...Heroin Addiction Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive drug. It is usually sold as a white or brown like powder or as a black sticky substance known on the streets as “black tar heroin”. Pure heroin is becoming more common on the streets, but most is cut with other drugs or substances such as sugar, starch or other poisons. Heroin abusers do not often know the actual strength of the drug, or what its contents are and are at risk of overdose or death. It is estimated that 9.2 million people in the world use heroin and first time users have risen from 85000 people in 1970 to 162000 in 2001. HIV and other diseases can be transmitted from abuser to abuser from sharing of needles or other types of injection equipment; about three to four percent of heroin addicts die each year from HIV and AIDS. Heroin, or as known on the streets as “smack”, “H”, “junk” and many others is usually injected, sniffed, snorted or smoked. Intravenous injection provides a heroin abuser with the greatest intensity and most rapid high, producing a drowsy state of relaxation and contentment, taking approximately fifteen to thirty seconds to get that intense high. Injection into the muscle or skin takes about three to five minutes for an abuser to get a high. When heroin is sniffed or smoked, the effects are usually felt within ten to fifteen minutes. Injection is the most used method of heroin users; however researchers have seen a shift in patterns from injection to sniffing...
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...Heroin Addiction and Treatment Abstract This paper offers a brief explanation of the history of heroin. Describing the origins of heroin, who discovered it and describe the detrimental effects heroin has on an individual. There are several treatment options available for heroin addicts and this paper will look at a few of the ones that have shown the most success. Heroin Addiction and Treatment Introduction: A Brief History of Heroin Heroin comes from the opium poppy. This plant has been used by a number of various civilizations going back to include ancient civilizations. Opium, heroin, and morphine are derived from the poppy. Opium had been used by Drs. in the United States for many years prior to the Civil War. When morphine was discovered Drs. switched to using morphine instead of opium for pain, mainly because the hypodermic needle had been invented and morphine could be injected and pain could be better controlled. Heroin was derived from a chemical process discovered by Felix Hoffman in 1874. Heroin was initially distributed as a pain killer, and cough suppressant by Bayer Company in 1898. Drs. initially thought that heroin could replace morphine because they thought heroin did not possess the addictive qualities of morphine. In fact Drs. used heroin to get their patient’s off morphine. They thought...
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...Distance Education Methadone Treatment Programs are Effective in Stopping Heroin Use A Paper Presented to Professor Loyd Uglow, Ph.D In Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Course THE 5113 Research Literature and Technology Sharon Pete November 28, 2012 THESIS STATEMENT: To investigate Methadone maintenance is found to be more effective in treating heroin addiction than 180 day detoxification. The objective is how methadone maintenance, a widely used but controversial method of weaning heroin addicts off the drug—with counseling has psychosocially enriched 180 day methadone assisted detoxification. OUTLINE I. INTRODUCTION A. History of Heroin B. History of withdrawals II. How Methadone is used to treat Heroin? III. Research Findings IV. CONCLUSION V. Work Cited Methadone Treatment Programs are Effective in Stopping Heroin Use Substitution treatment or maintenance pharmacotherapy programs using methadone are today the most sought after and effective form of treatment for opiate addiction and dependence. Because methadone is a long-acting opiate whose dosage can be stabilized, it is well suited for daily administration and has proven effective in the elimination of narcotic craving, a driving force behind continued heroin use. And, because it can be administered orally, methadone dramatically reduces heroin injecting frequency and, with it, associated risks for HIV and other blood-borne...
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...First and foremost, it is important to define addiction. According to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Family, “addiction begins when an individual makes a conscious decision to choose to use alcohol or drugs that interfere with normal brain functioning. Continuous use has long-term effects on brain metabolism and activity, because the brain goes thru long term changes targeting specific parts of the brain like judgement and planning, making it impossible to stop using drugs. As a result of the changes in the brain, drugs then create a chronic disease, addiction, treated by medication, therapy, and preferably abstinence (WDCF, 2015).” For example, addiction to heroin in the United States has been increasing. According to Drugabuse’s...
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...purposes that criminality is more likely to cause heroin addiction than heroin addiction is to cause criminality. The author of this article, in my opinion, clearly has an unrealistic view of addiction and has obviously never experienced withdrawal. Mr. Dalrymple begins this article in a disturbing tone when he states that most addicts in prison say “I would give up the heroin if only I got the help”. He goes on to interpret this statement to mean that the addict is of course implying that there is a technical means by which the behavior of addicts can change with no further effort for abstinence on the part. I personally cannot comprehend how that interpretation can be derived from someone saying that they need help to change. The author point out that addiction to opiates is incompatible with working or maintaining a job, despite problems with supply. The author uses the example of William Wibeforce taking a “tincture” amount, or “trace” amount of opium daily and continuing to function well, to that of 40 milligrams of heroin that the average heroin addict takes to maintain their addiction. That’s like saying that someone who breathes in second hand cigarette smoke doesn’t have a problem with cigarette addiction so why should it be any more difficult for the person smoking the cigarette. I find it disturbing that the author has performed this study based on information gained partially by inmates in Britain, where heroin in the form of diamorhine, is legal for addicts...
