Difference between revisions of "Heroin"
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| − | An illegal [[narcotic]] drug, manufactured from the opium [[poppy]], cultivated for its | + | An illegal [[narcotic]] drug, heroin is manufactured from the opium [[poppy]], and has been cultivated for its properties since at least 3400BC (in [[Mesopotamia]]). |
'''Heroin''' was briefly commercially marketed as a cough medicine for children, and as substitute for medicinal [[morphine]], having been erroneously believed to be less addictive. | '''Heroin''' was briefly commercially marketed as a cough medicine for children, and as substitute for medicinal [[morphine]], having been erroneously believed to be less addictive. | ||
| − | Apart from medicinal use under strict control, heroin is | + | Apart from medicinal use under strict control, heroin is illegal nearly worldwide, with harsh penalties for its possession, manufacture and trafficking, including the [[death penalty]] in many countries. |
| − | Illegal use of heroin | + | Illegal use of heroin typically happens via injection (sometimes mixed with [[cocaine]] - 'speedball'), snorting, or smoking/inhalation - 'chasing the dragon'. Large doses of heroin can be fatal, and the drug has often been used as a [[murder]] weapon. |
Revision as of 16:56, April 19, 2007
An illegal narcotic drug, heroin is manufactured from the opium poppy, and has been cultivated for its properties since at least 3400BC (in Mesopotamia).
Heroin was briefly commercially marketed as a cough medicine for children, and as substitute for medicinal morphine, having been erroneously believed to be less addictive.
Apart from medicinal use under strict control, heroin is illegal nearly worldwide, with harsh penalties for its possession, manufacture and trafficking, including the death penalty in many countries.
Illegal use of heroin typically happens via injection (sometimes mixed with cocaine - 'speedball'), snorting, or smoking/inhalation - 'chasing the dragon'. Large doses of heroin can be fatal, and the drug has often been used as a murder weapon.
