Facts on File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

needle directly into a VEIN). Other means of using
heroin are injecting it—intramuscular (into a MUS-
CLE) or under the SKIN(subcutaneous, also called
“skin popping”)—snorting it into the NOSE, or
smoking it mixed with tobacco or marijuana.
These other methods are no less addictive, though
snorting and smoking do reduce the risk for con-
tracting bloodborne diseases such as HEPATITISand
HIV/AIDS. Such infections are significant risks with
injected drugs of abuse, particularly when users
share needles, syringes, and other paraphernalia.
The risk for OVERDOSEis high because heroin’s
potency and other ingredients are uncertain from
DOSEto dose. Most powder sold as heroin is 10 to
70 percent heroin. The remainder may be other
number of other substances from sugar to aceta-
minophen to other illicit drugs or even poisons.
Exceptionally pure heroin is also hazardous
because it is more narcotic than the person is
accustomed to using.

HEALTH RISKS OF HEROIN ABUSE

Short Term
CONSTIPATION delayed reactions
drowsiness inability to concentrate
NAUSEAand VOMITING OVERDOSE

Long Term
ADDICTION ENDOCARDITISand other
HEPATITIS,HIV/AIDS, and other bacterial INFECTION
viral infection scarring and damage to BLOOD
vessels

See also INJECTING DRUGS, RISKS OF; NARCOTICS;
SCHEDULED DRUGS; SMOKING AND HEALTH; WITHDRAWAL
SYNDROME.

hypnotics DRUGS that induce sleep or cause
heavy sedation. Hypnotics are CENTRAL NERVOUS
SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS that act primarily to elevate
levels of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), a

NEUROTRANSMITTER that conveys NERVE impulses

among BRAINneurons to slow brain activity. BARBI-

TURATES, most BENZODIAZEPINES, and some ANTIHISTA-

MINE MEDICATIONShave hypnotic actions.

Short-term health risks of hypnotic use include

• excessive drowsiness or difficulty waking up in
  the morning


• sense of sluggishness the next day

These consequences and side effects usually go

away after the drug is no longer present in the

body. Health risks of continued or long-term use

of hypnotics may include

• DEPENDENCEon the drug to fall asleep


• ADDICTION
  
  
  • severe withdrawal symptoms when suddenly
    stopping the drug, including possible PSYCHOSIS
  
  
  • profound DEPRESSION
  
  
  • increased potential for OVERDOSE
  
  
  
  

Because the body develops TOLERANCEfor hyp-

notics, the margin between a safe amount of the

drug and the amount necessary to produce the

desired effect narrows with long-term use. This is

particularly hazardous with barbiturates and can

result in unintended fatal overdose.

COMMON HYPNOTICS

BARBITURATES BENZODIAZEPINES

CHLORAL HYDRATE diphenhydramine

doxcylamine ethchlorvynol

GAMMA HYDROXYBUTYRIC ACID(GHB) GLUTETHIMIDE

meprobamate methaqualone

METHYPRYLON paraldehyde

zaleplon zolpidem

See also SCHEDULED DRUGS; SLEEP DISORDERS; SUB-

STANCE ABUSE TREATMENT; WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME.

hypnotics 339