Heroin: Difference between revisions

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'''Diacetylmorphine''' (also known as '''heroin''', '''H''', ~~and colloquially as~~ '''smack''', '''junk''', '''brown''', ~~and~~ '''boy''') is a ~~semisynthetic~~ [[psychoactive class::opioid]] substance of the [[chemical class::morphinan]] class ~~that produces~~ [[~~pain relief|analgesic~~]], ~~[[muscle relaxation|relaxing]], [[sedation|sedating]]~~ and ~~[[euphoria|euphoric]] effects when [[Routes~~ of ~~administration|administered]]~~.

'''Diacetylmorphine''' (also known as '''heroin''' and colloquially as '''H''', '''smack''', '''junk''', '''brown''', '''boy''', and others) is a semi-synthetic [[psychoactive class::opioid]] substance of the [[chemical class::morphinan]] class. It is a derivative of [[morphine]], a natural product of the opium poppy (''Papaver somniferum'').{{citation needed}} Heroin is known for its highly addictive properties and it makes up a large portion of the illicit traffic in narcotics.

Heroin was ~~originally~~ synthesized by ~~C.R. Alder Wright~~ in 1874 ~~from [[morphine]],~~ a ~~natural~~ product of ~~the opium poppy (''Papaver somniferum'')~~.<ref>Wright, C.R.A. (1874). "On the Action of Organic Acids and their Anhydrides on the Natural Alkaloids". Journal of the Chemical Society. 27: 1031–1043. doi:10.1039/js8742701031|https://web.archive.org/web/20040606103721/http://adhpage.dilaudid.net/heroin.html</ref> Although the name heroin is a ~~traditional~~ trade name ~~for a Bayer product containing diacetylmorphine~~, ~~the name~~ has since been widely adopted for all intents and purposes and may describe a recreational depressant that may or may not contain pure diacetylmorphine.

Heroin was first synthesized from morphine by a British chemist in 1874 and was introduced as a commercial product by the Bayer Company of Germany in 1898.<ref>Wright, C.R.A. (1874). "On the Action of Organic Acids and their Anhydrides on the Natural Alkaloids". Journal of the Chemical Society. 27: 1031–1043. doi:10.1039/js8742701031|https://web.archive.org/web/20040606103721/http://adhpage.dilaudid.net/heroin.html</ref> Although the name heroin is a trade name, it has since been widely adopted for all intents and purposes and may describe a recreational depressant that may or may not contain pure diacetylmorphine.

In its pure form, heroin is active at doses of 5 mg and above; however, the substance is most commonly found in a preparation containing significant impurities. These impurities can result from including processing faults during synthesis, the addition of harmful or benign cutting agents, or the substitution of significantly more potent and dangerous analogous substances such as [[fentanyl]] adulterated into the end-product before distribution.<ref>Much of Heroin Supply Adulterated with Fentanyl | http://mha.ohio.gov/Portals/0/assets/Research/OSAM-TRI/092015-OSAMogram-heroin-fentanyl-update.pdf</ref><ref>InFocus: Fentanyl-Laced Heroin: A Deadly Combination (Medicine News)| http://journals.lww.com/em-news/Fulltext/2014/04000/InFocus__Fentanyl_Laced_Heroin__A_Deadly.5.aspx</ref><ref>Illicit Version Of Painkiller Fentanyl Makes Heroin Deadlier | http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/08/26/434618809/ilicit-version-of-painkiller-fentanyl-makes-heroin-deadlier</ref><ref>What You Need to Know About Fentanyl-Laced Heroin | http://www.projectknow.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-fentanyl-laced-heroin/</ref><ref>Killer batch of white heroin responsible for at least 100 deaths across the country... and rising | http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2549944/Killer-heroin-fentanyl-epidemic-responsible-100-deaths-country-rising-half-month.html</ref> This makes accurate dosing is particularly difficult.

[[Subjective effects]] include [[sedation]], [[pain relief]], [[muscle relaxation]], and [[euphoria]].

In its pure form, heroin is active at doses of 5 mg and above; however, the substance is most commonly found in a preparation containing significant impurities. These impurities can result from including processing faults during synthesis, the addition of harmful or benign cutting agents, or the substitution of significantly more potent and dangerous analogous substances such as [[fentanyl]] adulterated into the end-product before distribution.<ref>Much of Heroin Supply Adulterated with Fentanyl | http://mha.ohio.gov/Portals/0/assets/Research/OSAM-TRI/092015-OSAMogram-heroin-fentanyl-update.pdf</ref><ref>InFocus: Fentanyl-Laced Heroin: A Deadly Combination (Medicine News)| http://journals.lww.com/em-news/Fulltext/2014/04000/InFocus__Fentanyl_Laced_Heroin__A_Deadly.5.aspx</ref><ref>Illicit Version Of Painkiller Fentanyl Makes Heroin Deadlier | http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/08/26/434618809/ilicit-version-of-painkiller-fentanyl-makes-heroin-deadlier</ref><ref>What You Need to Know About Fentanyl-Laced Heroin | http://www.projectknow.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-fentanyl-laced-heroin/</ref><ref>Killer batch of white heroin responsible for at least 100 deaths across the country... and rising | http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2549944/Killer-heroin-fentanyl-epidemic-responsible-100-deaths-country-rising-half-month.html</ref> This makes accurate dosing particularly difficult.

