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Heroin as a Painkiller: from Treatment to Addiction

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Words: 1088 |

Pages: 2|

6 min read

Published: May 24, 2022

Words: 1088|Pages: 2|6 min read

Published: May 24, 2022

Table of contents

  1. Definition
  2. Appearance
    Heroin Effects
    Dependence
    Depression
    Signs of heroin use
    Withdrawal
    Withdrawal Timeline
  3. Conclusion

Definition

As many health masters describe it, heroin is a chemical substance originating from an opium poppy plant and used as a highly compelling painkiller. Its synthesis involves the slitting of poppy pods to release milky and sticky substances commonly referred to as opium. It is this opium which then undergoes a particular processing procedure to result in heroin. Its high strength of it is all about its diacetylmorphine content which yields heroin’s sought-soon after intoxicating impacts. The research compares its power to 50 times that of morphine a pain killer as well.

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Today in the US, the drug’s utilisation has gained roots in the past two decades, and statistics indicate that it is a highly utilised illegal substance. Its occurrence comes in varied formations especially based on colour. You will always find it as either brown, white or black powder though other versions may exist as well. All these colours indicate the extent to which the refining process reached. Black is usually the least pure all the way to white. How users use it all depends on the level of comfort and pleasure involved. Often, the drug will either be swallowed, smoked, snorted or injected into the body system. Identifying users can sometimes be easy as apart from their behaviours, they will always have their rooms with different hollow items such as an empty pen, straw, and lighters marked in a specific manner indicating levels. Most users, however, fail to understand or ignore that this drug causes health-threatening impacts and severe ill-health conditions if not managed.

Appearance

Pure heroin which is often common is usually in the form of a white powder generally excellent in its nature. However, other varieties exist as well including the shades of beige, black, grey, brown, or even pink. All these differences emerge depending on the kind of additives involved in the mixing. Among these additives are sugar quinine, caffeine, powdered milk, and stark, plus other drugs. Usually, the brighter the colour of this substance the purer it is. The dark and more courser ones usually tar-black and sticky indicate the crude manner in which they are processed and therefore are the least pure. This type is mainly found in the Western US or Mexico. It has many users owing to its low affordable price.

Heroin Effects

Despite having significantly great health benefits, this drug introduces diverse ill-health conditions on the human body upon its consumption. When introduced into the body, via an injection it quickly yields the feeling of euphoria which is typically followed by a dry mouth, heavy extremities and a warm flushing of the skin. Out of the initially felt euphoria, the handler experiences an interchangeably drowsy and wakeful state. Mental operation becomes compromised due to despair of the brain system.

Other related impacts include:

  • Respiratory depression
  • Constriction of pupils plus nausea

In case of an overdose, effects such as hypotension, slow and shallow breathing, blue lips and nails, coma, convulsions, muscle spasms, and possible death may result.

Other illnesses or syndromes may result for instance HIV/AIDS or hepatitis out of sharing of injection needles. Otherwise, general medical hitches on this include:

  • Pneumonia
  • Swellings
  • Collapsing of veins
  • Spontaneous abortion
  • Endocarditis (inflammation of the heart lining and valves).

Dependence

  • Long prevailing impacts Consistent ill-health experiences associated with this condition comprise;
  • • Gums inflammation
  • Constipation
  • Menstrual disorder in women
  • The decline in remembrance as well as loss of cleverness
  • Cold sweats
  • Itching
  • Pustules on the face
  • Deterioration of the immune system’s strength
  • Bad teeth
  • Coma
  • Respiratory (breathing) complaints
  • Muscular flaws or partial paralysis
  • Insomnia
  • Interrupted sexual urge and prolonged impotence
  • Introversion
  • Inability to attain orgasm in either women or men

Depression

Lack of desire for food Immediate impacts The very immediate effect of this drug is pain-killing which is combined with depression of the central nervous system by influencing the following;

  • Loss of pain
  • A strong feeling of “rush,” - an increase in the euphoric feeling
  • The gain of warm and flush
  • Sedation as well as lethargy
  • Growing much sensitive on issues
  • Drowsiness

With continued or repeated use, these effects diminish as the body becomes tolerant of them.

Signs of heroin use

Under self-diagnosis, one will always experience great compulsion towards its utilisation. Often, this feeling is uncontrollable, and therefore most people would give in for it. Out of such dependence, the victims stand a chance to fall back on their responsibilities and relationships as well. Generally, however, users will experience the following ill-health indicators as soon as they commence their consumption.

  • Severe sweating
  • Mood fluctuations mainly lead to discontentment
  • Dependence on physical substance
  • Persistent constipation
  • Shrinked pupils
  • Nausea
  • Reduced sex drive
  • Pain sensitivity
  • Slow breathing
  • Inaudible speech

Withdrawal

Just like in the case of other heavy drugs, withdrawing from heroin consumption comes along with severe effects some of which may be life-threatening, especially when not better managed. For the proper success of it, medical guidance from an expert is very critical to avoid further inconveniences or co-occurring illnesses. Withdrawal Symptoms They comprise:

  • Agitation
  • The high pumping rate of the heart
  • Nervousness
  • Shaking and shivering
  • Sweating
  • Pain in the muscles and bones
  • Diarrhoea and vomiting
  • Insufficient sleep

Withdrawal Timeline

How much time one takes in recovering from such obsessive dependence on heroin is never precise. Generally, it’s a factor depending on how fast your body is responding to the current medication or training you are perusing. Once you have the will to shun away from it plus a proper recovery strategy, the process might take a much lesser time compared to the otherwise situation. Addiction Treatment Strong dependence on this substance mainly causes adverse effects on the brain thus yielding to some elements of mental disorder. The best way to prevent oneself from all this is either avoiding it yourself or seeking medical assistance. The best places you can visit about this are rehab centres. They offer both preventive and therapeutic curative measures that help in the recovery of all kinds of addictions.

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Conclusion

The essentiality of heroin towards creating health benefits is no longer of use as many users across the world have converted it all to abuse. Being one of the best recommendable painkillers, it has for years been offered to patients suffering from persistent muscle and bone aches. However, today, its utilisation has become more of illegal with the government posing strict user regulations. From its stimulating effects, the drug was discovered to inflict severe ill-health complaints among the many users. Problems acquiring sleep, loss of appetite, abnormal sweating, and sex malfunctions among many other adverse health impacts were discovered to result from its utilisation. The unfortunate bit about it is its addictive nature. Most users tend to crave for its euphoric feeling and therefore fall for its persistent use. Redemption for such victims is however available now with the presence of lots of both medical and rehab facilities. There are outlined medicinal as well as therapeutic training outlines which can effectively help one attain full recovery.

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Heroin as a Painkiller: from Treatment to Addiction. (2022, May 24). GradesFixer. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/heroin-as-best-recommendable-painkillers-from-treatment-to-addiction/
“Heroin as a Painkiller: from Treatment to Addiction.” GradesFixer, 24 May 2022, gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/heroin-as-best-recommendable-painkillers-from-treatment-to-addiction/
Heroin as a Painkiller: from Treatment to Addiction. [online]. Available at: <https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/heroin-as-best-recommendable-painkillers-from-treatment-to-addiction/> [Accessed 19 Apr. 2024].
Heroin as a Painkiller: from Treatment to Addiction [Internet]. GradesFixer. 2022 May 24 [cited 2024 Apr 19]. Available from: https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/heroin-as-best-recommendable-painkillers-from-treatment-to-addiction/
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