Drugs Profile: Heroin

• Heroin enters the body via the blood and arrives at the synapse. Morphine which is produced by heroin is a pain killer and a depressent. 
• It acts as an antagonist for GABA receptors, blocking the receptors, inhibiting GABA. 
• GABA role is to slow down neural firing. Its partner Glutamate tries to adapt to maintain homeostasis. 
• The Synapse floods with GABA as it is not being transmitted. There is then an over production of Glutamate. 
• The process mimics endorphins which causes over production of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which stimulates the reward pathway creating a feeling of euphoria. 

Short term effects:

• pleasure feeling
• pain reduction
• rush: dry mouth, heavy limbs, flushing of the skin, sickness and 'itchy blood'.
• relaxation, drowsiness, slowing of mental functions and heart rate. 
• rush occurs 7 seconds after the injection. 

Long term effects: 

• psychological and physical dependence
• tolerance
• withdrawal symptoms
• cravings
• HIV, Hepatitis, embolisms, clogging of blood vessels
• breathing difficulties, poor immune system
• risk of miscarriage
• poor memory

Physical Dependency:

• Body needs heroin to function normally. 
• Process of addiction. 
• Brain produces less endorphins, addicts rely on heroin for pleasure and pain reduction. 
• Withdrawal will occur.
• Rapid tolerance causes quick dependency. 

Psychological Dependency:

• Cravings are hard to resist.
• Heroin becomes central to the users every day life. 
• Important for the persons mental state. 
• May help to get through social problems, lack of employment, dulling of the senses. 

• Heroin is taken over an increasing period of time, more of it will be needed to achieve the same initial high. 
• A stage may be reached where no amount of drug achieves the high, and it is at this point that the addict would take heroin to avoid nasty withdrawal symptoms. 
• The drug is needed for normal functioning, to maintain homeostasis. 

• Even if heroin is taken for 3 days, withdrawal can occur once it is stopped. 
• The symptoms start 6 hours after the last drug, this is linked to tolerance and quantity of last dose. 
• Includes: sweating, diarrhea, anxiety, depression, sensitivity, heaviness, cramps, insomnia, itchy blood. 
• Because of withdrawl, a cycle of drug taking occurs.