Heroin

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Heroin
Brown sugar Chi Chinese H Dragon Gear
H Harry Horse Junk Scat Skag Smack
Abby Grant
2
Background

• 1862 synthesized by Charles Alder Wright at St
  Marys Hospital Medical School
• 1898 medical use as cough suppressant and lung
  stimulant by Bayer Pharmaceutical Co.
• 1900s - available to the public, concerns raised
  over addictiveness and medical benefits
• 1924 banned from the US
• 1960s heroin started to become a major social
  problem

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Chemical Structure and Metabolism

• chemical derivative of opium from unripe poppy
  seeds
• structurally related to morphine
• Mode of action produces active metabolites which
  act upon opiod receptors (µ, ?, d)
• Metabolism

½-1 hour
M-6-G
Heroin
6-MAM
Morphine
M-3-G

• Metabolized in liver by
• glucuronide conjugation

- Excreted into urine via kidney
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Heroin Use

• Medical (diamorphine)
• Production from hydrochloride salt, H2O soluble
• Use Pain medication for severe, acute, chronic
  pain
• Administration intravenous or intramuscular
  injection
• Dose 5-10 mg
• Illicit
• Production from morphine or raw opium
• Administration Intravenous injection, smoking,
  snorting, subcataneous, intramuscular, oral,
  rectal
• Dose varies between 50 mg 5000mg per day

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Routes of Administration

• IV administration most efficient, health risks
  associated with injecting (AIDS, Hepatitis),
  highest risk of overdose
• Smoking/ chasing the dragon adulterant added
  to enhance volatility
• Snorting least efficient, swallowing occurs
• Oral ingestion absorbed slowly, metabolized by
  the liver,

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Pharmacological Properties

• Analgesia
• Convulsions
• Dependence
• Drowsiness
• Mood changes
• Respiratory depression
• Nausea, vomiting, reduced digestion

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Treatment

• For Addiction
• - use of a synthetic opiod, methadone
• - rapid detoxification, opoid antagonist
  administration, herbal medicines, acupuncture,
• For overdose
• - respirator
• - opiod antidote naloxone