Heroin treatment in Alberta

Looking at an Alberta Heroin rehab for a loved one or for yourself can be a frustating experience. What type of Alberta drug rehabilitation is the best? How long should the Heroin treatment be? Should the Heroin detox or rehab be out-patient or residential rehabilitation treatment?

Drug rehab services can help you find:

• Heroin rehabs in Alberta
• Heroin treatment
• Heroin rehabilitation
• Heroin Detox centers
• Heroin Withdrawal treatments

Heroin or diacetylmorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid. It is the 3,6-diacetyl derivative of morphine (hence diacetylmorphine) and is synthesized from it by acetylation. The white crystalline form is commonly the hydrochloride salt, diacetylmorphine hydrochloride. It is highly addictive when compared to other substances, although occasional use without symptoms of withdrawal has been noted. Internationally, Heroin is controlled under Schedules I and IV of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs [1]. It is illegal to manufacture, possess, or sell heroin in the United States but, under the name diamorphine, heroin is a legal prescription drug in the United Kingdom. Popular street names for heroin include dope, diesel, smack, scag and H.

In the United States, heroin is a Schedule I drug and is illegal for any purpose. In the United Kingdom heroin is available on prescription, though it is a restricted Class A drug. According to the British National Formulary edition 50, diamorphine hydrochloride may be used in the treatment of acute pain, myocardial infarction, acute pulmonary oedema, and chronic pain. The treatment of chronic non-malignant pain must be supervised by a specialist. The BNF notes that all opioid analgesics cause dependence and tolerance but that this is "no deterrent in the control of pain in terminal illness". When used in the palliative care of cancer patients, heroin is often injected using a syringe driver. In comparison to morphine, it may cause less nausea and hypotension and can be dissolved in a smaller quantity of liquid.

The late serial killer and general practitioner Harold Shipman obtained large quantities of diamorphine by writing prescriptions for his cancer patients and keeping the drugs. Shipman was convicted of killing 15 patients with diamorphine, though an enquiry later estimated 340 were murdered.

Heroin, solvents, and steroids were consumed by less than 2% of Albertans surveyed during their life. Just over 1% of the province’s residents (1.2%, approximately 28,000 Albertans) admitted injecting an illegal drug at least once during their lifetime. Heroin was rated as the least available with 12.5% reporting that it would most likely be impossible to obtain it, 23.2% saying it would be very difficult to obtain and 25.8% saying it would be fairly difficult to get. An averaged11,000 Albertans use drugs by injection.

Heroin is one of a group of substances called "opioids".  Other opioids are opium, morphine, codeine, pethidine, oxycodone, buprenorphine and methadone.
Heroin and other opioids are depressants. Depressants do not exactly make you feel depressed. Instead, they slow down the activity of the central nervous system and communications going to and from the brain and the body.

What does it look like?

Heroin can go from a fine white powder to off-white granules or pieces of brown "rock". It has a bitter taste but no smell and is usually packaged in "foils" (aluminum foil) or small, colorful balloons.