Presumably, the history of the opium poppy as a remedy and intoxicant drug goes back a very long time. As early as 4,000 BC, the Sumerians and Egyptians are said to have used the healing and intoxicating effects of the plant. In 1898, it was produced on a large scale and marketed as a painkiller and cough suppressant. When its addictive effects became known, the drug disappeared from the market again in the 1920s.
The heroin rush
Recently, heroin has been increasingly smoked and snorted instead of injected by addicts. The reason is probably the increased risk of infection with AIDS and hepatitis associated with injecting (when sharing needle instruments).
Heroin – the consequences
Physical withdrawal symptoms include:
- Restlessness and insomnia
- Hot-cold shivers
- increased heart rate
- muscle pain
- diarrhea and vomiting
- goose bumps
- dizziness
- stomach cramps
- watery eyes and runny nose
The withdrawal symptoms are so severe that users are soon using heroin permanently to avoid the discomfort.
