Heroin Drug History

Drugs are categorised into the following main groups: Depressants,Opiates and Opioids, stimulants and hallucinogens. Heroin is a depressant and is derived from the opium poppy, putting it in the opiate and opioids group. In the late 1800’s it was considered a less addictive and more affective drug than morphine and was used in treating the symptoms of respiratory discomfort and infection due to its sedative and slowing effects. Not only was it praised amongst the medical personnel at this time, Heinrich Dreser who played an influential role in developing, advertising and administering the drug at this time allegedly named the drug labelling it as heroin, a word derived from the German ‘heroisch’, meaning heroic. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 1900’s that its addictive nature was beginning to be questioned.

2.What class is the drug?
Drugs are sorted into three classes: A, B and C depending on their severity. Heroin is included in class A being the most dangerous of the three. Possession, dealing and use of drugs in class A usually result in the most severe fines and punishments. A person can be penalised for using, growing, selling, driving under the influence or merely possessing the drug. Consequences can consist of $1000 to over half a …show more content…
physically, the short term effects from a small to moderate dosage are: Euphoria (extreme satisfaction, contentment or happiness), confusion and cloudiness, pain relief, drowsiness, relaxed respiration (slowed breathing, cough reflex relaxed*), reduced appetite, lowered heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature, nausea and vomitting (the later two usually occur after the heroin is first introduced to the body and disappears after multiple doses), dry mouth, irritability, itchiness, unconsciousness (as a result of slowed breathing depriving the brain of oxygen) and