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HEROIN USE - LEGAL AND MEDICAL ASPECTS

NCJ Number
46761
Author(s)
P R EDHOLM; R P NEIDORF
Date Published
1978
Length
284 pages
Annotation
HEROIN'S MANUFACTURE, USE, ADDICTIVE NATURE, AND STATUS UNDER INTERNATIONAL AND U.S. FEDERAL AND STATE CODES ARE EXAMINED IN THIS COMPREHENSIVE STUDY.
Abstract
THIS VOLUME IS INTENDED AS A CRIMINAL JUSTICE HANDBOOK ON THE ILLICIT MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION, AND USE OF OPIUM DERIVATIVES AND THE PROSECUTION OF THEIR ABUSE UNDER U.S. CRIMINAL LAW. A CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF OPIUM, MORPHINE, AND HEROIN IS PRESENTED DETAILING THEIR USE, ABUSE, AND LEGAL STATUS FROM THE STONE AGE THROUGH THE 1970'S. HEROIN PRODUCTION IS EXAMINED; FRENCH AND MEXICAN PROCEDURES, THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HEROIN, THE STEREOTYPICAL HEROIN CHEMIST, PRODUCTION CAPACITIES, AND COMMON RESALE PACKAGING PARAPHERNALIA ARE DISCUSSED. THE CULTIVATION OF THE OPIUM POPPY, THE REFINEMENT OF ITS NATURAL LATEX INTO RAW OPIUM, AND THE VARIOUS FORMS AND USES OF RAW OPIUM ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. SLANG TERMS FOR UNREFINED OPIUM ARE NOTED. THE MANUFACTURE OF MORPHINE IS DETAILED; ITS AVAILABLE FORMS, USE, DOSAGE, AND COMMON NICKNAMES ARE NOTED. THE PARAPHERNALIA FOR PREPARING AND INJECTING A HEROIN SOLUTION, THE INJECTION PROCESS, AND ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF USE ARE EXAMINED. THE INITIAL EFFECTS OF HEROIN USE MENTIONED INCLUDE: MANIFEST METABOLIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS; SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF USE; AND THE EFFECTS OF SMALL, INCREASED, AND EXCESSIVE DOSES. THE STRICTLY PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF HEROIN USE -- CHANGES IN RESPIRATION, CIRCULATION, BLOOD PRESSURE, AND LIKE SYMPTOMS -- ARE NOTED. THE SIDE EFFECTS OF HEROIN, INCLUDING THE EFFECT ON SEXUAL POTENCY, MENSTRUATION, PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH, BABIES BORN TO ADDICTED MOTHERS, THE DIAGNOSIS OF ILLNESSES, AND THE STABILITY OF MENTAL ATTITUDE, ARE NOTED. ADDICTION FACTORS ARE DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH THE VARIOUS STAGES OF THE ABSTINENCE SYNDROME (WITHDRAWAL). INCLUDING THE MILD, MODERATE, PRONOUNCED, AND SEVERE EFFECTS OF WITHDRAWAL. CERTAIN DISEASES AND PHYSICAL DISORDERS ARISING OUT OF HEROIN ABUSE ARE NOTED, INCLUDING LIVER DAMAGE AND TISSUE INFECTIONS. AMONG SYMPTOMS AND EXTERNAL CLUES INDICATIVE OF HEROIN ABUSE DISCUSSED ARE: SCAR TISSUE, PUNCTURE WOUNDS, EYE CHARACTERISTICS (CONTRACTED, FIXED, OR DILATED PUPILS). SPEECH AND COORDINATION ABNORMALITIES, AND SYMPTOMS THAT ARE NOT READILY OBSERVABLE, SUCH AS APPETITE AND EMOTIONAL EXTREMES. THE USE OF A PUPILOMETER -- A DEVICE USED TO MEASURE THE SIZE OF PUPILS -- IS EXPLAINED. THE CAUSES OF ACUTE REACTION (OVERDOSE) DEATH ARE EXAMINED, AND THE NALLINE/NARCON TEST IS DISCUSSED, AS IS CHEMICAL TESTING. THE ROLE OF METHADONE IN ADDICT TREATMENT, CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES RELATING TO HEROIN USE, AND LEGAL DEFINITIONS REGARDING ABUSE ARE SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES PRESENTED. PROBABLE CAUSE, SEARCH AND SEIZURE PROBLEMS, EXPERT TESTIMONY, AND TRIAL TACTICS ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. RELEVANT JUDICIAL DECISIONS ARE CITED. A GLOSSARY, TABLE OF CASES, INDEX, AND BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. A TABLE OF CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS, STATUTES, AND JURY INSTRUCTIONS IS INCLUDED. (KBL)

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