How can I find information regarding heroin addiction in Kansas?

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I want to get information regarding heroin addiction in Kansas, and I want to hear it from the experts themselves, maybe get a few interviews and footages. It's for a project in school, and I really want to do good at this. Any information will be greatly appreciated.
You should check out the links that I have included below. You can inquire from various treatment centers and get information about treatment programs and medications and that kind of stuff. Maybe you can photograph the treatment centers as well. Just make sure to ask for their permission. Good luck!  (+ info)

Does the body build up a dependence to Valerian root as a sleeping aid?

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Once in a while I take this herb to help me fall asleep. Will this problem of dependence arise?
Taking it occasionally wouldn't be a problem.
I've read on some bottles that you shouldn't take valerian for more than 2 weeks (that's every day) because it may start to cause dependancy. I've also heard that it may create insomnia too. Although, if it works for you, that's good! As long as you aren't taking it every day for long-term.

And just to point out to the other poster, a night terror isn't like extreme insomnia. It's like an extreme nightmare. You look like you're awake (the person moves, talk, and usually their eyes are open), but their sleeping. Almost like sleep-walking, except they're in extreme terror of something they "see". I got a couple when I was young and under stress. My parents said I dreamt that there were thousands of frogs and mosquitos swarming me, and I was screaming and swatting the air. I've seen my sister have them too. It's scary to the person that's watching it, because you can't do anything to calm the person down. After the person wakes up, they usually don't remember anything.  (+ info)

What are the medical benefits of heroin?

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I have a project to do on Heroin. Can anyone tell me the side effects of the drug (both long term and short term) and the medical benefits of taking it.Also, I need to find the history on how it came out. I can;t find it anywhere on google.
Heroin, like all opiates, is both a pain reliever and a sedative. I don't think it has any actual health benefits though. Because of its strength, its both highly addictive and easy to overdose on. Short term side effects can include intense nausea and a depressed respiratory system. Bayer (the same people that make the aspirin) developed it as an alternative to morphine in the late 1800's or early 1900's. Since morphine was an over-the-counter drug during that time, many people had developed tolerances and had become addicted. Heroin was falesly advertised as being much safer and even a good way to cure yourself of morphine addiction.  (+ info)

Whats the difference between heroin and morphine?

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My mum uses codeine everyday for a back problem,are the effects similar to heroin,but less so?Shes been using it for 10 years,would she be addicted?

Also,I was given morphine when in hospital,but was allergic,would I probably be allergic to heroin?Just curious,not planning on using it or anything...
Heroin is morphine that has been refined to be made stronger. Heroin is metabolized into morphine in the liver. So you would be allergic to heroin.
Codeine is a very weak opiate-based pain killer(heroin is a really strong opiate-based pain killer). Heroin is about 15 times stronger then codeine. Maybe more. They would have somewhat similar effects, they would just vary in strength.
The first answer is wrong when it says morphine is more finely purified. Medical heroin(in the europe) is as purified as morphine.
Your mom is most likely addicted to the codeine.  (+ info)

What are the chances of getting off heroin?

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I know someone who was shooting it up. Low doses to keep from getting sick. She is now in a rehab, and I question daily if she will use again. I believe she will. I believe the urge will always be there, and she is not strong enough to "just say no." Does anyone have experience with a recovering addict, some advice to help me help her thru her recovery?? You would be saving someone's life. This is her first time in a rehab to get clean, and she has been using heroin for at least 4 years.
Wow! These answers are so good and so positive! And very supportive. Thank you all, and thank you for those of you who continue to answer my question. I'm so glad I posted this question, and I am greatful for your answers.
I'm sorry to hear that but its just like any thing else that you get addicted to You have to want to be off. Yes the urge will be strong but If you belief in her and she be lives in her self then there is a good chance.. You have to help and support her I know your scared and I'm sure she is too. I know that shes putting pressure on her self not to fail and wants to make you proud , prove every one wrong that she can kick this but you have to make sure that you are there for her to help not to judge. You have not been where she is and not been threw what she has been threw. I know that a lot of people say turn to God and I'm not sure what your or her belief is but I know with the 12 step program that they belive that God can help you threw it and I know even with out the 12 steps God has helped alot of people threw things. You need to let her know the past is the past and we now look to the futcher. I know its going to be realy hard maybe you should find some one that you can talk to as well expecaly if your going to be her main suport. It could help. Good Luck  (+ info)

What was the name of a woman who became a heroin addict by choice?

