Heroin facts
Shortly:
Heroin is a drug
. It belongs to opiate or substances extracted from the poppy plant. Heroin mixed with all sorts of other substances. Heroin can be a form of coarse white powder or yellow-brown pieces, called Brown, STAFF, material, Hero and others.
Heroin is often smoked in the Chinese way, which is called smoking foil, or injected. Smoking on film involves placing heroin on foil and heating it with a lighter. Money that wind is inhaled through a pipe and enter the lungs directly.
Addictive? Yes, and usually happens very quickly and greatly, both physically and psychologically.
There is a need to increase the amount for the same effect? Yes.
Short-term effects: reduction of pain and feelings of anxiety, brief euphoria, dulled emotions, constipation. Duration of effect varies by type of opioid.
Long term effects: indifference to the outside world and to himself.
Note: there is a risk the user starts to suffer from malnutrition and to stop taking care of themselves, which increases the risk of infection. When injected, there is additional risk of overdose and / or infection (HIV, AIDS, hepatitis, etc.)..
What is heroin?
Heroin is a drug. It belongs to opiate or substances extracted from the poppy plant (Latin: papaver somniferum). By separating the unripe pod and drying of the milk that goes, you get raw opium.
From raw opium can be extracted morphine and heroin is made by chemical processing of morphine.
Pure heroin can be synthesized in the laboratory. Heroin with such force is not never sold in current practice. Before reaching the final consumer, successful dealers have it mixed with all sorts of other substances such as caffeine, aspirin, sugar, cocoa, flour and other drugs. Sometimes mixing heroin and hazardous substances. In United States, the purity of street heroin varies from 3% to 60%. Form of heroin also varies - from coarsely ground white powder to yellow-brown pieces, called Brown, STAFF, material, Hero and others.
Where did it come from?
In 3000 BC plant opium poppy is cultivated in whose territory is now Switzerland. In 300 BC Greeks reported the preparation of opium. In the 18th century opium smoking was widespread custom in many Asian countries.
Opium is easy to supply in Europe, but it creates so many problems at that time. In the early 19th century it was discovered that morphine is the active ingredient in opium. Because of the addictive nature of morphine, however, from the early 20th century its use is limited to medical purposes - for example, to relieve pain.
For the first time heroin is produced in 1874 by Alder Wright, English chemist working in the medical school hospital Sv.Meri in London. Heroin became popular when in 1898, is synthesized by another chemist - Felix Hoffman. She started as a strong painkiller sold as a cure for tuberculosis, severe coughing or morphine dependence (!).
When I discovered that heroin is more addictive than morphine, the medical use of the substance was gradually removed in most countries.
First ban declared in 1914 and it makes an interesting subject of heroin trafficking. He quickly shifted opium and morphine from their positions. Internationally, the prohibition of heroin is clearly set in 1961 In 1972, heroin is a big industry in the American drug market.
How do you use?
The most popular uses of heroin in the nose, orally and intravenously. The effects depend on usage and individual characteristics of the user. The most popular method of heroin use in United States is by injection. Despite the risk of infection with AIDS and other infectious diseases due to the use of longer needles, heroin addicts are most often injected. In recent years, heroin snorting and smoking in films is becoming more popular.
Who uses?
According to statistics, the number of users in Sofia in 2005 was approximately 11,993 persons. In the total population between 15 and 64 - 888 123 people assessed the use in this country is that approximately 13 per 1000 persons of the population use heroin. Reported trend number of heroin users in recent years to decrease.
Heroin is attractive to people who have difficulties because they temporarily numbs and allows you to forget your problems for a while. Heroin use, however, can only lead to new problems. The market is criminal, which relatively increases the price of heroin. Getting what you need on a daily basis is no easy task and some users go to criminal means to obtain money. Statistics show that drug use is directly related to nuisance / vandalism and petty theft /. Most of the addicts reported that at least once in their life have carried theft, and every third of them was zalavyan by police as a result of theft.
Most users use heroin and other substances such as cocaine, alcohol, hashish or narcotic drugs that cause some euphoric feeling. The use of more substances called pollynarcotic use.
