Heroin Addiction Essay Example

According to National Institute on Drug abuse addiction could be defined as a disease that is chronic, characterized by the urge to seek drugs and use them even though the drugs could harm the individual. These days curtailing drugs has proved to be quite challenging due to the development of the internet. Heroin production started in 1874, and at first, many thought the drug was not addictive since it was mainly used for medicinal purposes. For example, it was a cure for morphine addiction and illnesses regarding the respiratory system. It was also used to relieve the withdrawal symptoms that come with taking morphine. It is later that it was found to be just as addictive as morphine and also share the same effects pharmacologic-wise. Now, many nations all over the world use the drug as a relief for pain for those that are terminally ill. In the United States, importing or manufacture of heroin is prohibited. Drugs are turning into an intense issue as migrants get into the nation wrongfully conveying medications with them (Cicero, Theodore J., et al., 223). In this case, when I mention drugs, I refer to heroin since it is becoming prevalent in the nation.

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In most cases, whenever an individual has a heroin addiction, the addiction does not arise from individual willingness. For instance, after someone develops a form of pain or painful ailment, (such as joint aches, pulled muscles, and surgeries), they are prescribed an opiate meant to reduce the pain. As a result, since the body may develop tolerance to morphine and the dosage, the effect of the drug is lowered. To help kill the pain more dosage is required and switching to more stronger drugs. The individual is always searching for a stronger drug which leads him to discover that heroin is better and more effective. As a result, the cycle converts into an addiction which also delivers on the credibility of the habit (Kolodny, Andrew, et al., 559-574).

The heroin is a drug of the opiate group that is highly addictive. It affects an individual who is using it both psychologically and physically. Many problems result from the usage of the drug. Some of the physical issues include things like destruction of tissues located near the teeth and bones because the drug washes out calcium; fatal effects; veins collapse; valve and heart lining infections; pneumonia; and HIV because many users share syringes when administering the drug. Psychological problems include; change in how an individual perceives reality, criminal and violent behaviour (Jones 721).

Once opiate drugs are taken into an individual's body, they change into morphine which has a comparable structure to endorphins which are ordinarily utilized for a decrease of agony. They animate the cerebrum and are in charge of lifting a man's temperament, helping that individual feel inspired for regular purposes by blocking receptors in neurotransmitters between neurons. There is blocking of receptors with morphine at the point when a drug is taken. It means that more time is made when the drug decomposes thus endorphins production stops in an organisms' body. Under frequent usage, an addicted individual could die in a time span of a between six months to twelve months since not taking the medication could seem as torment to an addict. It is because of a sharp pain that is almost too much for one to manage by or instead bear (A condition known as abstinence syndrome). When one abstains, this means that the body is undergoing detoxification accompanied by a headache, diarrhoea, cramps, fever, vomiting, and insomnia. Generally, heroin is moderately cheap and consequently is available for acquisition by youngsters. Its utilization frequently causes casualty from both physical impact and activities amid changed cognizance (Kolodny, Andrew, et al., 559-574).

Heroin mostly is injected into the bloodstream of an individual. It can be done in two ways, intramuscularly or intranervously. Other ways in which the drug gets into the body is through smoking, injections under the skin or sniffing. Once the drugs are absorbed, the effects that come with the use last an average of four hours. There are many spots from which the pushers of the drug are located. Mostly it is in abandoned or vacant buildings where the necessary tools. There many risks in this abandoned buildings as people share the hypodermic needles. Different brand names are assigned to the drug so as the rumours can spread about how different distributors sell the "legit stuff." Such titles include Magic, Evening's Delight and Death Wish. Since the quality of heroin is unmonitored, every organization carries with it the likelihood of overdose, an ailment from contaminants, or demise. Many emergency room visits result from using heroin together with other drugs. For example, cocaine with heroin (Jones 719-725).

Most of the heroin in the world is produced in Pakistan and Afghanistan or rather in the Golden Crescent. Other regions where it is grown include the Golden Triangle, Myanmar, and Columbia. Heroin is produced by converting the opium gum into morphine in laboratories. It is then diluted and cut by people who deal heroin. It is diluted with starch, sugars or powdered milk before it is sold. A substance called guanine, which gives a bitter taste similar to that of heroin, is also added. Heroin is sold in 0.1 gram bags whose worth is between $4 and 45$. The heroin exchange can be immensely lucrative to those in the higher classes.

