8s to Oblivion & Euphoria

It is ironic how the word "Heroin" first originated from the word, heroisch; a German word for "heroic", coined when people using the medicine first described themselves feeling "heroic".

But perhaps to resort to such means to experience jubilee, these people are indeed courageous in their own rights.

Inspired by the film "Protege" directed by Peter Ho (that and with minimal impetus lent by his sterling cast of great bods), I toured the research of this form of recreation and surprised myself with the findings. Before this, my scant knowledge of the drug revolves what is commonly known; that it is an endorphin-releasing drug commonly used by the extreme depravates (often exacerbating their own deprivations), that subcultures associated with heroin addiction often corelates with those such as Prostitution, and that it is usually administered using syringes and injections. My research led to new associations to the theme as well as advancements of what I already knew. Here are the summaries of the amazing facts i found; some of which repulsed, astounded and intriqued me all at once :

Sigmund Freud; founder of Psychoanalysis and probably the most influential psychiatrist of the 20th Century, used the drug to assist in his euthanasia after contracting throat cancer at age 83.

From 1898 to 1910, Heroin was initially marketed by Pharmaceutical giant, Bayer as a non-addictive morphin substitute and cough remedy for children, unbeknownst to the fact that Heroin actually converts to morphin in the liver after being administered orally. This error is a historical blunder still attached to this day to the drug company.

Popular street names of the drug include Gear, Diesel, Smack, Bobby, Horse, Junk, Jenny, Brown, Brown Sugar, Dark, Dope, Dragon, Bitch.

Heroin is used to create an intense feeling of europhia that disappears each time as the body develops increasing tolerance to its effects.

Many users dissolve the drug with cocaine (snowball or speedball) before injecting into the veins to heighten the rush, but is highly dangerous since overdosage of either drug can kill the user almost immediately.

Heroin can be administered in 6 ways. Orally; in vivo, Snorting, Smoking, Inhalation (by vapourization), Injections (Intramuscular or intravenous). Partaking it orally treats it as a drug per ser with effects like those of Morphine; which stimulates less than it numbs what pain. Snorting creates a slow onset of about 10 to 15 minutes while smoking it creates an immediate but milder effect. Intramuscular injecting it takes slight shorter, 5 to 8 minutes, and finally the most preferred method; intravenously creates the highest rush within 7 to 8 seconds.

The scientific explanation for the rush of happiness reported by partakers is due to the agonistic nature of the drug; which simply means its molecular ability to bind itself to receptors and trigger sensations; in this case to neurotransmitters that reduces or stops the Endorphin that causes pain (this reduction causes dependability). Instead, it triggers 4 types of neurotransmitters that are directly responsible for creating bodily sensations.

A person once addicted to the drug requires administration within 6 to 24 hours after each "fix", but significant symptoms will subside gradually within 4 days at the drug's withdrawal (subject to later relapses).

Treatments of Heroine addiction usually requires using substituting drugs which lends the partaker ability to rely in a similar fashion on a less harmful drug (an effect known as cross tolerance). Environmental rather than physical reasons often account for addicts' relapses after full withdrawal.

Trauma of withdrawal symptoms include sweating, anxiety, malaise, depression, persistent and intense penile erection in males, extra sensitivity at the genitals in females, cramp-like pains in the limbs, yawning, insomnia, cold sweats, nausea, chillls, severe muscle cramps, bone aches, fever and diarrhea, goosebumps and involuntarily shaking of the limbs; the list does not include yet its psychological effects.

Currently, Ibogaine (made from mostly natural ingredients from African plants) is considered the most effective drug in combating addiction to Heroin (it can interrupt Heroin addiction for up to 3 to 6 months, where the body slowly adjusts without Heroin intake). The addiction to this drug is considered less harmful. It is also known to treat other, even non-drug related compulsive behaviors. Atatxia, aside from hallucinations reported by users of this drug (who become continually in a dream-wake state) deems it a physically and mentally exhausting drug to use; given that it has an active window of 24 to 48 hours. Isolated cases of Fatal cardiac irregularities are also not unheard of.

Musicians and Creative people often credit Heroin for their major epiphanies, but no concrete scientic links has yet proved that the drug indeed simulates creativity.

Varieties of Heroin include the Mexican Black Tar Heroin; prevalent in the United States, its colloquial names are Pigment, Negro, Chiva (Spanish for young goat) and Nut Job as well as Cheese; which is the combination of Heroin with the common cold medication, these are snorted most commonly. Hillbilly Heroin or Oxycodone is another form that combines the drug with common paracetamols, it is usually used as controlled drugs to combat pain.

These research helped me better comprehend many scenes of the film, now on retrospect.

The film perhaps can best be summarised as a story of tragedy told in mock-documentary fashion intejected with drama whose precincts are borrowed from the stale Infernal Affairs. It is a laudable attempt by Peter Ho to allay the commoner's curiosity with decadence of this sort, given his overt tone in portraying the reality of Heroin abusers. What I can't agree with though, is how he corelates the emptiness of life with drug abuse. What he could have done is contrast the struggles between those who choose Heroin over tedium and those who choose to deal with the tedium simply as tedium, by presenting "Emptiness" as a state that sometimes juxtaposes itself and is confused with life and that choices eventually triumph when everything else fails to piece.