Substance Abuse
Cover Heroin Methamphetamine Alcohol Drug
Objectives Describe the history of substance in the Midwest Discuss the pathophysiology of substance’s effect on the brain in addiction Recognize common physical findings and features of patients who use substance Describe treatment options for acute substance intoxication and complications
HEROIN
Heroin (Definitions) Opioids Natural and synthetic substances with morphine like activity Opiate subclass of opioids consisting of alkaloid compounds extracted from opium Morphine and Codeine Heroin Derivative of morphine Most commonly abused opiate
Opium derived from poppy plant Used as early as 4000 BC Morphine was purified from opium in 19th century US Civil War heavy use Multiple ‘tonics’ and patent medicines late 1800s
Heroin Use* Use Peaked 1960s, decreased slightly in 1970s and 1980s and increased 1990s 2.4 million people used heroin at some point during their lives 130,000 used sometime in last month 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse
Heroin History and Physical Be direct Amount of drug used Dependent patients use 2 to 6 times per day When last used Route of administration Previous attempts at treatment Problems from the drug Other drugs (alcohol, benzos, stimulants)