The Facts about Heroin
Heroin is a narcotic drug that within a short time leads to heavy dependence. The rapid habituation to the drug has the effect that the addict needs increasingly large doses at more frequent intervals. Otherwise, unpleasant withdrawal symptoms will occur. The changes in personality and the effects on the health of the individual as a result of this addiction are devastating.
In Switzerland users mainly inject heroin but it is also smoked or sniffed up the nose (snorted). Heroin leads to heavy dependence with all the consequences associated with an addiction and especially to a breakdown of the personality.
What is Heroin?
Just like morphine and codeine, heroin is produced by the chemical processing of raw opium obtained from the opium poppy (papaver Somniferum). Heroin is a diacetylmorphine. This diacetyl group is the vehicle through which morphine is transported more quickly to the opiate receptors. As a result of which the heroin produces a short strong effect of intoxication.
Opiate Receptors in the Brain
Heroin produces its effect by its action on the opiate receptors, the natural binding places for the body's own substances, the endorphins. High densities of opiate receptors are found above all in the brain's pain conduction system, the spinal cord, the hippocampus (memory), the amygdalae (sexuality and aggression) as well as in the hypothalamus (eating and the fight and flight reaction). This explain why various physical and psychological changes arise as a result of the repeated use of heroin as well as the rapid development of a heavy psychological dependence on the drug by the heroin addict.
Tolerance and Independence
Heroin leads to the development of tolerance, that is to say the addict needs to increase the dose of the drug in order to achieve the effect that he or she is seeking. The repeated use of heroin results in a tolerance to the drug that is so high that massive doses (up to ten times the normal) are required to achieve the required effect or-and this is actually the motive - to prevent the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms. For the non-addict, or after an interruption of use, such high doses would be lethal due to an immediate respiratory arrest.
Withdrawal symptoms
After a few hours, as soon as the effects wear off, specific biological reactions are experienced as the body tries to adapt to going without the opiate drug. These reactions are: restlessness, craving for the drug, sweating, extreme anxiety, depression, irritability, bad mood, high temperature, shivering (goose pimples), severe retching and vomiting, severe diarrhoea, rapid respiration (panting), cramps, sleeplessness and intensive pain. Withdrawal effects are not life threatening. The symptoms are similar to a severe attack of influenza and subside after three days. A few symptoms, such as sleeplessness, may persist for some time.
Methadone
This is given to heroin addicts as a substitute drug. It is a synthetic opiate with an effect that is very similar to morphine. As the effects of methadone last for almost 24 hours a single daily dose is sufficient. However, the withdrawal effects of ceasing to use methadone can be as severe as those of heroin and usually take longer to pass.
Therefore, if it is to be useful, a methadone programme must be part of a well-controlled scheme which is aimed at achieving abstinence. Otherwise, users dependent on methadone will take in addition all other possible drugs as well as alcohol and tranquillisers. There is a great danger they will increasingly become invalids, that is to say become more unfit to work.
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