Chasing the [green] dragon: Heroin Green Daily style
Obviously drugs -- even the legal ones -- aren't very good for you, and most will get you arrested (or worse), but rumor has it that some people still take them anyway. So, with that in mind, the least you can do is work towards a more sustainable habit. To see all the substances we've covered in this series, see our Guide to Green Green Drug Use.
As we explore recreational drugs this week at Green Daily, I have opted to write about heroin. This is not because I know more than what I learned in high school health class, but because I know that it comes from poppies. Poppies grow out of the ground naturally so heroin must be pretty earth friendly, right? I also wanted to examine how most heroin comes to the United States and how many miles it travels -- whether it arrives via private jet or the more eco-friendly passenger pigeon.
Producing heroin from a poppy plant is multi-layered procedure that involves a few chemicals and some energy consumption. First, morphine is extracted from opium with the use of heat, water, slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) and ammonium chloride. Next some acetic anhydride is added to the morphine to create heroin. Though the first two chemicals can be well contained, the acetic anhydride is not only flammable but can release toxic gases when heated or during decomposition. None of the processing should be done near a water source. The amount of energy used depends on the sophistication of the manufacturer. The production methods could be anything from a stainless steel pot and fire to autoclaves, blenders and generators.
How one plans on taking heroin could also have a further effect on the environment. Transforming heroin to smokable form involves the use of corrosive hydrochloric acid and again there is the concern of toxic fumes as the drug burns. Transforming raw heroin into an intravenous form requires more heat as well as chloroform, ethanol, ethyl ether and acetone.
With intravenous use also comes the required paraphernalia including syringes which must be disposed of properly in order to prevent accidental injury or the potential spreading of disease. The AIDS pandemic was in part ushered along by intravenous drug users sharing needles. Dr. H of the Heroin Helper does not recommended reusing needles as dull needles can cause injury to the veins.
According to the United Nations, 87% of the world's heroin comes from Afghanistan. Despite this and contrary to what the "terrorist" commercials would have you believe, most of the United State's supply comes from Mexico and Colombia. Chances are that no matter where your drugs are coming from, they are traveling a long distance by air and leaving a big carbon footprint behind them.
Dangerous chemicals, pandemics and distant travels give heroin a green grade of D. Switching from heroin to smoking or eating opium, which involves very little processing, would be a greener alternative. Of course the greenest (and healthiest) alternative would be to stay away from opiates all together.
As we explore recreational drugs this week at Green Daily, I have opted to write about heroin. This is not because I know more than what I learned in high school health class, but because I know that it comes from poppies. Poppies grow out of the ground naturally so heroin must be pretty earth friendly, right? I also wanted to examine how most heroin comes to the United States and how many miles it travels -- whether it arrives via private jet or the more eco-friendly passenger pigeon.
Producing heroin from a poppy plant is multi-layered procedure that involves a few chemicals and some energy consumption. First, morphine is extracted from opium with the use of heat, water, slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) and ammonium chloride. Next some acetic anhydride is added to the morphine to create heroin. Though the first two chemicals can be well contained, the acetic anhydride is not only flammable but can release toxic gases when heated or during decomposition. None of the processing should be done near a water source. The amount of energy used depends on the sophistication of the manufacturer. The production methods could be anything from a stainless steel pot and fire to autoclaves, blenders and generators.
How one plans on taking heroin could also have a further effect on the environment. Transforming heroin to smokable form involves the use of corrosive hydrochloric acid and again there is the concern of toxic fumes as the drug burns. Transforming raw heroin into an intravenous form requires more heat as well as chloroform, ethanol, ethyl ether and acetone.
With intravenous use also comes the required paraphernalia including syringes which must be disposed of properly in order to prevent accidental injury or the potential spreading of disease. The AIDS pandemic was in part ushered along by intravenous drug users sharing needles. Dr. H of the Heroin Helper does not recommended reusing needles as dull needles can cause injury to the veins.
According to the United Nations, 87% of the world's heroin comes from Afghanistan. Despite this and contrary to what the "terrorist" commercials would have you believe, most of the United State's supply comes from Mexico and Colombia. Chances are that no matter where your drugs are coming from, they are traveling a long distance by air and leaving a big carbon footprint behind them.
Dangerous chemicals, pandemics and distant travels give heroin a green grade of D. Switching from heroin to smoking or eating opium, which involves very little processing, would be a greener alternative. Of course the greenest (and healthiest) alternative would be to stay away from opiates all together.
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