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On This Page:
Heroin
Effects of Heroin
Symptoms of Heroin Withdrawal
Drugs for Heroin Detox
What
Is Heroin?
Heroin is a highly
addictive drug derived from morphine from morphine. Heroin was originally
created in 1874, under the assumption that it was a cure to both morphine
addiction as well as certain respiratory illness. It was later discovered
that heroin contains the same addictive qualities as morphine. And while
heroin has been banned in the United States, but illegal trafficking of
the substance is still common because heroin is more potent and consequently
much easier to smuggle.
What
Are the Effects of Heroin?
Heroin induces sleep and relives pain by affecting the central nervous
system. Users of heroin often experience a dreamlike state of warmth and
well being. Side effects include:
nausea
constricted pupils
respiratory depression
Since heroin stimulates brain regions responsible for euphoria and physical
dependence, addiction to the drug occurs with a high frequency. Signs
of addiction can be described by persisten craving, increased tolerance
(larger doses), and painful withdrawal.
What are the Syptoms of Heroin Withdrawal?
People suffering from heroin withdrawal often experience cramping, nausea,
panic, chills, and insomnia. In addition to overdose, heroin addicts can
are also at risk to AIDS, pneumonia, and hepatitis. Infants exposed to
heroin in the womb must endure withdrawal at birth and pregnant mothers
are also at great risk of giving miscarriage.
Withdrawal can occur only a few hours after the last use of heroin. The
result is drug craving restlessness, muscle and bone pain, diarrhea, insomnia,
vomiting, cold flashes, and kicking movements. Withdrawal symptoms usually
peak 48 hours after the last dose and last approximately one week.
Are
there Drugs that Can Assist in Heroin Detox?
Methadone treatment is a controversial method of heroin detox that substitutes
methadone for heroin and then gradually decreases the dose until the user
is free of the drug.
Supporters point out that methadone maintenance, being oral, breaks the
dangerous ritual of intravenous injection, that it is legal and eliminates
the addict's need to engage in crime to pay for drugs, and that it gives
addicts a chance to reevaluate their lives. Critics counter that methadone
patients are still addicts and that methadone therapy does not help addicts
with their personality problems. In many cases multiple drug use and a
strong psychological dependence undermine the gains made. Some addicts
manage to resell the methadone they receive in order to buy heroin; this
and other illegal diversion have resulted in methadone joining the group
of addictive drugs sold on the street.
© The Discovery Program, 2006