Nonetheless, there are various interventions for the addiction. Complex processes, difficultness and time-consuming characterize the treatment of addiction to heroin. The procedure is made up of three major components: removing dependence physiologically and psychologically, and social rehabilitation. When we look into physiological removal, one of the presently possible ways to do this is using the Opiate Replacement Theory. What the technique does is to give a heroin abuser a medication with the comparable biochemical consequences for the body, however, having the most minimal conceivable opiate impact. A measurement of substitution tranquilize is gradually and slowly diminished. This therapy could last between 5 to 8 years. The right metabolic state of physiological processes is achieved if ORT is followed and administered correctly. The comparable drug that could be used in place of heroin is methadone and a therapy called methadone maintenance treatment is done to help heroin abusers fight addiction.

Methadone is an agonist. It means that it is a substance or medication that can interface with receptors and start a physiological or pharmacological attribute of the reaction of the receptor, setting off a chain of intracellular biochemical procedures in the body. Methadone is taken orally and quickly assimilated to plasma in an average of thirty minutes after being ingested. It is likewise put away in body tissues, and step by step discharged when required. It makes resilience so a patient can't feel an opiate impact. With a focus and aim to avoid tolerance, a dose of 25- 150mg of the drug is administered to the addicted individual who helps in reducing craving and withdrawal systems. It further creates a stable rate of metabolism of the drug. The impact goes on for 24 to 36 hours. The objective of methadone upkeep treatment is socialization of addicts, the abrogation of their intravenous use of drugs, directed entirely under the supervision of masters. At the point when methadone is utilized as a part of a complex with social restoration, it gives excellent outcomes. Psychotherapy to a great extent decides the security of the impact of medication treatment, span and nature of reductions. Psychotherapy won't be compelling without a someone who is addicted wants to dispose of medication habit.

One of the suggestions to the issue is that patients are chosen entirely to enter the program. In Sweden, for instance, there are strict criteria for methadone treatment. They include; at least four extended periods of sedative enslavement affirmed by medicinal records; a sign of a background marked by the unsuccessful section of numerous different types of treatment; nearness of therapeutic indications for methadone upkeep treatment; must be more established than 20 and not have some other addictions except for sedative. It is tough to beat the habit and take after the majority of the guidelines with no help.

Accordingly, a severe social restoration is a vital far of showing signs of improvement. Anyway, a few nations where heroin habit is usually not stances such social program. On the off chance that a full complex is utilized 10-20% of individuals conquer the enslavement, anyway 10-15% come back to clear abuse of drugs. On the off chance that the substitution (replacement) treatment is generally utilized as the primary answer for treatment of all opium conditions, it would diminish the productivity of prophylactic activities and would be viewed as a simple method to escape duties and suggestions in the wake of utilizing a drug by fledgling heroin abusers.

Conclusion

To sum everything up, the issue about heroin addiction is among the many topics causing debates among individuals. Heroin addiction is not only affecting the involved individuals but also affects the society as a whole. The arguments arise as a result of heroin usage for medical purposes. In most of the cases, those objecting about the linkage of heroin to remedial actions believe that the addiction is as a result of personal preferences. Also, counter arguments provide a debate between the causes of heroin addiction since some it to psychological problems and other mental related conditions while to the adolescents, the cause is linked to peer pressure. However, it is significant to understand the conditions surrounding the uses of opiate in health care and other pain-relieving pills that push the users into using heroin for medical reasons.

Works Cited

Cicero, Theodore J., et al. "The changing face of heroin use in the United States: a retrospective analysis of the past 50 years." JAMA psychiatry 71.7 (2014): 821-826.

Jones, Christopher M., et al. "Vital signs: demographic and substance use trends among heroin users-United States, 2002-2013." MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report 64.26 (2015): 719-725.

Kolodny, Andrew, et al. "The prescription opioid and heroin crisis: a public health approach to an epidemic of addiction." Annual review of public health 36 (2015): 559-574.