It is highly advised to use [[harm reduction practices]] if using this substance.

==History and culture==

Diacetylmorphine was ~~first~~ synthesized by Alder Wright in 1874 when attempting to combine morphine with various acids. The synthesis was achieved through boiling anhydrous morphine with morphine alkaloid with acetic anhydride.<ref>Wright, C.R.A. (1874). "On the Action of Organic Acids and their Anhydrides on the Natural Alkaloids". Journal of the Chemical Society. 27: 1031–1043. doi:10.1039/js8742701031|https://web.archive.org/web/20040606103721/http://adhpage.dilaudid.net/heroin.html</ref>

Diacetylmorphine was originally synthesized by C.R. Alder Wright in 1874 when attempting to combine morphine with various acids. The synthesis was achieved through boiling anhydrous morphine with morphine alkaloid with acetic anhydride.<ref>Wright, C.R.A. (1874). "On the Action of Organic Acids and their Anhydrides on the Natural Alkaloids". Journal of the Chemical Society. 27: 1031–1043. doi:10.1039/js8742701031|https://web.archive.org/web/20040606103721/http://adhpage.dilaudid.net/heroin.html</ref>

Although the name heroin is a traditional trade name for a Bayer product containing diacetylmorphine, the name has since been widely adopted for all intents and purposes and may describe a recreational depressant that may or may not contain pure diacetylmorphine.

==Chemistry==

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It is strongly recommended that one use [[responsible drug use|harm reduction practices]] such as [[volumetric dosing]], when using this substance to ensure the administration of the intended dose (especially due to the unusually high risk of an overdose this substance presents.)

