Results tagged “heroin” from 60 Second Science

The New York Times reports:

Federal officials say that even the smallest amounts of heroin — a 10-gram “deck,” which can cost as little as $7 on the street — are nearly twice as potent in some cities in the region as they were four years ago.

Ok, way back when in the 80's when I used heroin, it went for $600 a gram if you were buying pretty pure stuff sold out of someone's apartment, not on the street. If 10 grams now go for $7 on the street, something is very, very, wrong.

I think the word you wanted was milligrams, NYT... and it's a shame that the only Americans who seem to know the metric system are scientists and drug users.

Ok, I’m going to stop soon. Really, I promise. But I just had to do one last curious- positive-finding-about-drugs-post this week.

Turns out, according to research published in Heart and Circulatory Physiology, exercise benefits the heart via endogenous opioids. At least in rats, if you give the opioid-blocker naltrexone while they exercise, the cardioprotective effects of exercise don't show up when their hearts are later challenged.

That’s right, it seems like the fun part of running is also the healthy part. Which, of course, raises the inevitable question: would taking exogenous opioids-- ie, heroin, Oxycontin, morphine-- provide the same benefit? Wouldn’t it be ironic if William Burroughs’ claim that “dope preserves” turned out to have some truth to it?

Continue reading 'Runner’s “high” protects the heart.. umm, what about heroin?' >

A study just published in the Journal of Clinical investigation suggests a novel way of reducing the tolerance that can develop when morphine is given as a treatment for pain. But will this lead to the long-awaited “non addictive” opioid or is it more complicated?

Continue reading 'Is the "non addictive" opiate finally within reach?' >