Heroin Overdose

Heroin works on the central nervous system. The abuser's heartbeat slows as well as their breathing, which may cause them to lose consciousness. Any of these effects can be fatal if the dose is too high. Depending on purity of the drug and the user, a lethal dose of heroin may range from 200 to 500mg. Hardened addicts have survived doses of 1800mg and over. However, with street heroin, there is no absolutely "safe dosage". It depends on the abuser's tolerance, the amount taken, and purity taken. Overdose can occur when the dose taken is greater than that you're used to. A tolerable dose for an addict could be fatal to a first-time user. Tolerance to heroin in particular is quickly acquired. Even occasional weekend users need to take more of the drug to get the same effect over time. Tolerance can also drop over time. Some users have overdosed on their "regular dose," after just a few weeks of abstinence.

Symptoms of a Heroin overdose include but are not limited to:

• muscle spasticity
• slow and labored breathing
• shallow breathing
• stopped breathing (sometimes fatal within 2-4 hours)
• pinpoint pupils
• dry mouth
• cold and clammy skin
• tongue discoloration
• bluish colored fingernails and lips
• spasms of the stomach and/or intestinal tract
• constipation
• weak pulse
• low blood pressure
• drowsiness
• disorientation
• coma
• delirium