ascorbic-acid and Heroin-Dependence

Recent reports of the use of lemon juice in the preparation of heroin for injection have failed to recognize the importance of the different forms of heroin (in the form of the salt or the base) and the impact of this on the chemical manipulation required before injection. One hundred and four opiate addicts in London were interviewed about the forms of heroin (white, brown, etc) and their relationship to cook-up techniques (use of heat and acid). White heroin was typically prepared with water and heat; brown heroin was prepared with acid (citric acid or Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) or lemon juice) and heat; pharmaceutical heroin was prepared with water only (i.e. neither acid nor heat). On the last occasion of heroin use, brown heroin had been the form most commonly used, with over 90% of the sample using citric acid or vitamin C. Lemon juice was rarely used, and heat was almost universally applied in conjunction with lemon juice.

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Citrus; Drug Compounding; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; London; Male

To further reveal serious risks of heroin abuse to human body and clarify grave injuries of oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation induced by nitric oxide and other free radicals to heroin abusers.. Determined and compared plasma levels of nitric oxide (P-NO), vitamin C (P-VC), vitamin E (P-VE), beta-carotene (P-beta-CAR), lipoperoxides (P-LPO) and erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase (E-SOD), catalase (E-CAT), glutathione peroxidase (E-GSH-Px) and erythrocyte level of lipoperoxides (E-LPO) in 137 cases of heroin abusers (HAs) and 100 cases of healthy volunteers (HVs), used linear regression and correlation, stepwise regression and correlation to analyze correlation among heroin-abusing-duration (HAD), daily-heroin-abusing-quantity (DHAQ) with above determination values in the HAs.. Compared with the above average values in the HVs group, the average values of P-NO, P-LPO, E-LPO in the HAs group were significantly increased (P < 0.0001), the average values of P-VC, P-VE, P-beta-CAR, E-SOD, E-CAT and E-GSH-Px were significantly decreased (P < 0.0001); the analysis of linear regression and correlation showed that with ascending of the HAD and DHAQ in the HAs, the values of P-NO, P-LPO, E-LPO were gradually increased (P < 0.0001), the values of P-VC, P-VE, P-beta-CAR, E-SOD, E-CAT, E-GSH-Px were gradually decreased (P < 0.0001); the analysis of stepwise regression and correlation suggested that the correlation among the HAD, DHAQ with the values of P-NO, P-VC, P-VE was the closest.. The balance between oxidation and antioxidation in the HAs was seriously destroyed, and the injuries induced by nitric oxide and other free radicals, oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation reactions to the body of HAs gravely exacerbated. In the abstaining from heroin dependence, therefore, it should consider that sufficient quantum antioxidants such as VC, VE and beta-CAR are dosed to the HAs so as to abate the injuries to their bodies.

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Catalase; Erythrocytes; Female; Glutathione Peroxidase; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Linear Models; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipid Peroxides; Male; Nitric Oxide; Oxidation-Reduction; Superoxide Dismutase; Time Factors; Vitamin E

To further reveal the risks of heroin abuse to human body, and to determine the injuries of oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation induced by nitric oxide and other free radicals to heroin abusers, we determined and compared plasma values of lipoperoxides (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE), beta-carotene (beta-CAR) and erythrocyte values of LPO, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in 114 heroin abusers and 100 healthy volunteers. Using linear regression and correlation as well as stepwise regression and correlation, we also analyzed the effect of the abusing duration, and daily abusing quantity on the above-mentioned biochemical parameters in the heroin abusers. The results showed that, compared with the healthy volunteer groups, the average plasma values of LPO, and NO, and the average erythrocyte value of LPO in the heroin abuser group were significantly increased (P < 0.0001), and the average plasma values of VC, VE, and beta-CAR and the average erythrocyte values of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px were significantly decreased (P < 0.0001). Analysis of linear regression and correlation showed that with prolonged heroin abusing and with increased daily quantity in the heroin abusers, the plasma values of LPO, and NO, and the erythrocyte value of LPO were gradually increased (P < 0.001), whereas the plasma values of VC, VE, and beta-CAR and the erythrocyte values of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px were gradually decreased (P < 0.001). Analysis of stepwise regression and correlation indicated that the plasma values of NO, VC and VE were closely correlated with the abusing duration and daily abusing quantity. These results indicate that the balance between oxidation and antioxidation in the heroin abusers was seriously disturbed, and the injuries induced by nitric oxide and other free radicals, through oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation to the bodies of heroin abusers exacerbated. It is therefore necessary that in abstaining from heroin dependence, the heroin abusers should acquire sufficient quantities of antioxidants such as VC, VE and beta-CAR.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Free Radicals; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Lipid Peroxidation; Nitric Oxide; Oxidation-Reduction; Vitamin E

Intravenous heroin addicts have a high intracellular cAMP level in relation to control monocytes. Incubation in vitro with ascorbic acid normalizes the cellular content of cAMP. We discuss the role of cAMP in the pathogenesis of defective monocyte chemotaxis in intravenous heroin addicts.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Cyclic AMP; Female; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Male

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Carotenoids; Cholesterol; Demography; Female; Hematocrit; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; New York City; Nutrition Disorders; Sex Factors; Vitamin A