Heroin: The Epitome of Destructive Drugs and its Medical Impacts

Today, the world faces a conundrum, larger than ever before: drug abuse. From students in middle school, all the way to their mid 40s and 50s, people continually abuse heroin, but the problem seems to be getting worse. Fox News reports that in the past two days alone, Cincinnati saw an estimated 78 overdoses of heroin. Furthermore, The Atlantic reports that 174 overdoses have occurred in Cincinnati in the past 6 days. Investigators say this may have to do with a new revolution in heroin, in which components in animal tranquilizers are being mixed with heroin to achieve a high that is significantly stronger than just regular version.

The science of heroin is as follows:

1. Heroin binds to mu-opioid receptors in the brain.

2. This causes the release of a neurotransmitter known as dopamine.

3. This gives people a fake sense of pleasure.

But, this is killing people, and it HAS to stop. That is why it is important to outline some of the medical ramifications that heroin addiction posses.

The worst thing that heroin accomplishes is by instituting dependence on the user. Specifically, once heroin is taken and that all time high is achieved, users experience cravings that cause them to seek out that high once more. That essentially becomes their sole purpose in life. The National Institute for Drug Abuse explains that the white matter within the brain starts to deteriorate once heroin enters the body. They further continue to point out that this is the root cause for "impairing decision making abilities, ability to regulate behavior, and responses to stressful situations".

Heroin then leads to a slew of other disorders:

1. Insomnia

2. Constipation

3. Tuberculosis

4. Pneumonia

5. Depression

6. Bacterial infections of the blood vessels...Shall I continue on?

The idea is that heroin is extremely bad for you. You only get on life, why not make it the best?

Live your life drug free, for you, and your body.