Editing Heroin

[[File:800px-Heroin-from-xtal-horizontal-3D-balls.png|thumb|Heroin
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Heroin is an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioid opioid] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analgesic analgesic] synthesized by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Romley_Alder_Wright C.R. Alder Wright] in 1874 by adding two acetyl groups to the molecule [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphine morphine], found in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_poppy opium poppy]. It is the 3,6-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetate diacetyl] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ester ester] of morphine, and functions as a morphine [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prodrug prodrug], meaning that it is metabolically converted to morphine inside the body in order for it to work.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sawynok_1986_4-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin#cite_note-Sawynok_1986-4 [4]]</sup>

When used in medicine it is typically used to treat severe pain, such as that resulting from a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myocardial_infarction heart attack] or a severe injury. The name "heroin" is only used when being discussed in its illegal form. When it is used in a medical environment, it is referred to as diamorphine. The white crystalline form considered "pure heroin" is usually the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrochloride hydrochloride] salt, diacetylmorphine hydrochloride.

Illicit heroin is usually in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_base freebase] form, dulling the sheen and consistency to a matte-white powder.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin#cite_note-5 [5]]</sup> Because of its lower [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_point boiling point], the freebase form of heroin is also smokable. It is prevalent in heroin coming from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan Afghanistan], which as of 2004 produced roughly 87% of the world supply in illicit [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_opium raw opium].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-UNODCSurvey_6-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin#cite_note-UNODCSurvey-6 [6]]</sup> However, production in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico Mexico] has risen six times from 2007 to 2011, changing that percentage and placing Mexico as the second largest opium producer in the world.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin#cite_note-7 [7]]</sup>

Mexican cartels are also known to produce a third type of illicit heroin, commonly called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_tar_heroin black tar], which results from a simplified, quicker [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_synthesis synthesis] procedure and contains a high percentage of morphine derivates other than heroin, such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6-Monoacetylmorphine 6-monoacetylmorphine] (6-MAM).

As with other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioids opioids], diacetylmorphine is used as both an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analgesic analgesic] and a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreational_drug recreational drug]. Frequent and regular administration is associated with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_tolerance tolerance] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_dependence physical dependence]. Internationally, diacetylmorphine is controlled under Schedules I and IV of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_Convention_on_Narcotic_Drugs Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin#cite_note-8 [8]]</sup> It is illegal to manufacture, possess, or sell diacetylmorphine without a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/License license] in almost every country.

Under the chemical names diamorphine and diacetylmorphine, heroin is a legally [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescription_drug prescribed] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_drug controlled drug] in the United Kingdom, and is supplied in tablet or injectable form for the same indications as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphine#Medical_uses morphine] is, often being preferred over morphine due to its lower side-effect profile. It is also available for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin_maintenance prescription to long-term users] as a form of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioid_replacement_therapy opioid replacement therapy] in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark, alongside [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counseling psycho-social care]—in the same manner that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methadone methadone] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buprenorphine buprenorphine] are used in the United States or Canada<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin#cite_note-9 [9]]</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin#cite_note-10 [10]]</sup>—and a similar programme is being campaigned for by liberal political parties in Norway.
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