Ravin Galvan

J. Itami
Forensics
4/2015

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Heroin: A Black Tar Demon

Galvan

Name: HEROIN
Alias: Tar, Black, Brown, Earl Grey, H, Smack,
Horse, Junk, China

white.

Ethnicity: Black, Brown, Pure White

Classification: Class A/Schedule 1 Narcotic
Crime: Murder
(Mugshot)

Heroin is one of the worlds most dangerous drugs. For many people
who experiment with drugs, the experiment ends on this dark tar road. It is
classified as a Class A drug/ Schedule 1 drug. Drugs are classified by the
harm of which they cause or its misuse in society. It is definitely classed
well, whether physiologically or physically Heroin has a strong hold on its
victims. It destroys not only its victims lives, but also the lives of their
families and everyone around them.
Heroin was first created by the German company Bayer (known for
aspirin), by a chemist by the name of Charles R. A. Wright. The name Heroin
comes from the German word Heorisch which means powerful. It was
created as a painkiller for Tuberculosis, a Cough Suppressant, and a Nonaddictive alternative to morphine addiction. Obviously he was wrong about

Ravin Galvan
J. Itami
Forensics
4/2015

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Heroin: A Black Tar Demon

Galvan

it being non-addictive. Heroin is the worlds number one most addictive drug
now, and the numbers of addicts are skyrocketing.
Heroin is derived from the drug morphine, though it is 3 times stronger
then morphine. Morphine was discovered in 1803 by a German drug clerk
Friedrich W.A. Serturner; a yellowish white substance in raw opium he called
it Morphium after Morpheus the Greek god of dreams. Morphine is made from
the Opium Poppy plant which components are morphine, codeine and
thebaine. The opium poppy plant is extracted of its raw opium gum, which is
harvested from the opium poppys middle or capsule. Once the opium gum is
extracted it is dried for about a week, and then wrapped up tight in banana
leafs or plastic to be sold to a trader. Once a trader comes they chemically
change the Opium gum threw a chemical process that dissolves the Opium
gum into a powder. The powder is pressed into bricks and prepared for
shipment.
Heroin is originally a yellowish white powder, but from chemical
changing threw cutting or diluting with chemicals it can also be brown,
grey or most commonly black. Common additives are baking soda, baking
powder, caffeine, and quinine. The lightness or darkness usually depends on
what it is cut with. Lighter brown heroin is usually cut with lactose. Where as
black tar heroin is cut with a chemical called monoacetylmorphine, a
chemical derivative of morphine.

Ravin Galvan
J. Itami
Forensics
4/2015

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Heroin: A Black Tar Demon

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The Opium Poppy plant is originated in Southeast Asia, but has also
been found in Afghanistan, Pakistan, South America and most popularly to
the U.S; Mexico. It flourishes in warm, dry climates. The most common
type of heroin in the U.S is mud or black tar heroin. When being
distributed, once it has crossed the Mexican border it is cut from the
bricks and diluted and packaged into paper folds or balloons for sale. The
most popular sale amount is .10 grams for a $10-$30 profit. Some dealers
will bargain the users a deal by selling 6-$100. Though thats not much
of a deal considering what that deal really costs you.
This drug can be smoked, injected, snorted or eaten. In 1856 when the
syringe was created, morphine use became widely accepted. It was used
for everything from childrens teething medicine to a wives recreational
drug. The rise in injection of morphine was in 1861-1865 when it was used
for trauma victims from the civil war. This increase is what caused the
making of heroin from the Bayer Company, to be used as a substitute for
morphine addiction.
Over 40 medical studies were done on it, and none picked up on the
potential for dependence. In the 1960-1970s is when heroin was a major
problem in the U.S. Because of the high percentage of use by U.S soldiers
returning from the Vietnam War it became illegal to use and was urine
tested for in the military. In 1985 the creation of Black Tar was created,
which is a form of cheap Mexican heroin. Because street heroin in South

Ravin Galvan
J. Itami
Forensics
4/2015

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Heroin: A Black Tar Demon

Galvan

America was cheaper, purer and easier to export it became the main
source of trafficking for heroin and other illicit drugs. The street prices fell
dramatically, what pure opium used to cost $1.81 in 1988 was close to .37
in 1994 per gram.
In the mid 90s the media glamorized Heroin Chic. Created by Calvin
Cline, the boney frame, dark circles under her eyes, pale skin and
smoking cigarettes. After being put into the media, the look upon heroin
use was altered. Heroin users generally start using as a recreational drug.
It is a euphoria drug, giving the user a sense of numbness and warm
fuzzies and relaxation. However the come down is not as sweet. Heroin is
unlike most drugs in the aspect of trying to come down off of it can be
fixed by sleep, food, water, or any type of hydration.
Heroin attaches itself to the brain, and tolerance develops quickly. The
user needs more to have the same high, and after time its not so much
about being high as it is not being sick. Heroin unlike morphine also
contains a chemical called 6 MAM (6-monoacetylmorphine), which is
metabolized in the brain. Because of this the most dangerous part of
using heroine is overdose and withdraw. Usually when users overdose it is
due to either a more pure dose of the drug or relapse and using the same
dose as before. When their body is not used to the amount your heart will
stop. The effects of withdraw are; elevated body temperature, increased
blood pressure, piloerection (goose flesh), diarrhea, panting, spontaneous

Ravin Galvan
J. Itami
Forensics
4/2015

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Heroin: A Black Tar Demon

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ejaculations and orgasms, restlessness, involuntary twitching and kicking

movements, insomnia, pain and irritability, depression and anxiety, cold
sweats, nightmares, fainting and dizziness, vomiting, headache and
appetite dysfunction. These become so unbearable to a user that they will
do pretty much anything to avoid the come down.
In return because of this there are many crimes that are connected
with its users such as theft, robbery, prostitution, human trafficking, sale
of other illicit drugs, etc. Users are so afraid of being sick, they will sell
everything they have and take from others just to avoid the come down.
The crime for possession and sale of the drug differ depending on amount
of drug in possession, the intent of the user based on amount and/or
paraphernalia, if it caused serious harm or death to anyone, and the
number of times the offender has been charged with the same offense.
The criminal charge for possession is less than 4 grams is a 3rd degree
felony; more than 4 grams, 100+ grams is 5-40 years in prison. If
someone is harmed or murder in the arrest no less than 20 years in prison
to life, depending on the circumstances.
For many obvious reasons heroin should remain illegal not only in the
U.S, but globally. It serves no medical purpose and is highly addictive.
There are many therapy treatments available for addicts, but even with
treatment only 1-10 addicts fully recover. Heroin has impacted the lives of
many of my friends and family. I have seen the bad and the ugly. Nothing

Ravin Galvan
J. Itami
Forensics
4/2015

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Heroin: A Black Tar Demon

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good has ever came from it. History itself proves that without even
needing facts or statistics.

Works Cited

http://www.stopheroin.net/heroinfacts.htm
http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/heroin.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin#Recreational_use

Ravin Galvan
J. Itami
Forensics
4/2015

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Heroin: A Black Tar Demon
http://federaldrugcharges.net

Galvan

Ravin Galvan
J. Itami
Forensics
4/2015

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Heroin: A Black Tar Demon

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