Besides physical and mental dependence, the use of heroin has the following risks:

• Overdose, often fatal because of slow respiratory failure. An overdose can be caused by ingesting too much heroin at once, by using the same dose as always but after a clean period, by using heroin that is unusually pure.
• Inflammation and infections because of careless injection.
• Failure of discovering diseases, because heroin suppresses pain.
• Irregular menstrual cycle that can even stay away completely.
• Withdrawal symptoms with newborn babies due to addiction of the mother.
• Sometimes lethal effects when heroin is used in combination with other narcotics; the effects can intensify and lead to death.