The Effects of Heroin

Published on February 2017 | Categories: Documents | Downloads: 45 | Comments: 0 | Views: 365
of 2
Download PDF   Embed   Report

Comments

Content

Heroin side effects
Heroin (diacetylmorphine) is derived from the morphine alkaloid found in opium and
is roughly 2-3 times more potent.
Pure heroin is a white powder with a bitter taste. Most illicit heroin is sold as a white
or brownish powder and is usually „cut” with other drugs or with substances such as sugar,
starch, powdered milk, or quinine. It can also be cut with other poisons. Because heroin
abusers do not know the actual strength of the drug or its true contents, they are at risk of
overdose or death. Another form of heroin known as "black tar" may be sticky, like roofing
tar, or hard, like coal. Its color may vary from dark brown to black. It is most often injected,
however, it may also be vaporized smoked, sniffed , used as a suppository, or orally
ingested. Smoking and sniffing heroin do not produce a „rush” as quickly as intravenous
injection. Oral ingestion does not usually lead to a „rush”, but use of heroin in suppository
form may have intense euphoric effects.
Short- term effects:









Rush
Slow breathing
Nausea and vomiting
Sedation
Hypothermia
Clouded mental functioning
Coma
Death

Side Effects of Heroin Use
Heroin is metabolized to morphine and other metabolites which bind to opium
receptors in the brain. The short-term effects of heroin abuse appear soon after a single
dose and disappear in a few hours. After an injection of heroin, the user reports feeling a
surge of euphoria the "rush" accompanied by a warm flushing of the skin, a dry mouth, and
heavy extremities. Mental functioning becomes clouded due to the depression of the
central nervous system. Other effects that heroin may have on users include respiratory
depression, constricted „pinpoint” pupils and nausea. Overdose of heroin may also include
slow and shallow breathing, muscle spasms, coma, convulsions .
Intravenous heroin use is complicated by other issues such as the sharing of
contaminated needles, the spread of hepatitis and HIV/AIDS, and toxic reactions.

Other medical complications that may arise due to heroin use include collapsed
veins, abscess and spontaneous abortion. Pneumonia may result from the poor health
condition of the abuser, as well as from heroin's depressing effects on respiration. Heroin
addiction can remove an otherwise healthy and contributing member from society, and
may lead to severe disability and eventually death .
Within hours after the drug effects have decreased, the addict’s body begins to
crave more. If he does not get another dose, he will begin to experience withdrawal.
Withdrawal includes the extreme physical and mental symptoms which are experienced if
the body is not supplied again with the next dose of heroin. Withdrawal symptoms include
restlessness, aches and pains in the bones, diarrhea, vomiting and severe discomfort. The
intense high a user seeks lasts only a few minutes. With continued use, he needs
increasing amounts of the drug just to feel „ normal.” Although heroin withdrawal is
considered less dangerous than alcohol or barbiturate withdrawal.
Patients with heroin addiction should seek advice from health care

and

rehabilitation center who can guide them with the most appropriate and safe treatment.
Also medical therapies may allow the patient to integrate back into society and lead a
positive and normal life.

Sponsor Documents

Or use your account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Forgot your password?

Or register your new account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link to create a new password.

Back to log-in

Close