Newsgroups: alt.drugs
Subject: Re: Heroin
From: civl097@csc.canterbury.ac.nz
Date: 8 Sep 92 13:38:44 +1200
Organization: University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

In article <1992Sep6.040145.25262@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>, jknapton@nyx.cs.du.edu (Josh Knapton) writes:
> OK, I would like some info on Heroin - this has not really been covered in any 
> FAQs that I know of. 
> 
> I hear that it is most commonly shot with a needle, but comes in a powdered
> form. How is it sold, and in what general price bracket?
> 
> Also, what are the effects like, and especially the drawbacks? I have heard that
> it wastes the body by some method. How?  

Apparently not. This is another of those big lies of the WOsD.

From "Drug Education" by Girdano and Dusek (Colorado) ISBN 0-201-02963-4

"Contrary to common belief,high-dose users of the opiates can function quite 
adequately, and aside from the danger of unsterile needles and other 
catastrophes due to the life-style of the heroin user, the addict does not
suffer the physical deterioration caused by chronic use of other drugs such as
alcohol."
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Heroin is di-acetyl morphine, prepared by treating morphine with acetyl 
anhydride.Developed by Bauer Coy. in Germany in 1898.
As an analgesic, it is about three times more powerful than morphine.
Typical doses seem to be of the order of a few milligrams. It is  useful
for treating the pain suffered by cancer patients.
Death from overdose is due to depression of respiration.
Psychological effects are purportedly "a flush of euphoria,elevation of mood,and
a feeling of peace,contentment...."
Physical effects "respiratory depression(both rate and depth),constipation,
pupillary constriction,postural hypotension,libido suppression,and release of
histamine(which causes itching that may accompany heroin use)..."

The main *inherent* problem with chronic heroin use seems to be constipation.
The opiates are used for treatment of acute diarrhoea.

"Heroin's pharmacological action is that of morphine because it is converted 
back into morphine in the body"

Withdrawal.
 
"If a strong depressant is not taken within this time [4-6hours after injection]
withdrawal symptoms begin to appear - runny nose,dilation of pupils,stomach
cramps,chills and the other symptoms of the classic abstinence syndrome"
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From "Deviance and Control" Craig Little (State Unov.New York)
ISBN 0-87581-341-0

"Contrary to popular myth, withdrawal from narcotics is not nearly as 
uncomfortable or dangerous as that from alcohol, or barbiturates"
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From memory, it is estimated that 80% of deaths from heroin, are due to
either to the effect of adulterants, or to the inability to guage the actual
dose because of adulterants,resulting in an overdose when a higher purity
heroin is obtained by chance.
These effects are a direct result of the illegality of heroin. Legal
heroin would be controlled as to purity etc.
Thus,the WosD has resulted in an increase of "drug-deaths" by five times.

Brandon Hutchison,University of Canterbury,Christchurch
                  New Zealand

Organization: Senior, Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA