a. Is it safe to mix heroin with other drugs?: No, heroin should never be mixed with other drugs. It has enough risks of its own. More overdose deaths are caused by heroin then any other drug. As a result, it is never a good idea to take heroin in combination with other drugs or substances, including alcohol. It only increases the risk of overdose.

b. Is heroin addicting?: Yes, heroin is very addictive. Though not everyone that uses it becomes an addict, some people that take it only a few times, do. Another danger of heroin use is that it is possible to quickly develop a tolerance to it. Consequently, individuals start using more and more, increasing the likelihood that they become addicts or die from an overdose.

c. What is a speedball?: A speedball is a mixture of cocaine and heroin. It is extremely dangerous and can be lethal. Both of these drugs are powerful on their own, taken together, the risks are greatly multiplied.

d. Will I get HIV or hepatitis if I inject heroin?: It is possible to contract HIV and/or hepatitis if you use heroin and share needles. Heroin users and addicts get these diseases every day due to sharing needles that have infected blood.

e. How is heroin taken?: Heroin can be snorted, injected and smoked.

f. What does 'on the nod' mean?: When a person is "on the nod," they are going in and out of consciousness. They are alternatively fully awake and dozing off. This generally occurs after the initial euphoric rush.

g. What are the negative effects of heroin use?: Heroin can cause constipation and the development of abscesses. Persons may also find that their heart lining and valves become infected. In the worse cases, death can occur.

h. Can I develop a tolerance to heroin?: Yes, users of heroin can quickly build up a tolerance. Because of this individuals will often use an increasing amount in order to continue to get high. This becomes extremely dangerous. As stated above, users will likely sharply increase the amount of heroin that they use and secondly, the tolerance can drop. Consequently, when an individual takes a large amount of the drug, they can actually overdose and in some cases, die.