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Heroine Drug Facts

Morphine is a substance that occurs naturally in the seedpod of Asian opium poppy plant. Heroin is an opiate that is derived from morphine. The most common forms of heroin are white or brown powder heroin, or a black gooey substance referred to as "black tar heroin". Like all opiates, heroin is a highly addictive drug. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) states that treatment admissions for heroin abuse rose slightly from 235,143 in 1997 to 246,871 in 2007.

  1. Administration Route

    • Heroin can be administered by injecting, snorting or smoking. When injected, the drug rushes directly into the bloodstream; when snorted it goes through the nasal tissues then into the bloodstream; and when smoked, it is absorbed through the lungs. All usage routes carry a high propensity for addiction and severe health risks.

    Effects

    • Intravenous heroin use produces a quicker rush than snorting or smoking. Upon injection, the drug goes straight into the bloodstream then provides a rapid rush of euphoria, along with dryness of the mouth, tepid skin and a hazy mind. After the euphoria, the individual ventures into "on the nod" mode, where she experiences fluctuating wakefulness and drowsiness. When administered by snorting or smoking, the initial rush takes a little longer to appear, but the effects are similar to intravenous use.

    Adverse Effects

    • If heroin is used regularly, a tolerance for the drug develops, causing the user to need more of the drug to achieve the effects of her first experience. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) 23 percent of individuals who use heroin are susceptible to dependency. Abusing heroin can cause health risks such as lethal overdose, naturally occurring abortions in pregnant mothers, and the risk of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C (particularly in those who inject the drug). Chronic usage can result in collapsed veins, abscesses (inflammation of body tissues) and kidney or liver disease. If a heroin addict stops using the drug suddenly, he may experience withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia, diarrhea, cold flashes, vomiting, muscle aches and restlessness.

    Treatment

    • Treatment for heroin addiction exists in the form of medication and behavioral therapies. For more than 30 years, methadone has been an effective treatment for heroin addiction. It is a synthetic opiate, which when taken orally, reduces the desire for heroin and helps to prevent the associated withdrawal symptoms. Buprenorphine is a relatively new drug also used by clinicians to treat heroin addiction. It produces less chance for overdose and lower dependency risks than methadone. A patient who stops using buprenorphine undergoes lesser withdrawal symptoms than one who stops using methadone. Behavioral therapies generally include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). With the help of a therapist, CBT teaches the patient how to change his thought processes and behaviors so he exhibits positive thinking and actions.

    National Statistics

    • The National Survey on Drug Use and Health's 2007 survey indicate that in 2006, there were 338,000 prior-month heroin users in America. In 2007, this number declined to 153,000. In 2007, 106,000 individuals age 12 years or older were first-time heroin users.

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