Heroin

History

It was synthesized for the first time since the Morphine in 1874 by the English chemist C.R.Alder Wright but its potential will not be recognized. It is again synthesized in 1898 by Heinrich Dreser, a German chemist of the Entreprise pharmaceutical Bayer which will exploit it like drug for various respiratory affections of which the Tuberculose.

Heroin quickly becomes public health problems and as of 1918, the Société of the Nations engages in a campaign against heroin advancing that such a dangerous product must be removed by an international action. In 1920, it is the American medical community itself which requires prohibition of it. In 1923, a first text international regulates the use of heroin even if as of 1925 an American sociologist L. Kolb stresses that heroin is not criminogene in itself but is consumed mainly by populations belonging to these mediums. Pure heroin is of white color, but the drug produced in these laboratories is of more or less brownish color according to the degree of Pureté, but also of the products of cuts added thereafter.

The production passes by various intermediate stages. Some of these stages are omitted according to competences of the chemist and the serviceable time, in particular the stages of purification which would allow obtaining a purer product. in order to reduce the Point melting product, which facilitates its consumption by inhalation (smoked). It is what is named Héroine N°3 .

An additional stage requiring of the alcohol, the ether and the Hydrochloric acid makes it possible to transform heroin bases out of hydrochlorate of heroin, or Héroine N°4 , water soluble. Certain chemists will pass by several intermediate stages of Purification between each transformation in order to obtain a purer product.

A third kind of heroin produced with the Mexico exists although this one is exported only with the the United States: the black tar ( black tar ). It is an impure heroin appearing itself as a paste, more or less solid of black or brownish color, with the aspect closer to the opium than of a powder. It is the impure shape of drug, this one is produced by the Mexican peasants who have only one weak experience in the poppy cultivation and the production of heroin. Those omit many stages in the manufactoring process by directly transforming the morphine contained in heroin opium, without passing by the intermediate stages. It has a sedative action Analgésique and like the Opiacé S as well as a powerful antidépressive action Anxiolytique and . It is presented in the form of a granulous powder of brown color to gray. It is obtained starting from acetylated heroin. It is traditionally produced - in order to be smoked - and is consumed in Southeast Asia, even if in Occident, certain users inject it.

; White heroin, white, heroin n°4). The composition as the degree of purity are variable.

Heroin can be consumed by:

Intravenous injection , the effect appears at the end of 3 to 10 minutes and grows blurred at the end of 5 a.m.;
inhalation (smoked or appraisal), the effect Analgésique is then dominating.

If the transmission risks infectious are reduced considerably by consumption in inhalation appraisal, they remain present because of exchange of the straws which transport the same type of infection, of which the Tuberculose moreover.

It is sometimes consumed with Cocaïne ( speed-ball ) in order to compensate for the effects Dépresseur S of heroin by the effects Stimulant S of the Cocaïne.

Effects and consequences

It acts on the production of Endorphine S by reducing it - even by stopping it - while binding on the specific receivers of the cell. These is the process which is implied in the physical dependence where the body having reduced its production of Endorphine present of the physical symptoms of lack of this substance.

Fact, of sound strong character Analgesic, it can mask the pains due to the infections.

In the event of overdose, heroin can result in death by respiratory depression. The overdose generally accidental and being charged to a too concentrated amount. :

the honeymoon : The user consumes for the pleasure. Its consumption is regarded as controlled. A tolerance settles as well as a psychic dependence.
the management of the lack: The physical dependence appears. The user consumes to avoid the state of lack. He often develops a Polyconsommation of management of the lack (consumption of Benzodiazépines, alcohol, etc).
the galère : The lack is omnipresent. The dependence is major with behaviors of loss of control. The héroïnomane will be then able of very to finance its consumption.

Treatments of the héroïnomanie

The treatment of the dependence to heroin is long and aims at obtaining the Abstinence. It often requires an outside assistance. In France, in 2005, one counted 160 000 héroïnomanes of which the half followed a substitute treatment to the Opiacé S (Buprénorphine, Méthadone, etc).

According to the report/ratio of OICS of March 1st 2006:

the abuse heroin is not very widespread in Africa with an annual rate of prevalence of the abuse Opiacé S of 0,2% (over the period 2002-2004, at the old individuals from 15 to 64 years), figure lower than the world mean of 0,3%.
In Europe, the annual prevalence of the opiate abuse is of 0,8% (and even 1,7% in Latvia reach).
With the the United States, the héroïnomanes would account for 0,1% of the population.
the heroin abuse does not present an main issue in South America or Oceania.
In East Asia and Southeast Asia, the opiates remain principal consumed drugs.
In the countries of Central Asia, principal drug giving place to abuses is from now on heroin.

Jargon

Vocabulary

To hang, be accro : the fact of being dependant.
Aluminum, to type an aluminum : to see Driving out the dragon : method consisting in inhaling the heroin vapors heated, most of the time, on an aluminum foil (from where the name) by the lower part.
To fix, shooter, to be made (or to put themselves) a block : synonym to inject.
Flash : intense feeling of euphoria immediately caused by the catch of heroin and more or less intense according to the mode of consumption.
Héroïnomane : heroin user.
Straw : small hollow tube allowing the inhalation of the substance.
Pump, shooteuse, fix, flute : syringe.
Rails, traces, lines, drops, tracks : provision in small thread-like heaps for inhalation using a straw.
To nourish the monkey : feeling to have another person to nourish out of heroin, effect of the lack.
Kepa, kep' S, bottle, meug : small packages in which the amounts intended for the trade with the detail are conditioned. These terms are not specific to heroin.
Shot, fix, flush : injection.
Cam, keuch, Shmack, Brown, Brown, Meumeu, Rabla, Chnouf, Powder, Peuf : narrower terms of slang indicating heroin.
To prick of the blaz, to prick of Zen: to prick of the nose. One drowses, heroin made prick nose, one planes.

Related terms

Héroïnomanie : term made up of heroin and mania, of the Greek handled for “Folie, passion”. It indicates a Toxicomanie with heroin, a regular and not-controlled Consommation heroin, bringing a state of dependence.
Héroïnomane: derived from the precedent, nominates the persons reached of héroïnomanie.