning becomes clouded. During the "high," the user's body suppresses pain and nausea or vomiting may occur. The long term effects of heroin use in chronic users are detrimental to their health. Infectious diseases such as HIV and ...

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