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General Info Opiates are derived from the dried 'milk' of the opium poppy which contains morphine and codeine, both of which are effective painkillers and are used for many medical uses (both are used in many cough medicines and anti-diarrhoea treatments). Heroin in its pure form is a white powder which is easily soluble in water. There are a number of synthetic opiates which are used as painkillers such as pethidine and methadone which is often prescribed for heroin and opiate addiction. Collectively opiates and synthetic opiates are called opioids. Opioid powders can be swallowed or dissolved in water and injected, particularly into a vein which maximises the effect. Heroin is sometimes sniffed, or the fumes from the heated powder is inhaled (this method is sometimes called 'chasing the dragon'). The large majority of heroin is illegally manufactured and imported, which originates largely from the Indian sub-continent. When sold at street level it is likely to have been diluted or cut with a variety of similar powders. The main dilutant is glucose. However, the practice of using other substances such as caffeine, flour and talcum powder is a constant danger to users. Heroin may cost between £15 and £40 pounds for a wrap. History 6,000 year old Summerian texts refer to the opium poppy as the 'joy plant'. It is thought Arab traders took opium to China in about the 7th or 8th century A.D. where it was used as a medicine until about the 17th century where it was realised it could be smoked. In later years the Portugese and later the British were supplying China with most of its opium, making Britain (and mainly a company called the East India Company) the world's largest dealer. It was sold in India to be smuggled into China, making it entirely legal from the British side. The Chinese government took to destroying British opium imports before they reached China which eventually sparked two short wars and in the treaties that followed Britain was given Hong Kong, extra trading rights and sixty million pounds in compensation for lost opium stocks. During Victorian times, taking opium in the form a laudanum (opium dissolved in alcohol) and in pill form became very popular among all the classes. Heroin was created in 1874 and was originally marketed as a safe, non-addictive substitute for morphine. However it was quickly noted that heroin also produced depededncy very quickly in some individuals. Heroin and Opiates were made illegal in 1920 with the Dangreous Drugs Act Effects As well as killing pain, moderate doses of pure opioids produce a range of mild effects. They depress the activity of the nervous system, including such reflexes as coughing, breathing and heart rate. They also cause widening of the blood vessels, which gives a feeling of warmth and reduces bowel activity, which causes constipation. Even with doses sufficiently high to produce euphoria, there is little change to co-ordination, sensation or intellect. At higher doses however, sedation takes over and an overdose will result in unconsciousness, coma and very rarely death from respiratory failure. The chance of an overdose is greatly increased if other depressant drugs such as alcohol or tranquillisers are being used at the same time. Opioids cause people to feel drowsy, warm and content. They also relieve stress and discomfort by creating a relaxed detachment from pain, desires and activity. However, once users have developed physical dependence and tolerance (needing more and more to get the same effect) to opioids, positive pleasure is replaced by relief at simply taking the drug to maintain 'normality'. Instead of, or as well as these effects, users often experience nausea and throwing up the first time they take the drug, especially after injecting. When sniffed or snorted heroin produces a less intense effect than when it is injected. The effects when smoking heroin can be expected to come on as quickly as after an injection, but are less strong. Dangers Long-term use of opioids causes tolerance to develop so that in order to achieve the same degree of euphoria, larger and larger doses must be taken. When people have been off the drug for some time their tolerance decreases and a common cause of death results from a user taking the same amount of drug used before they stopped or cut down. When high doses have been taken for several weeks, a sudden withdrawal causes symptoms of discomfort similar to flu. These include aches, sweating and chills, tremor, sneezing and yawning and muscular spasms, all or some of which usually commence between 8 and 24 hours after the last dose of heroin. Although these effects usually fade within 7 to 10 days, feelings of weakness and loss of well being can last for several months. Physical dependence is easier to overcome than psychological dependence, which some long-term users develop, although dependence of any kind is not a certainty. Some people can use heroin on an occasional basis and not become addicted. Prolonged usage can cause physical damage to the body, although not necessarily from the drug itself. Repeated injections with dirty needles can result in diseases such as Hepatitis, AIDS and Tetanus, especially when sharing needles. There is also a risk of using impure drugs which have been mixed with unknown substances. Repeated sniffing of heroin damages the nose. Apathy and reduced appetite caused by drug use can lead to disease as a result of a poor diet, self neglect and bad housing conditions. The increasing cost of satisfying tolerance / dependence can lead to money problems which can result in self neglect and major social problems. UK law on OpiatesInfo from HereIt is illegal to supply or possess opioids without a prescription, or to produce, import or export them without authority. It is also an offence to allow premises to be used for supplying or producing them. Heroin, morphine, opium, methadone, dipapanone and pethidine are Class A drugs. Codeine and dihydrocodeine (DF118) are Class B drugs unless they are prepared for injection when they become Class A drugs.