Central Nervous System:

• Coma, stupor
• Delirium
• Disorientation
• Drowsiness
• Muscle spasms
• Muscle constriction (also affecting speech)

Circulatory System: Heart and Blood

• Low blood pressure
• Weak pulse

Digestive System: Stomach and Intestines

• Constipation
• Spasms of the stomach and intestinal tract

Immune System: Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat

• Constricted, pinpoint pupils
• Dry mouth
• Tongue discoloration
  

Muscular and Skin (Integumentary) Systems:

• Bluish-colored fingernails and lips
• Muscle tone loss

Respiratory: Airways and Lungs

• Shallow, short breathing
• Slow and difficult breathing
  

• Detachment from others
• Disinterest, lack of enjoyment
• Emotional indifference or sexual apathy
• Fearing breach of a supply
• Increasing tolerance
• Indifference, lack of motivation
• Poor work performance
• Repeated withdrawal symptoms
• Dosing to avoid withdrawal
• Substance use given greater priority than other activities, despite negative (physical) consequences
• Tremors, shakes, cold sweats, nausea, etc.—after even short periods of abstinence.

Caution with Heroin

According to the Center for Disease Control, unintentional drug overdose ranks as the second-leading cause of accidental death in the United States (CDC, 2004).

• Regular use, overdose, and overuse of Heroin may cause kidney damage.
• Federal law (CSA) prohibits the possession of controlled Schedule I narcotics like Heroin.

Lethal overdose may occur within several minutes to several hours due to the drug’s impact on breathing reflexes and the content of oxygen or carbon dioxide in the bloodstream.

Reportedly, fatalities arise due to Heroin’s interaction with relaxant and sedative drugs (‘downers’) or other depressants (like alcohol) (i);and, by death attributed to aspiration of vomit while unconscious.