Heroin is highly addictive and the most fast acting of all the drugs available, which is one of the reasons it can create such a strong desire in users. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 338,000 people have used heroin in the last month.
Some of the effects of heroin include the following:
- Overdose (can result in death).
- Addiction (can lead to mental and physical problems).
- Slowed breathing.
- Dramatically lower blood pressure.
- Feeling of being flushed.
- Infections (including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis) from dirty needles.
- Pregnancy problems (low birth weight, birth defects, and/or spontaneous abortion.)
Despite these dangers, it is very difficult to overcome heroin substance abuse. There are severe withdrawal symptoms when someone quits using the heroin, which is an opiate.
When heroin is used a lot or on a regular basis, the body builds up a tolerance. The body becomes used to the effects of the heroin. As the body becomes more tolerant of the drug, it takes higher and higher doses of heroin to get the same effects as before. In some cases, heroin becomes necessary for the body to function.
Once a tolerance to heroin develops it is more difficult to break the cycle of addiction, because one will experience withdrawal symptoms when the drug is no longer used. Withdrawal symptoms are of the body's reaction to no longer having the drug. It is the body's way of letting the user know it wants the drug. The body has become dependent on the heroin making it especially difficult to end a heroin substance abuse problem.
Withdrawal symptoms from heroin abuse can start within just a few hours after the last dose. First, the body will experience cravings for the drug. Cravings are one of the reasons it is so difficult for heroin addicts to stop. Most addicts will require help from pharmacological and/or psychological treatment programs. Other symptoms of heroin withdrawal include:
- Pain in the bones and in the muscles.
- Restlessness and anxiety.
- Cold flashes.
- Muscle spasms (especially kicking motions).
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
Most heroin users undergo the worst of their withdrawal symptoms between two and three days from their last dose. However, withdrawal symptoms can last a little more than a week and typically a certain level of craving for the heroin never completely goes away. Even months after someone feels completely in control of their heroin addiction a craving can be triggered.
Withdrawal symptoms rarely causes death, but may if a heavy user in poor health suddenly stops taking the drug. There are many drug rehabs that specialize in heroin addiction/withdrawal across the country. In the next post we will discuss heroin treatment.
