The Drug Deal

THE EVOLUTION OF HEROIN

I asked a young group of kids once what they thought heroin was. One
little girl piped up and replied, "Isn't that a hero that's a girl?"
Opium is processed from the milky fluid of the unripe seedpod of the
opium poppy plant. The two most prevalent opiates in this fluid are
morphine and codeine, both widely used in medicines today. The main
reason for the decline in the popularity of opium is the availability
of semi-synthetic and synthetic prescription opiates.

The regular oral use of opium began in ancient Greece, Egypt, and
spread eastward to Asia. Opium was originally chewed, eaten or
blended in various liquids and drunk. The abuse potential of opium
was relatively low because it tasted bitter, had a low concentration
of active ingredients and the supplies were limited.

Smoking opium became widespread in the sixteenth century as pipes
traded from North America to Asia by Portuguese traders opened the
door for widespread non-medical usage. As smoking introduces the drug
into the bloodstream at a much faster rate than oral ingestion, this
encouraged abuse. An attempt to ban it in 1792 was unsuccessful; in
large part due to how lucrative the trade began.

In 1805, a pharmacist isolated morphine from opium. He found it to be
10 times as strong as opium and therefore a much better pain
reliever. It was used extensively in the Crimean war and US civil war
for wounded soldiers. Unfortunately its greater strength increased
the potential for opiate addiction.

In 1874, a British chemist refined heroin from morphine in an attempt
to find a more effective painkiller that didn't have the addictive
properties. This failed however, as the intense rush of the drug
created a subculture of compulsive heroin users.

The development of the hypodermic needle in 1853 brought with it
intravenous heroin usage, taking only 15-30 seconds for the injected
opiate to affect the central nervous system. This intensity further
increased the specter of potential drug-seeking behavior.

During the mid to late 1800s, opiate popularity was so great,
hundreds of tonics and medications contained them. Physicians at the
time did not realize the addictive potential of opiate drugs and so
physician-induced addiction was a common problem. Prescriptions
varied to treat tired blood, insanity, toothaches, cough, diarrhea,
etc. Snorting also became popular, especially for those afraid of
needles, though the amount used was greater for equal effect. As the
twentieth century turned, governments began to enact laws prohibiting
production and non-medicinal use of opiates.

Recently, smoking and snorting heroin have increased in popularity in
the U.S.

due to an influx of white and tar heroin from Columbia and Mexico.
However, in the last decade the rate of heroin crime incidents
involving police in Canada has decreased by 55 per cent. Opioids,
especially heroin, affect almost every part of the body. Some of the
major side effects include insensitivity to warning pain signals,
lowered blood pressure, lowered pulse/respiration and confusion. A
major danger is overdose, a risk increased by unknown drug purity.

Signs of use include drooping eyelids, head nodding forward, slurred
speech, walking and coordination slowed, pinpoint pupils and
increased itching from dried out skin.

Unfortunately, acute withdrawal symptoms are painful and seem so
frightening; the fear of withdrawal becomes a greater trigger for
continued use. Be aware, don't go down that road. Say no to drugs.