Dermatologic Complications of Heroin Addiction

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Abstract
THE majority of narcotic addicts use heroin (diacetylmorphine). The general medical complications of its use include thrombophlebitis, pulmonary infarction, abscesses, septicemia, bacterial endocarditis, tetanus, malaria1 2 3 4 5 and acute fatal reaction.6 Before the heroin reaches its user it has been "cut" by the addition of adulterants such as lactose, mannitol and quinine so that heroin is only about 18 per cent of the contents of the purchased packet.6 The powder is dissolved in a small amount of boiling water and injected by means of a hypodermic needle attached to either a syringe or a medicine dropper. The preferred route of injection is . . .

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