Just to pick up on a previous posting Heroin is in effect dia morphine.
Heroin is a powerful analgesic and narcotic and is a diacetyl derivative of morphine which is the most important alkaloid in opium and obtained from Poppies essentially.
Way back in the 19th century morphine was boiled with acetic anhydride and created dia-morphine. This then is more lipid soluble than Morphine and so delivers the drug across the blood brain barrier more quickly and efficiently.
Dia-morphine itself does not attach to the opiate receptors in the brain, it quickly breaks down to Morphine and other metabolites that do.
Hence why dia-morphine (Heroin) is given to terminally ill cancer patients as the short term effect are to reduce pain, to depress many nervous reactions.
Especially in the case for lung cancer sufferers as it suppresses the cough reflex and also suppresses appetite, libido, energy, circulation, and respiration.
The effect then gives the sufferer a peaceful ending from this world in the effect of a Heroin overdose whereby the cause of death will be by the respiration becoming so depressed it stops completely.
Morbid mode off but that unfortunately in some cases is how it is.
Now under no circumstances am I saying this makes Heroin or dia-morphine sociably acceptable but you have to realise that these kind of drugs have been used in these circumstances for years and with movement of modern medicines will no doubt continue to.
Heroin is addictive but in the case of a cancer patient who is terminal the long terms effects are not applicable.
