What is Heroin?
Heroin is processed from morphine, an opiate extracted from the seedpod of certain poppy plants more commonly found in Asia, Mexico and Central America. It is a highly addictive semi-synthetic opioid occasionally prescribed for pain. As a recreational drug it produces a profound “high” and is very addictive. Heroin and other opioids and opiates are a leading cause of emergency room visits, overdoses and treatment in the United States.
Statistics:
- Florida and California have the most heroin seizures by law enforcement each year
- National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported 153,000 current heroin users in the US in 2007.
- Opiates/opioids are responsible for 18% of the admissions for drug and alcohol treatment in the USA.
- Heroin overdoses have caused more deaths than traffic accidents in the past several years.
- Approximately 700,000 people in the United States are in need of heroin treatment
- IN 2002 a study by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 53% of past year users of heroin had become addicted to the drug
Statistics: Opiates, primarily heroin, account for 18% of the admissions for drug and alcohol treatment
Education video and transcript is used with permission from Hopelinks
statistic: there are over 2 million daily heroin users in the US.
It’s origins come from a blend by C.R. Alder Wright in 1874 where he added components to the morphine found in the opium poppy.
Forms
Heroin comes in several forms: white powder, a sticky substance called black tar and brown powder.
How is it consumed?
It is usually snorted, smoked or injected.
Signs of use
There are clear signs of someone under the influence: pinpoint pupils, no response of pupils to light, lethargy, slurred speech, nodding out, dry mouth and loss of appetite.
Affects on the body
There can be harsh side effects such as: shallow breaths, sweating, vomiting, drop in body temperature, and itching.
Long term affects
Prolonged use can result in a physical dependence, nerve damage, heart infection, kidney disease, liver disease, skin infections, pulmonary complications, viruses, bacteria, overdose and, unfortunately, death. Heroin injectors that share paraphernalia often end up with abscesses and are highly vulnerable to blood borne pathogens such HIV and Hepatitis C.
Withdrawal symptoms
Some withdrawal symptoms are: tremors, cramps, muscle or bone pain, chills, rapid heart beat, restless leg syndrome, diarrhea, extreme craving, and body weakness.
Addicts Can Recover
Some choose Drug Replacement Therapy. This is using drugs such as suboxone, methadone, and other morphine derivatives by switching the street drug to a doctor managed daily replacement.
While others choose complete detoxification. The detox can take place in a medical or residential setting. This is ideal for a person who wants to live 100% clean and sober.
After complete detoxification, most addicts who chose complete abstinence have better outcomes committing to a residential treatment center for thirty to ninety days. There are also no cost, self help programs such as Narcotics Anonymous.
Be sure to visit our entire Drug Education Videos series and learn more about drug abuse, drug addiction and alcoholism
References
STREET DRUGS: a drug identification guide 2010
National Institute on Drug Abuse:
http://drugabuse.gov/
Medline Plus:
http://nih.gov/
The Vaults of Erowid:
http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/heroin/heroin.shtml
