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 Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 11:52 am Post subject: What Is It? |
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Heroin is an opiate. Pure heroin is a white powder with a bitter taste which is made from the milky 'sap' of the opium poppy (see right). This plant is grown as an illicit crop in countries across the Middle East, Asia and South America.
Heroin is a powerful pain killer which depresses the Central Nervous System. This produces a feeling of relaxation, security and well being.
Medicinal Uses
Although opium has been known and used as a sedative and intoxicant in some cultures for several thousand years, heroin is a relatively new substance. It was first synthesized from morphine in 1874 in Germany and given the name heroisch - meaning 'powerful'.
Heroin was not extensively used in medicine until around the beginning of this century. At that time it then received widespread acceptance from the medical profession as a sedative and anaesthetic as shown by the poster at right. Physicians remained unaware of its potential for addiction.
When the dangers of heroin came to be appreciated many governments around the world took steps to control its manufacture and it came under very strict prescription controls.
Today heroin does not have many legitimate medical applications, as synthetic sedatives and anaesthetics have replace the opium-based compounds that were used in the past.
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