Effects of Heroin Use
By Jill Gonzalez
Heroin is an opiate that is processed from morphine, a substance that is extracted from certain varieties of poppy seeds. It is an illegal and highly addictive drug, so it is very easy for casual users to develop habits that they cannot break by themselves.
More than half a million people in the United States are addicted to heroin. All of these people need treatment for their addictions, but very few of them will actually seek heroin treatment because of financial reasons, embarrassment or fear of the social stigma that is generally associated with drug use.
Heroin and the Human Body
Heroin produces extreme degrees of tolerance and physical dependence, making it a very dangerous choice for casual drug users. Once a person has become hooked on this drug, the center of their life becomes trying to find more ways to obtain it. One of the primary reasons that heroin is so addictive is that it creates chemical and molecular changes in the brain.
When a person is addicted to heroin, they require higher and higher doses of the drug in order to satisfy their physical cravings. If dosages are suddenly reduced or if a user's supply runs completely out, withdrawal symptoms will start. An addict may start experiencing withdrawal symptoms within just a few hours of taking their last dose, which will inevitably send them looking for more.
Often times, the stronger a person's addiction to heroin becomes, the less choosy they are about where or how they obtain more of the drug. This leads to a whole other set of problems because people commonly resort to criminal activities in order to support their habit.
Short-Term Use
Heroin affects the central nervous system with the very first use, causing users to feel a sense of euphoria, a heavy feeling in their arms and legs, flushing of the skin and dry mouth. After the initial rush of feeling has passed, users alternate between wakeful and drowsy states for a period of time before the drug's effects wear off.
Because the central nervous system is suppressed with heroin use, users breathe at a much slower rate than usual, which can lead to respiratory failure in some situations. This presents a very real danger to users, as it is impossible to predict which people might be affected in this way.
Long-Term Use
All heroin users who fail to use sterile techniques or who share needles with others may eventually experience many of the long-term ramifications of heroin abuse:
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Skin infections
- Infection of the heart lining and valves
- HIV
- Other blood-borne diseases
In addition to the conditions listed above, long-term heroin users are also at a much greater risk for overdosing. An important thing to remember about heroin is that it is always mixed with other substances before it is sold. Some of the chemicals that are used to cut heroin are poisons, and these may pose a great risk to users.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal from heroin can be extremely painful. Symptoms generally include the following:
- Bone or muscle pain
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Diarrhea
- Cold flashes
- Goose bumps
- Involuntary leg movements
- Vomiting
In some cases, people may only experience withdrawal symptoms for about a week. In other cases, however, people experience withdrawal symptoms for as long as several months. In adults who are basically healthy, withdrawal from heroin is generally not life threatening, but it is recommended that people seek professional assistance for help in withdrawing from the drug.
Why Professional Heroin Treatment Is Important
Cravings and relapse can occur many weeks or even months after a person has completed addiction treatment and gone through withdrawal from heroin. Because of this, it is not advisable for addicts to try to simply quit using heroin on their own.
Professionals widely agree that people with heroin addictions should seek help from a qualified heroin rehab program. The most comprehensive form of heroin treatment is a residential treatment program because these offer patients a full spectrum of treatment.
There are three primary components to a good residential treatment program:
- Detox, which treats the physical condition of addicts, helping them to gradually become free of their heroin addiction.
- Counseling, which helps patients to deal with and get beyond the psychological aspect of heroin addiction. It is another component that is essential to a successful drug rehabilitation program.
- Aftercare, which helps people to prepare to resume their lives once rehabilitation has been completed. This may also include helping people to find jobs and reconnect with their families.
Heroin addiction is serious, and getting heroin addiction treatment is important for your health and your life. Find the heroin treatment program that will help you break your addiction and get your life back on track.
