Heroin

By: Lauren Schwartzbard

M1 Q1 Mr. ShannonOct. 23, 2012

Heroin is an opiate drug, synthesized from

morphine. It usually appears as a white or brown powder and sometimes as a black or dark brown sticky substance.

It is highly addictive and the more a person injects/snorts heroin the more their body becomes dependent on it.

After one uses heroin, they experience a feeling of ecstasy. However the ecstasy is short and after it comes painful symptoms. Headaches, stomachaches, and the like.

What is Heroin?

What does it look like?

The above picture shows heroin in a spoon as well as a needle to inject it into someone's arm.

What does it look like?

Heroin in powder form, white and brown.

Effects of Heroin

Short Term Effects

The image shown does not show any time

factors. However the effects will get stronger as one continues with

the drug.

Long Term Effects

The picture shown on this slide shows the nasty effects of sticking with

heroin. Something to make a note of is that all of the things labeled can, and

probably will in some cases cause death.

Before and After Pictures

These are pictures of young women who got addicted to heroin.

Heroin Percentage of the Drug Report in 2004

New Y

ork

Newar

k

Phila

delp

hia

Was

hing

ton,

D.C

.

0

20

40 30.3 45.2

26.124

Heroin Percentage of Drug Report

Percentage of All Drugs Reported that were Heroin

New Y

ork

Newar

k

Phila

delp

hia

Was

hing

ton,

D.C

.

0

5,000

10,000 6,574

1,7641,935

1,486

Heroin Reports

Heroin Repo...

Reports of Heroin Use in 2004

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000 6,574

1,7641,9351,486

Reports of Heroin

Reports: 2004

Drug Reports from 2004

02040 30.3

45.226.1 24

Percentage of All Drugs Reported that

were HeroinPercentage of All Drugs Reported that were Heroin

At night she sleeps with her few remaining

valuables. Her cash, credit card, and car keys. She wears the one bracelet she still owns constantly.

Her son has stolen her heirlooms, jewelry, anything of value so he could buy heroin.

She does not know what to do about her son. No matter what she does, “ she sees the evidence on his arms and in his eyes.” “ ‘I wish my son would just die already’ Colleen said, ‘so I could get this

over with.’ “

Colleen is the mother of a seventeen year-old drug

addict

Her son tasted his first opiate from the

medicine cabinet, but he quickly turned to heroin.

With Facebook and text messaging he always has a steady supply of drugs.

Colleen is ready to give up.

Story taken from the Star Ledger, written by Dan Goldberg and James Queally on October 7, 2012

“ ‘I wish my son would just die already’ Colleen said, ‘so I could get this over with.’ “

One popular cure for heroin addicts is the

‘methadone way’. Methadone is a legal drug that is not intoxicating or sedating.

It is used to quench heroin cravings. However while it stops heroin addicts

from being addicted to heroin it makes them addicted to methadone.

Another curing drug is buprenorphine. It blocks the effects of heroin and

morphine. Some other drugs that are ‘curing drugs’

are naloxone and naltrexone, they are used to help prevent relapses.

Cures and Solutions

Most heroin addicts go to a

rehabilitation center or a hospital to be treated by a physician so they can avoid withdrawal symptoms in detoxification treatment. Many last at least three to four months.

Some treatments combine methadone or buprenorphine with psychotherapy. Often with behavioral therapists.

Cures and Solutions

Heroin Treatments in New Jersey Ages 18-25

2000 2002 2006 2009 2010 2011

4,7125,193

4,455

6,084 5,7726,549

Treatments in New Jersey Suburbs

Bibliography

Goldberg, Dan, and James Queally. “The Heroin Boom.” The Star Ledger (Newark) 7 Oct. 2012:

n. pag. Print.

"heroin." Health Reference Center. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE48&SID=5&iPin=EDRAB0094&SingleRecord=True>.

Heroin is on the rise…soon death

will join it.

Heroin is on the rise…soon death

will join it.

Unless we do something about it.