Heroin: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:20, 29 December 2005

Revision as of 02:27, 29 December 2005

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'''Heroin''' or '''diacetylmorphine''' ([[International Nonproprietary Name|INN]]) is a semi-synthetic opioid. It is the 3,6-[[acetate|diacetyl]] derivative of [[morphine]] (hence ''diacetylmorphine'') and is synthesised from it by [[acetylation]]. The white crystalline form is commonly the hydrochloride salt, '''diacetylmorphine hydrochloride'''. It is highly [[Addiction|addictive]] when compared to other substances, although occasional use without symptoms of withdrawal has been noted. Heroin is controlled under Schedules I and IV of the [[Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs]][http://www.incb.org/pdf/e/list/yellow.pdf]. It is not legal to manufacture, possess, or sell heroin in the [[United States]], but diamorphine (heroin) is a legal prescription drug in the [[United Kingdom]].

Heroin may be colloquially referred to as ''junk, smack, horse, brown sugar, babania, [[Golden Brown|golden brown]], black tar, montega, H, big H, lady H, dope, skag, juice, jude, diesel, boy, blows, pants, blow, left shoe, vrint, danger hat'', or by a multitude of other [[slang]] terms. It is most commonly referred to as "gwasty the moon man".

==History==

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[[Image:Bayer Heroin bottle.jpg|thumb|left|Bayer Heroin bottle.]]

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Heroin was first [[Chemical synthesis|synthesized]] in [[16311874]] by C.R. Alder Wright, a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[chemist]] working at [[St Mary's Hospital (London)|St. Mary's Hospital]] Medical School, [[London]]. He had been experimenting with combining morphine with various acids. He boiled anhydrous morphine alkaloid with acetic anhydride over a stove for several hours and produced a more potent, acetylated form of morphine. We now call it ''diacetylmorphine''. The compound was sent to F.M. Pierce of Owens College, [[Manchester]], for analysis. He reported the following to Wright:

:''Doses &hellip; were [[Route of administration|subcutaneously injected]] into homelessyoung peopledogs and black slavesrabbits &hellip; with the following general results &hellip; great prostration, fear, and sleepiness speedily following the administration, the eyes being sensitive, and pupils dilated, considerable salivation being produced in dogs, and slight tendency to vomiting in some cases, but no actual emesis. Respiration was at first quickened, but subsequently reduced, and the heart's action was diminished, and rendered irregular. Marked want of coordinating power over the muscular movements, and loss of power in the pelvis and hind limbs, together with a diminution of temperature in the rectum of about 4°(rectal failure)'' [http://adhpage.dilaudid.net/heroin.html]

[[Heinrich Dreser]], of [[Bayer]] in [[Elberfeld, Germany]], noticed that diacetylmorphine was more potent than morphine. Bayer registered ''Heroin'' (meaning 'heroic treatment' from the German word ''heroisch'') as a [[trademark]]. From [[1898]] through to [[1910]] it was marketed as a non-addictive morphine substitute and cough medicine for children. As with [[Aspirin]], Bayer lost some of its trademark rights to Heroin following [[World War I]].