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I have read about this woman but cannot remember her name. I believe she worked for an investment bank or held a similar respectable highly paid job. She decided to experiment with heroin, because she had the money and the time. She treated her experiences with heroin with a scientific outlook, and reported some interesting reflections on the nature of addiction. Her life story was fascinating especially from a psychological point of view; I really hope someone has heard of her and can let me know her name. I realise this is not much information to go by, and I have tried to no avail to find her name using Google - can anyone help?
Recently I've been revising for my exams and in an idle moment whilst browsing the internet about addiction (I'm studying psychology) I happened to come across an article written by one of her friend about the life of this woman. The main reason I want to find this is because the woman (heroin addict one) said a beautiful quote something along the lines of how the first time taking heroin is a pleasure you spend your whole life trying to re-attain without success.
Sounds interesting... where did you hear about this?  (+ info)

Why does heroin come in different colors and textures?

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I was just thinking that people, especially kids and teens, are enticed to try it because it comes in so many varieties. Does the colors of heroin signify something?
The color of heroin indicates how pure it is. Whites are, of course, purer, and in powder form. These can be snorted. The blacks are usually like tar and comes from Mexico, and is called Mexican black tar. Heroin is a substance derived from morphine, which is derived from the seedpod fo the Asian poppy plant. Heroin was once believed to be able to cure addiction to morphine, but this no longer holds true because it has become a really serious problem in America and other countries as well.  (+ info)

How does heroin affect the central nervous system?

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How does heroin affect the nervous system, like memory, mental health etc. And what is the effect? Thank you!
Heroin Effects
Heroin effects the central nervous system by depressing it. Heroin depresses nerve transmission in sensory pathways of the spinal cord and brain that signal pain. This explains why heroin is such an effective pain killer. Heroin also inhibits brain centers controlling coughing, and breathing.

Heroin is exceedingly addictive, quickly producing tolerance and dependence. Although heroin is even more effective as a painkiller than morphine and codeine, it is so highly addictive that its use is illegal. Methadone is a synthetic opiate that is used to break addiction to heroin (and replace it with addiction to methadone).

Short Term Heroin Effects

Soon after injection (or inhalation), heroin crosses the blood-brain barrier. In the brain, heroin is converted to morphine and binds rapidly to opioid receptors. Abusers typically report feeling a surge of pleasurable sensation, a "rush." The intensity of the rush is a function of how much drug is taken and how rapidly the drug enters the brain and binds to the natural opioid receptors. Heroin is particularly addictive because it enters the brain so rapidly. With heroin, the rush is usually accompanied by a warm flushing of the skin, dry mouth, and a heavy feeling in the extremities, which may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and severe itching.

After the initial effects, abusers usually will be drowsy for several hours. Mental function is clouded by heroin's effect on the central nervous system. Cardiac function slows. Breathing is also severely slowed, sometimes to the point of death. Heroin overdose is a particular risk on the street, where the amount and purity of the drug cannot be accurately known.

* Analgesia (reduced pain)
* Brief euphoria (the "rush" or feeling of well-being)
* Nausea
* Sedation, drowsiness
* Reduced anxiety
* Hypothermia
* Reduced respiration; breathing difficulties
* Reduced coughing
* Death due to overdose - often the exact purity and content of the drug is not known to the user. An overdose can cause respiration problems and coma

Long Term Heroin Effects

One of the most detrimental long-term effects of heroin is addiction itself. Addiction is a characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, and by neurochemical and molecular changes in the brain. Heroin also produces profound degrees of tolerance and physical dependence, which are also powerful motivating factors for compulsive use and abuse. As with abusers of any addictive drug, heroin abusers gradually spend more and more time and energy obtaining and using the drug. Once they are addicted, the heroin abusers' primary purpose in life becomes seeking and using drugs. The drugs literally change their brains.

