The Drug Heroin - 1362 Words

Heroin and commonly known by its street names of H, smack, horse, brown, black, tar, and others, is an opioid analgesic originally synthesized by C.R. Alder Wright in 1874 by adding two acetyl groups to the molecule morphine, which is found naturally in the opium poppy. It is the 3,6-diacetyl ester of morphine. Heroin itself is an inactive drug, but when inserted into the body, it converts into morphine. Illicit heroin is sometimes available in freebase form, dulling the sheen and consistency to a matte-white powder. Because of its lower boiling point, the freebase form of heroin is also smokable. It is prevalent in heroin coming from Afghanistan, which as of 2004 produced roughly 87% of the world supply in illicit raw opium. As with other opioids, diacetylmorphine is used as both an analgesic and a recreational drug. Frequent and regular administration is associated with tolerance and physical dependence. Internationally, diacetylmorphine is controlled under Schedules I and IV of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. It is illegal to manufacture, possess, or sell diacetylmorphine without a license in almost every country, except the UK and Switzerland. It is also available for prescription to long-term users as a form of opioid replacement therapy in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark, alongside psycho-social care—in the same manner that methadone or buprenorphine are used in the United States and Canada—and a similar programme is beingShow MoreRelatedHeroin : Drugs And Drugs1472 Words   |  6 PagesAlso known as Diamorphine, heroin was first successfully synthesized by Charles Romley Alder Wright, a researcher at St. Mary’s Medical Hospital in London. American doctors jumped on the release of heroin as soon as it hit the markets. Heroin was used to treat many things including headaches, colds and even female hysteria. Around the time of its invention, a major morphine epidemic was sweeping across the nation. It was believed by the majority of American doctors that heroin had a solution to the longRead MoreHeroin Drugs1563 Words   |  7 Pagesseeds to top breads and bagels, a lso makes the substance in heroin. Heroin is highly addictive, it is an opioid drug. Organizations estimate 9.2 million people world wide are using heroin. Heroin is most often injected but can be snorted or smoked as well. Research shows around 78 americans die everyday from opioid overdose’s. this ppaper will examine viewpoint one, two and my viewpoint on should cities open supervised injection sites for heroin addicts. To begin with, viewpoint one believes supervisedRead MoreHeroin Is A Dangerous Drug Essay888 Words   |  4 Pagescookie cutter heroin user. In fact, many of heroin’s newest addicts are in their teens or early 20s; many also come from middle- or upper-middle-class suburban families. Heroin is a dangerous drug that has many different â€Å"street names† such as Smack, Mud, Dope, Dragon, and Junk. The scientific names are diacetylmorphine or morphine diacetate, also known as diamorphine. In the United States alone, there are 1.2 million people who are using heroin. 600,000 of those users are addicted to heroin and use 150Read MoreThe Heroin Drug Market984 Words   |  4 Pages These two drugs bleed the world more than any other for very different reasons.It is a slow painful death robbing individuals of choice and diverting billions of dollars to drug suppliers. There are plenty of drugs available in every neighborhood. They are all around us, ranging in addictiveness, deadliness, and availability. The two most damaging to society and the individual are readily available despite decades of the best efforts by the U.S. and every other nation around the world. A 16 yearRead MoreDrugs : The Use Of Heroin1614 Words   |  7 PagesThe Use of Heroin My name is Destiny Marcum and I have never been addicted to drugs, but I have seen it first hand through my parents. My parents were heroin addicts for seven years and it made life extremely difficult for them as well as my siblings and me. I am currently in the process of receiving a degree in human services and have a certification in Addiction Studies. I think my parent’s addictions growing up greatly led to my desire to learn about addiction and helping others in this careerRead MoreHeroin Is A Dangerous Drug992 Words   |  4 Pages Heroin is known as an opium drug and is injected directly into a person’s view. It is common knowledge that heroin is a dangerous drug. Philip Seymour Hoffman is just one of countless people who have died from using heroin. The articles that came out after Hoffman died of an overdose suggest a rising heroin epidemic. USA Today and Washington Times were just two of several newspapers and other media outlets to report on this epidemic. USA Today reasons that says since there is a tougher crackdownRead MoreEssay on The Drug Heroin1390 Words   |  6 PagesDrugs Drugs have been around for hundreds of years. Indians were known to have used Opium and other drugs for medical and various other purposes. During the 7th Century A.D. in China a drug emerged called Opium. Opium, the dry juice from immature seed pods of the opium poppy plant, is a narcotic drug that is very powerful in the relief of pain but is also very addictive. At the beginning Opium was like any other drug, but then people unaware of the harm it could cause began to useRead MoreDrug Addiction : Drugs And Heroin Addiction1130 Words   |  5 PagesThe arguments for whether or not to prescribe heroin to treat heroin addictions are controversial. Henden and Baeroe (2015) state both sides of the arguments being that some believe â€Å"it is in the nature of heroin addiction for individuals to lose their ability to resist their desire for heroin,† which knowing the nature of chemical dependency, heroin addicts would not refuse any heroin, so it still possibly an invalid consent to research participation as they did not have a free choice to reallyRead MoreHeroin As A Drug Free World1632 Words   |  7 PagesIt is estimated that 9.2 million people in the world currently are addicted to heroin. In 2007, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported 153,000 current heroin users in the United States. (Foundation for a Drug-Free World, 2017). Diacetylmorphine, more commonly known as heroin, was developed in 1874 when an Engl ish scientist, C.R. Alder Wright from St. Mary’s Hospital in London, attached two acetyl groups to morphine. This change was so significant because it made a product that wasRead MoreDrug Wall Paper: Heroin1609 Words   |  7 PagesNational Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), approximately 3.5 million Americans ages 12 and older reported trying heroin at least once during their lifetimes. The average addict spends between $150 – $200 a day to maintain a heroin addiction.† Heroin is a highly addictive opiate drug formed as a crystalline white powder from morphine. Heroin was first synthesized in 1874, it is a potent drug derived from the seedpods of poppy plants. It is used as a painkiller and a recreational drug. It is