Heroin, discovered in 1874, is twice as strong as crude opium and 20 times stronger than morphine. Working fast, heroin is the most addictive opiate. Commercial heroin was first produced as a painkiller in 1898. Doctors were unaware of heroin's addictiveness. The U S made heroin a controlled substance in 1914. Dealers often switch to heroin from cocaine because of heroin's higher profits, often diluting it with fuel oil or strychnine. During heroin's 1960s heyday down and out addicts injected heroin. In the 1990s deadlier, needleless versions of heroin were sold to kids at dance clubs. Emergency room visits and deaths doubled. Heroin users are addicted in days. Death from heroin poisoning - a hot shot caused by contaminants - is immediate, the user often dying with the needle still stuck in his arm.
Sensitivity and response gradually slows
Narcotic pain killer used for pain without disturbing other sensation
Disturbs normal brain function
Reduce mental efficiency, physical activity
Users bodies can be cleared of heroin in 2 weeks at clinics but they r�sum� use because psychologically dependent.
1874 diacelyl morphine, heroin, developed in England. Little interest until 1890 reports more effective remedy for illness treated with codeine or morphine
1898 commercial production Bayer Co, Germany
After 4 - 5 years scientists doubted heroin's cure for morphinism
Increased addiction, harder to cure than morphinism
Doctors took a long time to understand heroin's dangers but the underworld caught on
Heroin snuff appeals to users not wanting to inject it but these users later convert to I V mainline
Harrison Narcotics Act 1914
World War I military and civilian addicts but statistics at the time not carefully compiled
All statistics based on voluntary reports, highly inaccurate
Smoking heroin decreased because of easy detection, elaborate equpt and prep
Average morphine dose 1/4 grain, extreme pain
Tolerance builds fast. Addicts use 10 grains or more a day
World War 2 - U S addicts use heroin instead of morphine
Heroin is an indirect opium derivative
Treat morphine with acetylclhloride
Wash with diluted alkaline solution
Crystallize it with alcohol
Heroin range from colorless to khaki depend on adulterants used & variation in chemical processing
HEROIN
Acts much like morphine but depresses the spinal cord
Depressant twice as powerful
Acts on respiration, therefore inferior to morphine as an analgesic
NORMAL DOSE Heroin 1 1/2 grain
Tolerance builds fast, increasing addiction
1924 U S prohibits importing opium to make heroin
1956 all medical use prohibited, all opium to be surrendered by 1958
Heroin used on East Coast, morphine used on West Coast
Today heroin replaces morphine. Morphine seldom found in illicit traffic.
Heroin mostly made outside the U S