One of the most common methods of illicit heroin use is via intravenous injection "shooting up". Recreational users may also administer the drug by snorting, or smoking by inhaling its vapors when heated, i.e. "chasing the dragon." The onset of heroin's effects depends upon the route of administration.
Orally, since heroin is completely metabolized in vivo to morphine before crossing the blood-brain barrier the effects are the same as with oral morphine. Snorting results in an onset within 3 to 5 minutes; smoking results in an almost immediate effect that builds in intensity; intravenous injection induces a rush and euphoria usually taking effect within 30 seconds; intramuscular and subcutaneous injection take effect within 3 to 5 minutes.
The heroin dose used for recreational purposes depends strongly on the frequency of use. A first-time user typically ingests between 5 and 20 mg of heroin, but an individual who is heavily dependent on the drug may require several hundred mg per day." (excerpt from Wikipedia)
In 1996 eleven different heroin addicts were asked whether they beleived it was possible for somebody who had injected with as much heroin as Kurt had to have then shot and killed himself immediately after injecting. Which is what police and medical examiners claim. Each insisted it would be impossible no matter what the tolerence level..."Anybody who says you can do that has never shot smack. "-said an 8 year addict.
When Kurts body was discovered and the crime scene was observed his syringe and drug paraphernalia was neatly put away in his box for it, his sleeve was rolled down and rebuttoned. If there was enough time for him to shoot himself conciously after shooting up, how was he able to put everything away and roll down and button his sleeve, in that 30 second time frame, even a minute to shoot your own self?
"The effect of heroin is of such short duration and is so intense that it inhibits any type of physical activity..."-Geoffrey Burston, Medical Textbook "Self Poisoning";
According to Medical Literature Kurt Cobain had 75 times the lethal does for the average person. Speaking about a dose thats lethal even for the most severe addict.
When Kurts body was found it contained 1.52 milligrams per liter of blood of morphine (heroin turns to this when it enters the body). To get to this measurement it would require a minimum injection of 225 mg of heroin.The Maximum known lethal dose for a 150 pound male results in blood morphine levels of approximately .5 miligrams per liter. Cobain wieghed 115 pounds few months before his death, according to this, Kurts max levels would be even lower.
"For most people, including addicts, 1.52 milligrams per liter of morphine is a significant level...and for most of them a great percentage it will be a level that will indice a state of unconsciousness quite quickly, were talking about seconds, not minutes..."-Dr. Wecht (one of america's most prominent forensic pathologists)
During Kurts Final Tour, the Febuary-March 1994 European Tour Kurt was certainly heroin free. Tony Barber, bassist of the Buzzcocks who opened for Nirvana stated "...He was walking around drinking Evian water and looking clean everytime i saw him."
Exactly one month before his death Kurts blood was free of any heroin..
Not a Single case can be related to Kurts morphine levels. Nor cases where they remained conscious for more than a few seconds. When Kurt was injected with the herion he also had traces of valium in his blood.