What does the user feel?
Heroin literally slows breathing and heart rate in humans. Body temperature drops slightly. Many pupils constrict. Opiates alter the functioning of the intestine and the sphincter muscles. Sexual drive can be reduced. At the beginning user may vomit, have headaches, forgetfulness, nausea, itching and strange feeling in head.
Indeed, the physical effects are nothing compared to what the user feels at psyche: fast relaxing effect, which comes as a "flash." This effect is usually tested on first use and still more after a few uses. Away the pain, fatigue, anxiety, hunger and cold. User enters a state of extreme relaxation, close to inner happiness and became totally indifferent: the surrounding world does not matter anymore.
Heroin acts on 4 to 6 hours. The effect depends on the condition of the user, the degree of experience with the substance, the quantity and the manner in which it is made.
Can you get addicted?
Must be made between physical and psychological dependence.
We are talking about physical dependence, when the body protests after stopping use of the substance (occurs withdrawal symptoms of substance). Compared with other substances with heroin it happens very quickly. This does not mean it can become addictive after a reception. When heroin is used more frequently, physical dependence increases.
More intensive use is encouraged by another natural phenomenon - tolerance. Tolerance is a phenomenon in which the body quickly grows accustomed to heroin and needs more substance to obtain the same effect.
When a heroine is exhausted may be some of the symptoms of withdrawal: the user feels sick, sweating, happens it cold, goosebumps, his nose starts running, there are stomach cramps and felt pain in hands and feet. You may experience vomiting and diarrhea. These symptoms disappear when taking heroin again. So the user enters the vicious circle.
Psychological dependence means that the user increasingly craves the substance and not feeling well without it. Heroin makes people psychologically dependent, removing both physical and psychological pain. Therefore, people with serious problems (homeless, unemployed, victims of abuse and violence) are vulnerable to heroin use. Some people are "hung" very quickly, which makes experimentation with heroin very risky.
What are the risks?
In addition to physical and psychological addiction heroin brings the following risks:
Overdose, heroin, physiological risks
Svarhdoza, not infrequently accompanied by death. Slowing of breathing caused by heroin can be fatal. One can take an overdose of a variety of reasons: taking a large dose at once using the same dose as before, but after a period of abstinence (inactivity), the surprising high level of purity.
Inflammation and infection due to indifference and unhygienic needles.
Heroin inhibit pain sensations. Therefore, the symptoms of various diseases can be blunt, the disease is not recognized or recognized too late.
Heroin use violates the menstrual cycle, menstruation sometimes disappears completely.
Newborn babies of mothers who use show withdrawal symptoms.
The combination of heroin and other sedatives is dangerous because different substances only mutually reinforce their effects. This can have deadly consequences.
Can you stop using?
o stop heroin is a huge task for people who are dependent. If you stop using the "cold turkey" (without the aid of medication), withdrawal symptoms may be severe and can last between 7 and 10 days.
Detoxification can be done under the supervision of a physician with a gradually decreasing doses of methadone. Methadone is a synthetic opioid, which acts longer than heroin (an average of 24 hours). The advantage of this substance that the body does so quickly need a new dose of substance. User can follow a normal day and night mode, instead of constantly looking for new supply of heroin. One mode of use can improve not only physical but also psychological and social conditions. Other advantages of methadone is that it is clean and taken orally. Nevertheless, the risks are the same as those of heroin: it is and remains the drug to which can be formed depending.
It is difficult to quit than heroin permanently. The biggest obstacle is the psychological dependence. The problems behind drug use, in most cases no longer exist, and building a new life is very difficult and tiring. Heroin continues to offer the easiest way out. The risk of relapse is high. However, the success of rehabilitation programs in United States, working with heroin addicts is 68%
How to help the user?
Heroin use leads to certain symptoms. The presence of these symptoms is not enough to determine whether any use or not. The only way is to talk openly with people.
In a candid conversation to discuss important issues about the extent of use, reasons for use and the problems facing the surface. It is the user to talk about these things and work on them with others, if possible, with the help of professionals.
Of problem and his environment, the following applies: do not be afraid to ask advice or seek help.
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