2. What is it?
Heroin is a highly addictive and illegal drug. It is a
depressant drug. The resin of poppy plants are used to make
heroin. Opium is removed from the pods of the poppy plants,
then refined to make morphine, and then refined again to make
heroin.
3. Origin
Heroin originated back in 1874, when it was synthesized
from morphine by an English chemist. A couple of years later,
heroin begun to be commercially produced by the Bayer
Pharmaceutical Company, a German chemical company in 1898.
4. Heroin is usually injected into the body, but it can
also be snorted or smoked. When injected, heroin quickly
reaches the brain.
How is it used?
5. Heroin is a level 5 drug which puts it in the
narcotic analgesics group.
Street names of heroin include Big H, Hell Dust, Nose
Drops, Thunder, Brown Sugar, Horse, and Skag.
Be wary of these names on the streets.
Classification
6. The two major chemicals found in heroin are
morphine and Acetic Anhydride. Other chemicals found in
heroin include anesthetics and stimulants. Some of these
chemicals include cocaine and caffeine.
Ingredients
7. Heroin can have a devastating effect on the body.
Harmful physical effects include diseases like tuberculosis
and arthritis. Other problems like constipation, itching,
coma, introversion, and insomnia can also result from
heroin use. AIDs and other contagious diseases can be
spread if heroin users share needles. Since heroin is
usually injected, this can be quite common.
Physical Consequences
8. Heroin can affect someone mentally in many ways. Heroin use can
lead to depression, addiction, and loss of confidence in life. Heroin is
addictive, and once users of it are addicted, they feel helpless without it,
and therefore lose confidence of living the life they want.
Social consequences of heroin use include loss of friends, family, and
work time. Very few people like to be around a heroin addict. This means
friends and family would rather not want to be near you if you do use it.
Work time will be lost when heroin users get sick from using it.
Mental, Social, and Emotional
Consequences
9. Being found with heroin can lead to jail time.
Prison sentences are harsh, are without parole, and are
based on how much heroin you are found with.
The sentence for being found with 1 or more
kilograms of heroin can range from 10 years to life. The
sentence for being found with 100 grams of heroin can
range from 5 to 40 years. Both of these sentences are
without parole.
Legal Consequences
10. Heroin slows down the Central Nervous System when it depresses
nerve transmission in the brain and spinal cord (CNS). Heroin can reach the
brain in just 6 to 8 seconds when injected. This will disrupt the
cardiovascular system and the respiratory system, as the CNS controls
breathing and heart rate. Because of this, the brain won’t receive enough
oxygen or blood, and brain damage can result. Damage to the brain will cause
it to not be able to send messages through the CNS, disrupting the nervous
system, and then the brain won’t be able to control major organs, affecting
the digestive system and other systems. This can lead to death.
Effects of Use
11. Heroin could have been used as a painkiller like morphine, however,
the only problem is that heroin is very addictive, which means patients will
continue to use it long after they don’t need it anymore without their
doctor’s permission, which can lead to drug abuse. Addiction is the main
reason heroin is illegal.
Using heroin and alcohol at the same time is deadly because both
heroin and alcohol slow down the CNS. The CNS regulates heart rate and
breathing. If the brain doesn’t get enough blood or oxygen, permanent brain
damage, coma, or even death can result.
Using heroin and other drugs at the same time is also deadly, since
then you will have to deal with the effects of both heroin, and the effects of
the other drug(s).
Other Information
12. Now that you have learned about heroin, take a
short quiz to test your knowledge! Click on the button to
start the quiz.
Note: Don’t scroll through the powerpoint when on the
quiz. Just click on the underlined words to go through the
quiz.
PLAY NOW!
Skip to Bibliography
Quiz Time!
13. 1.Which drug category is heroin in?
A.CNS Depressants
B.Narcotic Analgesics
C.Dissociative Anesthetics
14. Heroin is a level 5 drug, which puts it in the narcotic
analgesics category.
Next Question
Correct!
15. The answer you selected was not correct. Go to slide 5 for
information on this topic.
Try Again
End Quiz
Slide 5
Try Again
17. Heroin can be injected, snorted, or smoked but the most
common way is through injection.
Next Question
Correct!
18. The answer you selected was not correct. Go to slide 4 for
information on this topic.
Try Again
End Quiz
Slide 4
Try Again
19. A.2 to 3 years with parole
B.5 to 40 years with parole
C.5 to 40 years without parole
D.10 years to life without parole
3. What is the prison sentence for
being found with 100 g of heroin?
20. Prison sentences for heroin are harsh Just 100 grams can
lead to jail time ranging from 5 to 40 years.
Next Question
Correct!
21. The answer you selected was not correct. Go to slide 9 for
information on this topic.
Try Again
End Quiz
Slide 9
Try Again
22. A.10 minutes
B.25 minutes
C.1 hour
D.6 to 8 seconds
4. How long does it take for heroin
to reach the brain when injected?
23. Heroin can quickly reach the brain when it is injected, in
as little as 6 to 8 seconds.
Next Question
Correct!
24. The answer you selected was not correct. Go to slide 10
for information on this topic.
Try Again
End Quiz
Slide 10
Try Again
25. A.Acetic Anhydride and Monoxide
B.Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide
C.Acetic Anhydride and Morphine
D.Acetone and Cocaine
5. What are the two main chemicals
found in heroin?
26. The two main chemicals found in heroin are morphine and
Acetic Anhydride.
Finish Quiz
Correct!
27. The answer you selected was not correct. Go to slide 6 for
information on this topic
Try Again
End Quiz
Slide 6
Try Again