Introduction
Heroin is a highly addictive opioid that is derived from morphine, a natural substance extracted from an opium poppy plant (“Heroin”, 2014). This drug can be administered by injection and inhalation, via snorting or smoking. This allows the substance to travel to the brain at a rapid rate, contributing to its highly addictive effects (“Heroin”, 2014). Heroin is converted back to morphine once it is in the brain, which then binds to mu-opioid receptors (MORs), stimulating the release of dopamine (Volkow, N. D., 2014). Sensation of euphoria is then experienced by the user, and as a result, heroin usage is more likely to be repeated. Producing profound degrees of tolerance and physical dependence, iterated use of the substance often results in addiction (Volkow, N. D., 2014).
Heroin use and deaths due to heroin overdose in the United States is significantly on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heroin use has increased by 63% from the year of 2002 through 2013 (Jones, Logan, Gladden, & Bohm, 2015). Due to the increased percentage of heroin abuse and dependence, mortality rates from heroin overdose have also escalated by 286% from the year 2002 to 2013 (Jones, Logan, Gladden, & Bohm, 2015). Individuals that are most susceptible to heroin abuse consist of …show more content…
They explained facts about the drug, such as the scope of heroin use in the United States, how it is administered, its effects on the body, complications associated with its use, how it is linked to prescription drug abuse, and treatments for heroin addiction. They also provides a list of other websites where one can obtain more information regarding heroin. Although both websites consist of mainly the same information, www.teens.drugabuse.gov is created for middle and high school
Heroin is a highly addictive opioid that is derived from morphine, a natural substance extracted from an opium poppy plant (“Heroin”, 2014). This drug can be administered by injection and inhalation, via snorting or smoking. This allows the substance to travel to the brain at a rapid rate, contributing to its highly addictive effects (“Heroin”, 2014). Heroin is converted back to morphine once it is in the brain, which then binds to mu-opioid receptors (MORs), stimulating the release of dopamine (Volkow, N. D., 2014). Sensation of euphoria is then experienced by the user, and as a result, heroin usage is more likely to be repeated. Producing profound degrees of tolerance and physical dependence, iterated use of the substance often results in addiction (Volkow, N. D., 2014).
Heroin use and deaths due to heroin overdose in the United States is significantly on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heroin use has increased by 63% from the year of 2002 through 2013 (Jones, Logan, Gladden, & Bohm, 2015). Due to the increased percentage of heroin abuse and dependence, mortality rates from heroin overdose have also escalated by 286% from the year 2002 to 2013 (Jones, Logan, Gladden, & Bohm, 2015). Individuals that are most susceptible to heroin abuse consist of …show more content…
They explained facts about the drug, such as the scope of heroin use in the United States, how it is administered, its effects on the body, complications associated with its use, how it is linked to prescription drug abuse, and treatments for heroin addiction. They also provides a list of other websites where one can obtain more information regarding heroin. Although both websites consist of mainly the same information, www.teens.drugabuse.gov is created for middle and high school