Heroin Rehab Referral
Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive drug. It is both the most
abused and the most rapidly acting of the opiates. Heroin is processed from
morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of
certain varieties of poppy plants. It is typically sold as a white or brownish
powder or as the black sticky substance known on the streets as "black tar
heroin." Although purer heroin is becoming more common, most street heroin is
"cut" with other drugs or with substances such as sugar, starch, powdered milk,
or quinine. Street heroin also can be cut with strychnine or other poisons.
In 2003, 57.4 percent of past year heroin users were classified
with dependence on or abuse of heroin, and an estimated 281,000 persons
received treatment for heroin abuse.
Heroin Addiction Information
According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health,
which may actually underestimate illicit opiate (heroin) use, an estimated 3.7
million people had used heroin at some time in their lives, and over 119,000 of
them reported using it within the month preceding the survey. An estimated
314,000 Americans used heroin in the past year, and the group that represented
the highest number of those users were 26 or older. The survey reported that,
from 1995 through 2002, the annual number of new heroin users ranged from
121,000 to 164,000. During this period, most new users were age 18 or older (on
average, 75 percent) and most were male.
Heroin is usually injected, sniffed/snorted, or smoked. Typically,
a heroin abuser may inject up to four times a day. Intravenous injection
provides the greatest intensity and most rapid onset of euphoria (7 to 8
seconds), while intramuscular injection produces a relatively slow onset of
euphoria (5 to 8 minutes). When heroin is sniffed or smoked, peak effects are
usually felt within 10 to 15 minutes. NIDA researchers have confirmed that all
forms of heroin administration are addictive.
Get Rehab Help for Heroin Addiction
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