Opium
What is heroin?
Heroin is an illegal, very addictive opioid drug. It's made from morphine, which comes from the seedpod of opium poppy plants. These plants grow in Southeast and Southwest Asia, Mexico, and Colombia. Heroin can be a white or brown powder, or a black sticky substance known as black tar heroin.
How do people use heroin?People inject, sniff, snort, or smoke heroin. Some people mix heroin with crack cocaine, which is called "speedballing." All these ways of taking heroin send it to the brain very quickly, which makes it highly addictive.
What are the short-term effects of heroin?People who use heroin report feeling a "rush" (a surge of pleasure). And then they may feel other effects, such as a warm flushing of the skin, dry mouth, and a heavy feeling in the arms and legs. They may also have severe itching, nausea, and vomiting. After these first effects, they will usually be drowsy for several hours, and their breathing will slow down.
What are the long-term effects of heroin?People who use heroin over the long term may develop many different health problems. These problems could include liver, kidney, and lung disease, mental disorders, and abscesses.
People who inject the drug also risk getting infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, and bacterial infections of the skin, bloodstream, and heart (endocarditis). They can also get collapsed veins. When a vein collapses, the blood cannot flow through it.
Repeated use of heroin can lead to tolerance. This means users need more and more of the drug to have the same effect. At higher doses over time, the body becomes dependent on heroin. If someone who is dependent on heroin stops using it, they have withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and cold flashes with goose bumps.
Repeated use of heroin often leads to heroin use disorder, sometimes called addiction. This is more than physical dependence. It's a chronic (long-lasting) brain disorder. When someone has it, they continue to use heroin even though it causes problems in their life. Some examples include health problems and not being able to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home. Getting and using heroin becomes their main purpose in life.
Can a person overdose on heroin?It's possible to overdose on heroin. This happens when a person uses so much heroin that it causes a life-threatening reaction or death. All heroin users are at risk of an overdose because they never know the actual strength of the drug they are taking or what may have been added to it. And people often use heroin along with other drugs or alcohol. This can increase the risk of an overdose.
When people overdose on heroin, their heart rate and breathing slow down. Their breathing may slow do so much that not enough oxygen reaches the brain. This condition is called hypoxia. Hypoxia can lead to a coma, permanent brain damage, or death.
How can a heroin overdose be treated?A medicine called naloxone can treat a heroin (or other opioid) overdose if it is given in time. It works by blocking the effects of the opioid on the body. Sometimes more than one dose of the medicine is needed.
There are two forms of naloxone that anyone can use without medical training: nasal spray and injectable. People at risk of an overdose are encouraged to carry naloxone with them. They can buy naloxone at a pharmacy.
What are the treatments for heroin use disorder?Treatments for heroin use disorder include medicines to treat withdrawal symptoms, medicine to block the effects of opioids, and behavioral treatments. Often, a combination of medicine and behavioral treatment works best. People getting treatment for heroin use disorder should work with their health care providers to come up with a treatment plan that fits their needs.
NIH: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Physician's Materia Medica on Opium
Astringent but not locally hemostatic, Prescribed in diarrheas, in atonic albuminuria, in hematuria, colliquative sweats, diabetes insipidus (combined with opium) and in internal hemorrhages. Ap plied locally in ointments in hemorrhoids and for unhealthy ulcers. Dose, 0.2 to 1.0 Grm. (3 to 15 grs.)1
Alkaloid found in Coffee, Tea, Guarana. Kola and some other plants. Cerebral and cardiac stimulant, acting indirectly as a diure tic. Prescribed often for headache. especially in combination with acetanilid. Useful in adynamic conditions and in all forms of heart failure; a standard remedy in poisoning by opium and other narcotics. Dose of Caffeine or Caffeine Hydrobromide, 0.03 to 0.3 Grm. (96 to 5 grs.- or more. [Caffeine Citrated must be given in double the dose to produce the same effect].1
A powerful hypnotic, less eflicient as an anodyne than opium; antispasmodic. Especially valuable in spasms of strychnine poison ing, tetanus, hysteria and chorea. Dose, 0.6 to 2.0 Grm. (10 to 30 grs.).1
Alkaloid derived from OPIUM. Narcotic, sedative, hypnotic. Produces less derangement of the secretions than morphine, and less liable to be followed by disagreeable after effects. Espexially useful in cough mixtures. Dose, 0.004 to 0.06 Grm. (1-16 to 1 gr.).1
The seed of COFFEA ARABICA, Lin. Stimulant to the nervous system; antidote to Opium and Morphine. Active principle Caffeine, q. v.1
A combination of IPECAC with OPIUM, remarkably for its dia phoretic efficiency. It is of great value in the early stage of acute inflammatory affections such as coryza, bronchitis, pleurisy and especially in muscular rheumatism. It may be advantageously com bined with camphor and with quinine hydrobnomide. The formula of the oflicial preparation (Powder of Ipecac and Opium) is; Ipecac, 1 part; Powdered Opium, 1 part; Sugar of Milk 8 parts. Dose, 0.13 to 0.65 Grm. (2 to 10 grs.). See Tully Powder1
The leaves of HYOSCYAMUS NIGER, Lin. Anodyne, antispasmodic, hypnotic. Often prescribed in acute mania, hypochondriasis, de lirium tremens, dementia accompanied with excitement; in cough mixtures; associated with cathartics to prevent griping; as a sedative for children. taking the place of opium; for nausea of pregnancy, etc. Contains Hyoscine, q. v., as its most important active constituent (associated with Hyoscyamine and Atropine). Dose, 0.3 to 1.0 Grm. (5 to 15 grs.).1
The root of URAGOGA IPECACUANHA, (Brot.) Baill. Emetic; in small doses diaphoretic (especially when combined with opium), expectorant, stomachic. In large doses has a specific action in dysentery. Dose, as emetic, 1 to 1.5 Grm. (15 to 25 grs.), repeated if necessary, as diaphoretic. 0.06 to 0.120 Grm. (1 to 2 grs.); as expectorant or stomachic, 0.015 to 0.06 Grm. (1/4 to 1 gr.).1
The inspissated latex of LACTUCA VIROSA, Lin. Anodyne, hypnotic. A remedy of little eflicacy, but suitable for quieting in fants.1
An impure oleopalmitate of lead, the coinmon base in medicinal plasters, e. g. Opium Plaster, Resin Plaster, Soap Plaster.1