Heroin is frequently referred to as one of the most addictive substances in the world today. If you or someone you know has a heroin addiction it’s important to get professional treatment as soon as you can in order to take the first steps towards recovery.
What is Heroin Addiction?
Heroin is a drug that is made from morphine; morphine is taken from the opium poppy.
Morphine and other drugs that are taken from the opium poppy or made from its derivates are known as opiates. Heroin is a very strong pain killer and is highly addictive.
Heroin is sold on the street as Brown, Skag, Smack, Horse or Thai White amongst other names.
It works by slowing down all bodily functioning and reduced both emotional and physical pain, in small dosages it creates a feeling of warmth and relaxation, larger dosages bring on feelings of euphoria and sleepiness. Vomiting and light-headedness are commonly experienced amongst first time heroin users.
Like most other opiates tolerance to heroin builds very quickly and users will find they need to take more over time in order to achieve the high they once experienced.
Heroin is a white powder but often will look off white or brown due to the fillers that dealers add to it and can either be snorted smoked or injected.
Signs, Symptoms and Risks of Heroin Addiction
Over time the use of heroin affects the brain of the addict and can cause psychological effects such a craving, the intense psychological effects cause the user to think of nothing but heroin and their need to keep using.
The once amazing rush they gained from small amounts of heroin now do nothing for the user as their tolerance increases so they find themselves having to take more in order to even feel normal again.
If a heroin user does not feed the craving their body is demanding they become sick. Withdrawal from heroin is exceptionally unpleasant and produces a vast array of symptoms including nausea and vomiting, hot and cold sweats and pounding headaches.
Mixing heroin with other drugs is especially dangerous, particularly other drugs that cause the bodies respiratory system to slow down , commonly known as downers these drugs such as benzodiazepine tranquillisers, when mixed with heroin heightens the chance of overdoes and death.
The greatest risk of overdoes for a heroin user is when they have had a period of being clean and then begin to use again, the bodies tolerance will have fallen during the time they were not taking the drug and if they use as much on their first hit back as they did previously they will not be able to cope with the quantity ingested.
The risk of contracting life threatening diseases such as AIDS /HIV and Hepatitis B and C are increased amongst heroin users who share needles.
Heroin is a class A drug and consequently is an illegal substance, simply being in the possession or heroin could land you with a prison sentence of up to 7 years and supplying heroin can come with a life time sentence.
Heroin Addiction Treatment
Heroin addiction treatment would involve the patient attending detox on an inpatient basis, being away from their usual temptations is vital.
Once detox has been undertaken a number of other treatments such as group therapy, and individual addiction counselling are used alongside drug therapy utilising medications such methadone, subutex and naltrexone that serve to block the opiate receptors in the user so they no longer gain any of the positive effects of heroin use after they become clean.
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