Pubdate: Mon, 28 May 2007
Source: Aurora, The (CN NF)
Copyright: 2007 The Aurora
Contact:  http://www.theaurora.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3219
Author: Keith MacKinnon
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

The Drug Deal

THE EVOLUTION OF HEROIN

I asked a young group of kids once what they thought  heroin was. One
little girl piped up and replied,  "Isn't that a hero that's a girl?"
Opium is processed  from the milky fluid of the unripe seedpod of the
opium  poppy plant. The two most prevalent opiates in this  fluid are
morphine and codeine, both widely used in  medicines today. The main
reason for the decline in the  popularity of opium is the availability
of  semi-synthetic and synthetic prescription opiates.

The regular oral use of opium began in ancient Greece,  Egypt, and
spread eastward to Asia. Opium was  originally chewed, eaten or
blended in various liquids  and drunk. The abuse potential of opium
was relatively  low because it tasted bitter, had a low concentration
of active ingredients and the supplies were limited.

Smoking opium became widespread in the sixteenth  century as pipes
traded from North America to Asia by  Portuguese traders opened the
door for widespread  non-medical usage. As smoking introduces the drug
into  the bloodstream at a much faster rate than oral  ingestion, this
encouraged abuse. An attempt to ban it  in 1792 was unsuccessful; in
large part due to how  lucrative the trade began.

In 1805, a pharmacist isolated morphine from opium. He  found it to be
10 times as strong as opium and  therefore a much better pain
reliever. It was used  extensively in the Crimean war and US civil war
for  wounded soldiers. Unfortunately its greater strength  increased
the potential for opiate addiction.

In 1874, a British chemist refined heroin from morphine  in an attempt
to find a more effective painkiller that  didn't have the addictive
properties. This failed  however, as the intense rush of the drug
created a  subculture of compulsive heroin users.

The development of the hypodermic needle in 1853  brought with it
intravenous heroin usage, taking only  15-30 seconds for the injected
opiate to affect the  central nervous system. This intensity further
increased the specter of potential drug-seeking  behavior.

During the mid to late 1800s, opiate popularity was so  great,
hundreds of tonics and medications contained  them. Physicians at the
time did not realize the  addictive potential of opiate drugs and so
physician-induced addiction was a common problem.  Prescriptions
varied to treat tired blood, insanity,  toothaches, cough, diarrhea,
etc. Snorting also became  popular, especially for those afraid of
needles, though  the amount used was greater for equal effect. As the
twentieth century turned, governments began to enact  laws prohibiting
production and non-medicinal use of  opiates.

Recently, smoking and snorting heroin have increased in  popularity in
the U.S.

due to an influx of white and tar heroin from Columbia  and Mexico.
However, in the last decade the rate of  heroin crime incidents
involving police in Canada has  decreased by 55 per cent. Opioids,
especially heroin,  affect almost every part of the body. Some of the
major  side effects include insensitivity to warning pain  signals,
lowered blood pressure, lowered  pulse/respiration and confusion. A
major danger is  overdose, a risk increased by unknown drug purity.

Signs of use include drooping eyelids, head nodding  forward, slurred
speech, walking and coordination  slowed, pinpoint pupils and
increased itching from  dried out skin.

Unfortunately, acute withdrawal symptoms are painful  and seem so
frightening; the fear of withdrawal becomes  a greater trigger for
continued use. Be aware, don't go  down that road. Say no to drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake