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Description: 
Diacetylmorphine (C21H23NO5) is
the chemical name for street heroin. A narcotic derivative of the opium
poppy plant, heroin falls into the class of drugs known as
"opiates." Opiates are derived from the dried "milk" of the
opium poppy, which contains morphine and codeine, both of which are
effective painkillers and are used in many prescription medicines (Opioids,
on the other hand, are synthetically derived opiate-like drugs). On the
street heroin is known as "Smack", "Junk", "Skag",
"Shit", "H", "Brown", "Horse",
"Dope" and "Boy".
Pure heroin is a white powder with a bitter taste. Most heroin is distributed in powder form and may vary in color from white to dark brown due to the impurities left from the manufacturing process or the presence of additives and diluting agents. There is also a less-refined form of heroin known as "Black Tar" made predominantly in Mexico, which is a gooey black or brownish substance. Heroin is illegal in the U.S. for any use. Source: http://area51.upsu.plym.ac.uk/infoserv/drugs/graphical/grphopia.html Background: Although Sumerian texts from 6,000 years ago refer to the opium poppy as the "joy" plant, heroin itself was not developed until 1874 and was originally marketed as a safe, non-addictive substitute for morphine. However, it too was soon found to produce a severe dependency very quickly. Heroin and opiates were made illegal in 1915 with the Harrison Narcotic Act, which controlled the sale of opium and opium derivatives, and cocaine. Source: http://area51.upsu.plym.ac.uk/infoserv/drugs/graphical/grphopia.html br> Usage: Heroin is used in a number of ways: Injected into a vein ("mainlining"), injected into a muscle, smoked in a water pipe or standard pipe, mixed in a marijuana joint or regular cigarette, inhaled as smoke through a straw ( known as "chasing the dragon"), snorted as powder via the nose. On the street, powdered heroin is usually sold in glassine bags weighing about 100mg or 1/10th of one gram. Black tar heroin is sold by the gram weight. The purity of street heroin has skyrocketed in the last twenty years. In 1980 the average bag of street heroin was 4% pure; the average street bag today is 34% pure and can be as pure as 66%. Source: NIDA Effects: Heroin is, generally speaking, a sedative, and induces a euphoric, drowsy, warm and content feeling. They also relieve stress and discomfort by creating a relaxed detachment from pain, desires and activity. As well as killing pain, moderate doses of pure opiates produce a range of mild effects. They depress the activity of the nervous system, including such reflexes as coughing, breathing and heart rate. They also cause widening of the blood vessels, which gives a feeling of warmth and reduces bowel activity, causing constipation. With doses high enough to produce euphoria, there is still little change in coordination. At higher doses though, sedation can be extreme and an overdose can result in unconsciousness, coma and often death from respiratory failure. The chance of an overdose is greatly increased if other depressant drugs such as alcohol or tranquilizers are being used at the same time. Source: http://area51.upsu.plym.ac.uk/infoserv/drugs/graphical/grphopia.html Dependency: Heroin is a highly addictive substance and can produce dependence within only a few days of regular use. Because mild withdrawal symptoms are similar to the flu, users often don't realize their "sickness" is actually withdrawal. Physical Dependence: extreme Psychological Dependence: extreme Tolerance: extreme Once addicted, the acute physical withdrawal is grueling and peaks between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose. The intense part of withdrawal lasts for 3-5 days, while protracted effects can last for months. During this time, symptoms include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, cramping, muscle and bone pain, cold flashes with goose bumps, kicking movements, and severe shaking. It can take months or even years to recover from the addiction, and fighting the psychological addiction is often a lifetime battle. During this extended withdrawal, recovering addicts battle cravings and depression. Source: NIDA Treatment: As noted above heroin is a highly addictive substance, both physically and psychologically. Additionally, because of the nature of addiction, the newly recovering user is often in a somewhat depleted physical state. Because of this, the first step to treatment is usually a physical detoxification done in a hospital or medically supervised setting. After detoxification, residential treatment or twelve-step programs, such as the ones listed below are generally recommended.
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