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░ Definition
Heroin is an illegal opiate drug made from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). However, the main ingredient that is extracted from this plant is morphine, which is easily converted to heroin by a chemical process.
In 1973, scientists discovered that the brain had receptors for opiates. In other words, there are places on neurons that recognize opiates. This immediately raised the questions. Two years later, scientists found the answer: the brain manufactures its own opiates, known as ‘endorphins’.
░ Effects of heroin
Heroin can be injected into a muscle or under the skin, producing effects in less than 8 minutes. It can be injected into a vein, producing effect in seconds. Addicts sometimes inject up to 4 times in one day.
In the short term :
Analgesia, brief euphoria, nausea, sedation, anxiety, hypothermia, breathing difficulties, coughing; coma and death in cases of overdose.
In the long term :
- Tolerance: more and more drug is needed to produce the euphoria and other effects on behaviour.
- Addiction: psychological and physiological need for heroin. People begin to crave heroin 4 to 6 hours alter their last injection.
- Withdrawal: about 8-12 hours after their last heroin dose, addicts feel anxiety and irritability. Fever, stomach and muscle cramps, diarrhea and chills can follow several hours later. These withdrawal symptoms can continue from 1 to 10 days after the last injection, even more in some cases.
Other effects :
In addition to the direct dangers of heroin, this drug also carries the risk of: HIV/AIDS (due to sharing needles), hepatitis, poisoning, skin infections, lung infections, bacterial and viral infections, stroke, collapsed veins.
░ The brain
Opiates stimulate a pleasure system in the brain. This system involves neurons in the midbrain that use the neurotransmitter called "dopamine." These midbrain dopamine neurons project to another structure called the nucleus accumbens which then projects to the cerebral cortex. Finally, other neurotransmitter system involved is that related to endorphin.
In spite of all these explanations, the truth is that the process by which heroin affects the brain is not known in detail.
░ Important: Adulterated doses
The purity of the dose can vary greatly in the case of heroin. It can be commonly mixed with sugar, powdered milk, baking soda, procaine and lidocaine; or even laundry detergent, starch, talc or Ajax cleaner. The risk of injecting these dangerous additives is huge. Heroin crosses through the blood brain barrier 100 times faster than morphine, because it is highly soluble in lipids.
More information (University of Washington) >>
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