* Tolerance: more and more drug is needed to produce the euphoria and other effects on behavior.
* Addiction: psychological and physiological need for heroin. People are driven to get more heroin and feel bad if they do not get it. People begin to crave heroin 4 to 6 hours after their last injection.
* Withdrawal: About 8-12 hours after their last heroin dose, addicts' eyes tear, they yawn and feel anxious and irritable. Excessive sweating, fever, stomach and muscle cramps, diarrhea and chills can follow several hours later. These withdrawal symptoms can continue for 1 to 3 days after the last dose and can last 7 to 10 days. In some cases, full recovery can take even longer.

Other Heroin Effects

Medical consequences of chronic heroin abuse include scarred and/or collapsed veins, bacterial infections of the blood vessels and heart valves, abscesses (boils) and other soft-tissue infections, and liver or kidney disease. Lung complications (including various types of pneumonia and tuberculosis) may result from the poor health condition of the abuser as well as from heroin's depressing effects on respiration. Many of the additives in street heroin may include substances that do not readily dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. This can cause infection or even death of small patches of cells in vital organs. Immune reactions to these or other contaminants can cause arthritis or other rheumatologic problems.

Of course, sharing of injection equipment or fluids can lead to some of the most severe consequences of heroin abuse-infections with hepatitis B and C, HIV, and a host of other blood-borne viruses, which drug abusers can then pass on to their sexual partners and children.

* HIV/AIDS - due to sharing of needles
* Poisoning - from the addition of toxin to the drug
* Hepatitis - liver damage
* Skin infections - from repeated intravenous injections
* Other bacterial and viral infections
* Increase risk of stroke
* Collapsed veins
* Lung infections

Not all of the mechanisms by which heroin and other opiates affect the brain are known. Likewise, the exact brain mechanisms th  (+ info)

What is the difference between heroin, opium and morphine, in simple terms?

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I think I am right to say they are all derived from the opium poppy? And that opium came first, followed by heroin...and that morphine is basically just 'clean' heroin...have I got this at all right?
Opium has gradually been superseded by a variety of purified, semi-synthetic, and synthetic opioids with progressively stronger effect.

This process began in 1817, when Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Sertürner reported the isolation of pure morphine from opium
The great advantage of purified morphine was that a patient could be treated with a known dose.

Heroin, the first semi-synthetic opiate, was first synthesized in 1874, but was not pursued until its rediscovery by in 1897 by Felix Hoffmann at the Bayer pharmaceutical company in Elberfeld, Germany. From 1898 through to 1910 heroin was marketed as a non-addictive morphine substitute and cough medicine for children.

Heroine is about 1.5 to 2 times more potent than morphine.
Heroine is morphine with 2 acetyl groups added.




Opium is the latex from the opium poppy pods. It's the raw product. It drips out of the pod milky white, and then dries to brown and is collected.  (+ info)

What are your experiences regarding heroin?

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No, I don't want to try it. The reason why I'm asking is because I'm doing a short story and I wanted one character to be a heroin addict. I wanted to be able to describe the sensations that heroin brings as true-to-life as possible, so I want to be able to get the perspective of someone who has actually tried the drug and gotten addicted to it. Thanks so much for those who would answer.
The feeling of having a sudden rush of euphoria is amazing. You feel like you're floating up high, you're just so happy you can fly. You become drowsy after a while, though. Sometimes you're going to remember nothing, and you'd feel all cut up inside. The thing is, though, you don't really regard addiction as a problem.

It's been so many years ago when I got into heroin. I'm glad I'm not into it now. You can probably do more research about the effects of heroin. It might help you with your story. I included links below, I hope that helps.  (+ info)

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