Heroin
The heroine is a strong opioid, synthesized from the morphine, extracted from poppies. Morphine is the drug most effective against pain. Sometimes this drug is diverted with the same dangers as those of heroin.
Heroin comes as a powder or granules to be crushed. Long injected intravenously, heroin may be as popular (sniffed) or smoked. In France, the practice ofinjection are stable since the 1990s.
Effects and Risks
Heroin causes a very rapid healing, euphoria and a feeling of ecstasy. The immediate effect of intense pleasure followed by a feeling of drowsiness, sometimes accompanied by nausea, dizziness and a slow heartbeat. Heroin acts promptly as powerful anxiolytic and as an antidepressant.
When repeated use, tolerance to the product is installed and the intense pleasure of the first consumption decreases. Within weeks, the consumer feels the need to increase the quantity and frequency of administration. Daily life revolves around the consumption of the product.
Dependence develops rapidly in most cases. The heroin oscillates between states of euphoric relief (when under the influence of heroin) and states lack that cause anxiety and agitation. The heroin addiction almost always involves significant risk of social marginalization.
Disorders appear very quickly, including anorexia and insomnia
Whatever the method of taking (smoking, snorting, injection), heroin use may promote unprotected sex, and therefore the risk of transmission of HIV / AIDS, hepatitis B and other sexually transmitted, such as syphilis.
Moreover, the practice of injection exposes local infections (abscess) where good hygiene is not respected.
Above all, the sharing or reuse of syringe and the pooling of small injection equipment (cotton, stamp d 'Alcohol, sterile water) present a high risk of being contaminated with the AIDS virus (HIV) and / or hepatitis C.
To stop the phenomenon of contamination has been established since 1987 a policy of risk reduction.
Overdose
Overdose (or overdose) Heroin causes an often fatal respiratory depression. Usually caused by high consumption of product, it may also occur with relatively low doses, particularly at a resumption of consumption after a period ofAbstinence. This applies, for example when leaving prison. It is a delicate time for the person leaving prison in case of recovery of the product consumed before coming into custody is a major risk of overdose, whatever the amount consumed. Abstinence during his incarceration his unaccustomed body consumption.
Emergency actions:
Taking heroin can cause respiratory depression and loss of consciousness. In this case, it must be awakened person still conscious (open the windows, slapping him) until relief (112, 15 or 18). If unconscious, apply first aid actions (recovery position, CPR possibly)
Which treatment for heroin?
The goal of management is cessation of consumption and compulsive taking opiates. This support is long term and takes into account medical, psychological and social.
Medical treatment may take the form:
- either directly from a weaning. This is done in hospital or at home, with medical supervision to treat physical and psychological symptoms of lack felt during withdrawal. Staying in a post -cure several months may be offered to certain people in the CSAP with accommodation.
- is a prescription treatment substitution. This is to replace the use of heroin by taking oral opiates methadone or buprenorphine (Subutex ®, buprenorphine and buprenorphine Mylan Arrow). Substitution treatment can be given as first-line cessation support, but it is most commonly prescribed as maintenance treatment and may then take several months or years. Some people will never stop taking substitution treatment, the medical team will then establish a "maintenance treatment". This is not in itself a sign of failure, the patient will be followed over time as a diabetic patient for whom insulin is essential to his health.
The treatment of addiction (withdrawal and / or substitution treatment) are also guaranteed in prison.
Traveling with his substitution treatment
Transport rules on substitution treatment varies from one country to another. You will find further information about the sites or documents:
On the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the category "Travel", feel free to browse all the tabs.
You can also consult the sheet prepared by theAFSSAPS Transportation staff narcotic drugs under medical treatment.
Information also on the site of the EMCDDA (the site is in English, click on the country you're interested).