heroin

Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid drug synthesized from morphine, a derivative of the opium poppy. Like other opioids, heroin is used as both a painkiller and a recreational drug and has an extremely high potential for abuse. It is used recreationally for its relaxing and euphoric effects, but a tolerance quickly builds that can lead to addiction. For intravenous users, the risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis C is very high, as is the risk of overdose, which can often lead to death.



Articles Related to heroin

Drug Addiction Growing in Afghanistan

Over the past five years the number of drug users in Afghanistan has increased from 920,000 to over 1.5 million, the spokesman of the Ministry of Counter-Narcotics (MCN), Zalmai Afzali, told IRIN.
April 21st, 2010 | Research & News | Read More

High Levels of Opium and Heroin Detected in Very Young Afghan Children

A team of researchers hired by the US State Department has found staggering levels of opium and heroin in Afghan children as young as 14 months. "I think we’ve opened a can of worms," said Bruce Goldberger, one of the University of Florida scientists heading up the study, who spoke exclusively...
April 20th, 2010 | Research & News | Read More

Failure to Help Drug Users Leads to Spread of HIV

More than 90 percent of the world’s 16 million injecting drug users are offered no help to avoid contracting AIDS, and governments that ignore them risk a spiraling public health crisis, drugs experts said on Monday.
March 1st, 2010 | Research & News | Read More

One in Three People Killed by Heroin are Russian

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime reported last week that Russia is the world’s biggest target market for heroin distribution and consumes one-fifth of all heroin produced globally. Now, every third person killed by heroin is Russian.
October 27th, 2009 | Heroin | Read More

Drug Addiction in Afghanistan Could Lead to AIDS Epidemic

It has long been known that Afghanistan is the world’s leading narcotics supplier—in fact, the country is responsible for 95 percent of the world’s heroin—but the country also hides an enormous drug addiction problem that is on the brink of fueling an HIV/AIDS epidemic.
September 14th, 2009 | Heroin | Read More

Nevada’s Youth Turning to Heroin

Dan Piirainen told Nevada’s News 4 that he watched some of his lifelong friends’ lives turn upside-down as they experimented with heroin. A group of his friends started using the dangerous drug at young ages, some as young as 17.
August 25th, 2009 | Heroin | Read More

Amy Winehouse’s Addiction Detailed

According to the singer’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Amy Winehouse stole cocaine from supermodel Kate Moss, temporarily died during an overdose in 2007, and wouldn’t perform without taking a hit from her crack pipe. Blake Fielder-Civil talked to the UK’s The Sun, describing how their life spiraled...
July 30th, 2009 | Addiction in the Media | Read More

Heroin Addiction: The Long Road Home

By Suzanne Kane When you are in the grip of heroin, it seems like you’ll never be free of it. Heroin addiction is one of the most difficult drugs to overcome, it’s true, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. You do need to be prepared for a long haul. And you do need courage and conviction.
June 25th, 2009 | Heroin | Read More

Amy Winehouse “In Denial” Over Addiction

Amy Winehouse, the 25-year-old British singer who consistently makes headlines due to alcohol and drug abuse, is “in denial” over her drug addiction and continues to drink heavily, according to her parents. Janis Winehouse, her mother, said that “the need to rescue her is enormous. Amy is in denial...
June 17th, 2009 | Addiction in the Media | Read More

Heroin Addiction

In a report issued by the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC), the National Drug Threat Assessment 2009, heroin is listed as the number four leading drug threat in the U.S. The good news is that, according to the report, Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin availability and distribution are limited....
May 13th, 2009 | Street Drug Addiction | Read More