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...You Might Receive When Seeking Help For Heroin Addiction Heroin addiction is very difficult to overcome because of the side effects of detoxification from the drug. One effect of heroin is that you need to use increasingly larger quantities to feel the same high. As the amount you use increases along with the length of time you've used the drug increases, the detox reaction becomes stronger. Heroin addiction treatment is a combination of medical detox to help you manage physical symptoms when you stop using the drug and psychological treatment to help you overcome the triggers that make you want to use heroin. Here's an overview of what you can expect when you want to overcome your heroin addiction. Inpatient Medical Detox When you begin an addiction recovery program, you'll probably need to enter a medical facility for a couple of days or longer so you can detox. When you stop using heroin, you'll have...
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...As you prepare yourself for rehab for your heroin addiction, you must first be congratulated for taking one of the most important steps in your life. It takes a great deal of courage to admit you have an illness and finally be willing to seek help in order to regain a normal way of living. As you begin this next phase of your life, you could probably use a little information to set you on the right path. The Process First and foremost, it's important for you to take the time necessary to find the right rehab environment. By doing so, you will be able to secure a treatment that gives you the best opportunity for a lasting recovery. Prior to setting off for rehab, you will most definitely need to spend the requisite time needed in a heroin detox center. Heroin, as are all opiate based drugs, is an insidious monster that pleases your nerve centers and befriends you into believing you can't live without it. The only way your rehab stint is going to bring the desired results is if you can eliminate the residual chemicals from your body and minimize the physical and psychological cravings for the drug. A stint in a heroin detox center in best and safest way to accomplish this. Where Can You Find a Reputable...
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...If you are struggling with a heroin addiction while living in Newark, New Jersey, it is understandable why you might not know what to do or where to turn should you want to stop your cycle of addiction. All anyone has to do is read local news report after news report about the prevalence gang activity and drugs on Newark's streets to know that temptation within the city's limits is hard to avoid. With that said, there will still come a time when you need to think about getting help or risk losing your life. Is a Newark NJ Heroin Rehab Center a Viable Solution? While your fist instinct might be to contact a local NJ heroin rehab center, you might encounter certain obstacles that make going out-of-state a better alternative. Putting aside the dangers of trying to get help in a familiar environment where your dealers and enablers are living and prompting you...
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...Title of assignment: Describe compare and contrast the traditional abstinence model of addiction treatment with the modern harm reduction model in the context of counselling a heroin using client who is HIV or Hep-C positive I declare that this assignment is entirely my own work and that all sources are credited. Introduction: In this essay I am going to first define abstinence, harm reduction, heroin and HIV. Then i’m going to compare and contrast the abstinence model versus the harm reduction model in relation to a person who uses heroin and has also HIV under the counselling context. Definitions: The Abstinence Model: The term 12 step applies to a number of self-help groups which have grown from the original alcoholics anonymous movement. 12-step groups are fellowships of men and women who meet regularly to support each other in their efforts to achieve and maintain abstinence. Groups are run by the members themselves who are not professional counsellors. They have a spiritual foundation are not affiliated with any organised religion. (McMurran, 1994) For the purposes of this essay groups like NA(Narcotics Anonymous) would represent a traditional abstinence group and the Minnesota Model would represent a counselling approach in relation to addiction counselling. The Harm Reduction Model: The idea of harm reduction first emerged explicitly in Dutch drug policy during the 1970s and 1980s from concern about the social integration of people who use drugs into...
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...Killer Heroin Drug consumption is one of the most discussed and analyzed topics in society, literature, and scientific works. Drug use and abuse has persistently puzzled researchers, scientists, and law makers. During the last twenty years scientists have continued performing experiments, researchers have continued to research drug abuse and use, and law makers have continued to create new laws in hopes of regulating drug use. Drug specialists and scientists have developed an assortment of methodologies for fighting ever-increasing drug consumption and law enforcement have made many attempts at gaining control of the drug trade. In order to narrow down the extent of drug use and abuse, focus will be placed on one particular drug – heroin. During the course of this essay we are going to investigate the history of heroin from its beginnings to present day. Next we will investigate the evolution of heroin. Lastly we will focus on what makes it so addicting and why so many people choose to use it. What is heroin? Why is the death rate from using this drug increasing every year? Heroin comes from opium. Opium is a milky white liquid that is extracted from immature poppy plants. Two opiates, codeine and morphine, are found in this milky white liquid and are used for pain medication today (MacKinnon, 2007). Heroin was synthesized from morphine in 1874 by an English chemist, but was not produced commercially until 1898 by Bayer Pharmaceutical Company...
