The Use of Heroin as a Recreational Drug

This is from Chem News reporting the headline story. Tonight’s topic is heroin. For 17-year-old Matthew McKinney, a “fun” night out on a Tuesday with his friends took a not-so-fun turn after he received a phone call from his parents. The conversation proceeded casually, as McKinney promised his parents he would return home soon. Little did his parents know that their son would be found dead the next morning after injecting 66% pure heroin, minutes after the phone call [1]. McKinney’s story is only one of many, with a whopping 15,482 deaths in the United States in 2017 from heroin overdose [4]. A prime example of substance abuse, heroin should remain illegal, as it does much more harm than good with health, societal, and economic effects.

Heroin is an opioid, a drug used to relieve pain when prescribed and taken appropriately. Since they produce euphoria, opioids can be extremely dangerous and eventually addictive when misused [2]. Heroin, specifically, comes from another naturally-occurring opioid, morphine, which is extracted from poppy plants. Pure heroin, which comes in a white powder form, can be snorted or smoked, whereas impure heroin is injected. This creates a common misconception that pure heroin is safer to use than its impure counterpart; however, this is false, as they both have serious health impacts when taken in large amounts.

When ingested, heroin attaches to certain receptors in the brain that then release the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is responsible for feelings of euphoria and bliss. Upon immediate contact with the brain, heroin stimulates a “rush” of pleasure; however, this sudden sensation only lasts for minutes, whereas the long-term effects can last a lifetime. Primarily, the misuse of heroin establishes an addiction that can jeopardize one’s life. Since a great amount of heroin can produce tolerance to the drug, a decrease in the presence can result in severe withdrawal symptoms like body pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and cold flashes. The opioid also has irreversible effects on brain structure and physiology, which disrupts neuronal and hormonal systems. Eventually, an excessive use of the drug results in a chronic heroin disease. Chronic heroin users repeatedly experience symptoms like insomnia, constipation, and lung problems. The specific method of ingestion can also create its own problems. For example, users who inject heroin with needles are at a great risk of contracting diseases like hepatitis B and HIV [3].

Heroin has numerous societal and financial impacts. Addicts are at a greater risk of unemployment due to disciplinary problems and lack of productivity. As a result, this increases crime and mortality rates. According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, the lower-income population represents half of all drug users [5]. Because they are financially disadvantaged to begin with, low-income individuals are at an even greater risk of poverty from spending money on heroin. On top of that, the medical complications that follow its addiction are extremely expensive, making it nearly impossible for these users to acquire proper treatment.

Overall, the use of heroin as a recreational drug generates an endless list of preventable short- and long-term consequences. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been a significant increase in heroin users since 2007, with many of the users being adolescents. It is imperative for this drug to remain banned, as it clearly fails to show benefits among users of all ages. Thanks for tuning in and see you next week!