Heroin Abuse
Heroin abuse is a serious problem in the United States. Recent studies suggest a shift from injecting heroin to snorting or smoking because of increased purity and the misconception that these forms of use will not lead to addiction.
What is heroin? Heroin is a highly addictive drug that is processed from morphine, which comes from the seedpod of the opium Asian poppy plant. It is a depressant that inhibits the central nervous system. What does heroin look like? Heroin in its purest form is usually a white powder. Less pure forms have varied colors ranging from white to brown. "Black tar" heroin is dark brown or black and has a tar-like sticky feel to it.
Heroin abuse, how do people ingest the drug and who is abusing it? Heroin can be injected in a user's veins, smoked or snorted. There is no 'cookie-cutter' heroin user. Individuals of all ages and lifestyles have used heroin. According to the DEA approximately 1.2% of the population reported heroin use at least once in their lifetime.
What are the effects of heroin abuse? Users who inject heroin will feel a euphoric surge or 'rush' as it is often called. Their mouths may become dry. They may begin to nod in and out and their arms and legs will feel heavy and rubbery. They may experience a diminished mental capacity and dulled emotions. The effects of heroin abuse last three to four hours after the drug has been administered.
What are the hazards of heroin abuse? There are many health risks to using heroin. The short-term risks include fatal overdose and the high risk of infections such as HIV/AIDS. The long-term user has additional risks such as:
- Abscesses
- Cellulitis
- Collapsed veins
- Infection of the heart lining and valves
- Liver Disease
- Overdose
- Pulmonary complications, including various types of pneumonia
Is heroin addicting? Tolerance to heroin develops with regular use. This means it will take more heroin to produce the same level of intensity to the user. This results in physical addiction to the drug developing over time.
What is heroin abuse withdrawal like? When the drug is discontinued, the user will experience physical withdrawal. The withdrawal can begin within a few hours since it was last administered. Heroin abuse withdrawal symptoms include:
- Cold flashes with goose bumps
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Kicking movements
- Muscle and bone pain
- Restlessness
- Vomiting
Major heroin abuse withdrawal symptoms peak between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose and subside after about a week. Sudden withdrawal by heavily dependent users who are in poor health can be fatal.
Heroin Abuse and Pregnancy: Heroin abuse during pregnancy usually has adverse consequences including low birth weight, an important risk factor for a child's later development.
Heron Abuse: Drug Purity
Street heroin can also be cut with strychnine or 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. Heroin also poses special problems because of the transmission of HIV and other diseases that can occur from sharing needles or other injection equipment. In addition to the effects of the drug itself, street heroin may have additives that fail to dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys or brain. This can cause infection or even death of small patches of cells in vital organs.
Report Links Parents to Teen Substance Abuse