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...mention, in 2015 more than 33,000 people were killed from Opioids, including prescription opioids, and heroin. This is the most death ever recorded. The CDC states, “nearly half of all opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid”. To better protect the public’s health and hamper opioid overdose deaths, the CDC is first improving data. Meaning, they are enhancing “ data quality and timeliness to better track trends, identify communities at risk and evaluate prevention strategies” (CDC). Next, they are strengthening state efforts, which includes enhancing productive interventions. Finally, the CDC is equipping health care...
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...Drug trafficking is an illegal drug trading system to which drugs are brought from other countries into the United States; to list just a few of these drugs; cocaine, heroin, hashish, marijuana, LSD, ecstasy, methamphetamines, and opiates. Terrorists are being funded by many of these drug trafficking operations in America. Another huge issue in The United States is the drug trafficking inside our country. In Florida and Texas, it is epidemic, the pill mills and grow houses are a major concern because they are supplying the entire United States with access to these drugs at a steady rate. As a result, there are many individuals and families that are being affected by addiction, illness, overdose, and death. The United States Government believes they have this under control and are helping to solve the situation, but in reality, drug trafficking in the United States is out of control. “Drug Trafficking is an activity that involves the cultivation, manufacturing, processing, importation and distribution of drugs” (Desroches, 2007). Going down the line of drug trade you have what is similar to an assembly line. You have the manufacturer or grower who grows and makes the actual drug which then is processed and packaged to be smuggled into the country. Eventually, making its way into America’s neighborhoods, by which is called the dealers. This is a process that has no end, because once one batch or shipment of drugs is distributed, there is already another on its way into America...
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...The War on Drugs Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice CRJ530 Abstract Are we winning the war on drugs? Like many of you answering this particular question I would have to say “NO.” Let’s face it the drug use among teens appears to be increasing. During the Clinton administration he faced fierce criticism for his early drug policy decisions, and he responded by proposing new funding and a new director for drug war programs. Concern about teen drug use is the result of reports such as the University of Michigan's annual survey of drug use among eighth, 10th, and 12th grade students. According to the survey, adolescents were more likely to use drugs - particularly marijuana - in 1995 than they were in 1992, the last year of the Bush administration. Indeed, there appears to have been a steady increase in reported teen drug use and in other drug use indicators since then President Clinton took office. However, the president's critics had savaged him for this increase, his drug policies and - above all - his failure to criticize drug use. After all, he is known as the president that “didn’t inhale.” The damage the "War on Drugs" has done to our society is already far greater than most of us know. It is a National Tragedy that may take generations to heal. Our failure to act quickly and responsibly by educating ourselves and our neighbors while taking a strong political stand in opposition to this war will only lead to further erosions of our way of life. Several years ago...
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...Drug trafficking is an illegal drug trading system to which drugs are brought from other countries into the United States; to list just a few of these drugs; cocaine, heroin, hashish, marijuana, LSD, ecstasy, methamphetamines, and opiates. Terrorists are being funded by many of these drug trafficking operations in America. Another huge issue in The United States is the drug trafficking inside our country. In Florida and Texas, it is epidemic, the pill mills and grow houses are a major concern because they are supplying the entire United States with access to these drugs at a steady rate. As a result, there are many individuals and families that are being affected by addiction, illness, overdose, and death. The United States Government believes they have this under control and are helping to solve the situation, but in reality, drug trafficking in the United States is out of control. “Drug Trafficking is an activity that involves the cultivation, manufacturing, processing, importation and distribution of drugs” (Desroches, 2007). Going down the line of drug trade you have what is similar to an assembly line. You have the manufacturer or grower who grows and makes the actual drug which then is processed and packaged to be smuggled into the country. Eventually, making its way into America’s neighborhoods, by which is called the dealers. This is a process that has no end, because once one batch or shipment of drugs is distributed, there is already another on its way into America...
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...Article Rebuttal Many people say that Marijuana should not be legal, not even for medical use. For decades there has been an ongoing debate about whether or not marijuana should be legalized for medical purposes and or for recreational use. This debate is now out in the open, and for the first time Americans are seriously considering legalizing marijuana throughout the United States. The controversy regarding marijuana is. The first and most important reason marijuana should be legalized is for medical purposes. In 1972, the US Congress officially placed marijuana in Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substance Act because they considered it to “have no excepted medical use” and carries a risk of addiction. However, recent studies have disproved this over and over again. Marijuana has been proven through countless clinical trials to alleviate symptoms of many chronic debilitating medical conditions including cancer, HIV/AIDS, fibromyalgia, post traumatic stress disorder, adrenal disease, inflammatory bowel disease and glaucoma.(1) The Council of Science and Public Health conducted a series of clinical trials and concluded that marijuana use significantly reduces neuropathic pain, improves appetite and caloric intake especially in patients with reduced muscle mass, and also relieves spasticity and severe pain in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). It is undeniable that marijuana has been used to treat a variety of severe medical conditions for centuries and has helped...
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