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Heroin
Substance
Abuse
Mary Caster
Beth Flynn
Erica Lang
Melissa Wise
What is Heroin?
An illegal, highly addictive opioid drug that is
produced from morphine
It is a naturally occurring substance taken
from the seed pod of the Asian opium poppy
plant
Appears as a white or brown powder or as a
black sticky substance known as black tar
heroin
Also known as:
Dope
H
Junk
Smack
Skag
From Flowers
to Heroin
How is it used?
There are many methods of using heroin:
o Injected (most common)
o Snorted/Sniffed
o Smoked
The heroin users kit includes:
o
o
o
o
Heroin
Syringe with Needle
Spoon
Lighter / candle
o
o
o
o
Cigarette filter
Belt
Citric acid
Water
The user mixes heroin, citric acid and water on a spoon. The
spoon is held over the lighter / candle to heat the substances
so they mix. Cigarette filter is placed on the end of the
syringe and the solution is drawn up through the filter to
remove impurities. It is now ready to be injected.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgSyIV2H2tQ
Injection Sites:
Arms
Behind Knees
Groin Area
Neck
Rush/ feeling of
Euphoria
Clouded thoughts
Slowed breathing
Decreased sense of pain
Nausea / Vomiting
Tired / Sedation
Addiction
Infectious disease
Collapsed Veins
Bacterial Infections
Abscesses
Infection of heart lining
Liver / Kidney disease
Withdrawal Symptoms:
Disorientation
Bluish nails or lips
Slurred Speech
Impaired judgment
Unconscious
References
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metabolites in blood and brain of mice. Addiction Biology, 18(1), 1-7.
Coffin, P., & Sullivan, S. (2013). Cost-effectiveness of distributing naloxone to heroin users for lay
overdose reversal. Annals Of Internal Medicine, 158(1), 1-9.
Darke, S. (2013). Pathways to heroin dependence: time to re-appraise self-medication. Addiction,
108(4), 659-667.
Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation, Detoxification Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare. (n.d.). Retrieved
September 14, 2014.
Evren, C., Can, Y., Yilmaz, A., Ovali, E., Cetingok, S., Karabulut, V., & Mutlu, E. (2013). Psychometric
Properties of The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) in Heroin Dependent Adults and
Adolescents with Drug Use Disorder. Dusunen Adam: Journal Of Psychiatry & Neurological
Sciences, 26(4), 351-359.
Heady, T. N., & Haverstick, D. (2014). Heroin: a worsening problem and a challenge for testing. MLO:
Medical Laboratory Observer, 46(7), 22.
Heroin overdose: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved September 14, 2014.
Lewis, S. (2011). Addictive Behavior. In Medical-surgical nursing: Assessment and management of clinical
problems (8th ed., p. 169). St. Louis, Mo.: Elsevier/Mosby.
Lindsey, W., Stewart, D., & Childress, D. (2012). Drug interactions between common illicit drugs and
prescription therapies. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse, 38(4), 334-343.
Liu, S., Li, L., Shen, W., Shen, X., Yang, G., & Zhou, W. (2013). Scopolamine detoxification technique for
heroin dependence: a randomized trial. CNS Drugs, 27(12), 1093-1102
Muhuri, P., & Gfroerer, J. (2011). Mortality associated with illegal drug use among adults in the United
States. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse, 37(3), 155-164.
National Institute of Drug Abuse ([field_revisiondate_1]). Heroin Retrieved from
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/heroin on September 14, 2014
Top Syracuse Addiction Recovery Centers: Reviews and Ratings. (n.d.). Retrieved September 14, 2014.
Wang, Q., & Liu, Z. (2012). Characteristics of Psychopathology and the Relationship Between Routes of
Drug Administration and Psychiatric Symptoms in Heroin Addicts. Substance Abuse, 33(2),
130-137.