===~~Tolerance~~ and ~~addiction~~ potential===

===Dependence and abuse potential===

As with other [[opioids]], the chronic use of heroin can be considered [[Addiction potential::extremely addictive with a high potential for abuse]] and is capable of causing psychological and physical dependence among certain users. When psychological or physical addiction has developed, mental and physical [[Opioids#Discontinuation|withdrawal symptoms]] and cravings may occur if a person suddenly stops their usage.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 {{SubstanceBox/Heroin}}
-'''Diacetylmorphine''' (also known as '''heroin''', '''H''', and colloquially as '''smack''', '''junk''', '''brown''', and '''boy''') is a semisynthetic [[psychoactive class::opioid]] substance of the [[chemical class::morphinan]] class that produces [[pain relief|analgesic]], [[muscle relaxation|relaxing]], [[sedation|sedating]] and [[euphoria|euphoric]] effects when [[Routes of administration|administered]].
+'''Diacetylmorphine''' (also known as '''heroin''' and colloquially as  '''H''', '''smack''', '''junk''', '''brown''', '''boy''', and others) is a semi-synthetic [[psychoactive class::opioid]] substance of the [[chemical class::morphinan]] class. It is a derivative of [[morphine]], a natural product of the opium poppy (''Papaver somniferum'').{{citation needed}} Heroin is known for its highly addictive properties and it makes up a large portion of the illicit traffic in narcotics.
-Heroin was originally synthesized by C.R. Alder Wright in 1874 from [[morphine]], a natural product of the opium poppy (''Papaver somniferum'').<ref>Wright, C.R.A. (1874). "On the Action of Organic Acids and their Anhydrides on the Natural Alkaloids". Journal of the Chemical Society. 27: 1031–1043. doi:10.1039/js8742701031|https://web.archive.org/web/20040606103721/http://adhpage.dilaudid.net/heroin.html</ref> Although the name heroin is a traditional trade name for a Bayer product containing diacetylmorphine, the name has since been widely adopted for all intents and purposes and may describe a recreational depressant that may or may not contain pure diacetylmorphine.
+Heroin was first synthesized from morphine by a British chemist in 1874 and was introduced as a commercial product by the Bayer Company of Germany in 1898.<ref>Wright, C.R.A. (1874). "On the Action of Organic Acids and their Anhydrides on the Natural Alkaloids". Journal of the Chemical Society. 27: 1031–1043. doi:10.1039/js8742701031|https://web.archive.org/web/20040606103721/http://adhpage.dilaudid.net/heroin.html</ref> Although the name heroin is a trade name, it has since been widely adopted for all intents and purposes and may describe a recreational depressant that may or may not contain pure diacetylmorphine.
-In its pure form, heroin is active at doses of 5 mg and above; however, the substance is most commonly found in a preparation containing significant impurities. These impurities can result from including processing faults during synthesis, the addition of harmful or benign cutting agents, or the substitution of significantly more potent and dangerous analogous substances such as [[fentanyl]] adulterated into the end-product before distribution.<ref>Much of Heroin Supply Adulterated with Fentanyl | http://mha.ohio.gov/Portals/0/assets/Research/OSAM-TRI/092015-OSAMogram-heroin-fentanyl-update.pdf</ref><ref>InFocus: Fentanyl-Laced Heroin: A Deadly Combination (Medicine News)| http://journals.lww.com/em-news/Fulltext/2014/04000/InFocus__Fentanyl_Laced_Heroin__A_Deadly.5.aspx</ref><ref>Illicit Version Of Painkiller Fentanyl Makes Heroin Deadlier | http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/08/26/434618809/ilicit-version-of-painkiller-fentanyl-makes-heroin-deadlier</ref><ref>What You Need to Know About Fentanyl-Laced Heroin | http://www.projectknow.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-fentanyl-laced-heroin/</ref><ref>Killer batch of white heroin responsible for at least 100 deaths across the country... and rising | http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2549944/Killer-heroin-fentanyl-epidemic-responsible-100-deaths-country-rising-half-month.html</ref> This makes accurate dosing is particularly difficult.
+[[Subjective effects]] include [[sedation]], [[pain relief]], [[muscle relaxation]], and [[euphoria]].
+In its pure form, heroin is active at doses of 5 mg and above; however, the substance is most commonly found in a preparation containing significant impurities. These impurities can result from including processing faults during synthesis, the addition of harmful or benign cutting agents, or the substitution of significantly more potent and dangerous analogous substances such as [[fentanyl]] adulterated into the end-product before distribution.<ref>Much of Heroin Supply Adulterated with Fentanyl | http://mha.ohio.gov/Portals/0/assets/Research/OSAM-TRI/092015-OSAMogram-heroin-fentanyl-update.pdf</ref><ref>InFocus: Fentanyl-Laced Heroin: A Deadly Combination (Medicine News)| http://journals.lww.com/em-news/Fulltext/2014/04000/InFocus__Fentanyl_Laced_Heroin__A_Deadly.5.aspx</ref><ref>Illicit Version Of Painkiller Fentanyl Makes Heroin Deadlier | http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/08/26/434618809/ilicit-version-of-painkiller-fentanyl-makes-heroin-deadlier</ref><ref>What You Need to Know About Fentanyl-Laced Heroin | http://www.projectknow.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-fentanyl-laced-heroin/</ref><ref>Killer batch of white heroin responsible for at least 100 deaths across the country... and rising | http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2549944/Killer-heroin-fentanyl-epidemic-responsible-100-deaths-country-rising-half-month.html</ref> This makes accurate dosing particularly difficult.
+It is highly advised to use [[harm reduction practices]] if using this substance.
 ==History and culture==
 {{HistoryStub}}
-Diacetylmorphine was first synthesized by Alder Wright in 1874 when attempting to combine morphine with various acids. The synthesis was achieved through boiling anhydrous morphine with morphine alkaloid with acetic anhydride.<ref>Wright, C.R.A. (1874). "On the Action of Organic Acids and their Anhydrides on the Natural Alkaloids". Journal of the Chemical Society. 27: 1031–1043. doi:10.1039/js8742701031|https://web.archive.org/web/20040606103721/http://adhpage.dilaudid.net/heroin.html</ref>
+Diacetylmorphine was originally synthesized by C.R. Alder Wright in 1874 when attempting to combine morphine with various acids. The synthesis was achieved through boiling anhydrous morphine with morphine alkaloid with acetic anhydride.<ref>Wright, C.R.A. (1874). "On the Action of Organic Acids and their Anhydrides on the Natural Alkaloids". Journal of the Chemical Society. 27: 1031–1043. doi:10.1039/js8742701031|https://web.archive.org/web/20040606103721/http://adhpage.dilaudid.net/heroin.html</ref>
+Although the name heroin is a traditional trade name for a Bayer product containing diacetylmorphine, the name has since been widely adopted for all intents and purposes and may describe a recreational depressant that may or may not contain pure diacetylmorphine.
 ==Chemistry==
@@ Line 101: / Line 107: @@
 It is strongly recommended that one use [[responsible drug use|harm reduction practices]] such as [[volumetric dosing]], when using this substance to ensure the administration of the intended dose (especially due to the unusually high risk of an overdose this substance presents.)
-===Tolerance and addiction potential===
+===Dependence and abuse potential===
 As with other [[opioids]], the chronic use of heroin can be considered [[Addiction potential::extremely addictive with a high potential for abuse]] and is capable of causing psychological and physical dependence among certain users. When psychological or physical addiction has developed, mental and physical [[Opioids#Discontinuation|withdrawal symptoms]] and cravings may occur if a person suddenly stops their usage.