Across the United States, many people have used and continue to use heroin. Heroin addiction is a pressing matter. In fact, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration believes that the misuse of substances like heroin is one of the most significant public health issues in the United States.
Luxe Recovery LA is a treatment center nestled in one of Los Angeles’ most prestigious neighborhoods. Our treatment programs work to address substance abuse and mental health concerns and process addictions to help our clients lead healthier, sober lives.
What is Heroin?
Heroin is a potent opioid drug derived from morphine, extracted from the opium poppy plant. It takes the appearance of a white or brown powder or as black tar and can be injected, snorted, smoked, or consumed orally.
When it hits the brain, heroin converts into morphine, binding to opioid receptors and creating intense feelings of euphoria, drowsiness, and respiratory depression.
It carries high addiction risks, leading to compulsive drug-seeking behavior and health complications like overdose.
Heroin is an illegal drug, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration classifies heroin as a Schedule I controlled substance, which means that it has a high risk for substance abuse and no recognized medical uses.
Immediate Effects of Heroin
People who use heroin do so because it can have several positive effects in the moment. Some of the immediate effects of heroin include:
Euphoria
The most prominent of the heroin’s immediate effects are the intense feeling of euphoria that it creates. This immediate rush of pleasure is often the main driver of drug use, but it can lead to becoming dependent on heroin.
Pain Relief
Another immediate effect of heroin is that it is a powerful pain reliever. Using heroin can provide instantaneous relief from physical pain or discomfort. These pain-relieving qualities can lead to heroin dependence in people who live with chronic pain, and heroin is a significant part of the current opioid epidemic.
Slowed Breathing
Heroin suppresses the respiratory system, leading to slowed breathing rates. In high doses or when consumed alongside other depressants such as alcohol, this effect can be dangerous and even life-threatening.
Stress Relief
Using heroin can lead to a decrease in stress and help people feel more relaxed. Being under the influence of heroin can also help alleviate emotional distress.
Sedation
Heroin can cause a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, contributing to feelings of relaxation and calm, which can contribute to some heroin users becoming so relaxed that they can become drowsy and their limbs may feel heavy.
Long-Term Effects of Heroin Use
While some of the short-term effects of heroin can make people feel good at the moment, long-term use of the opioid can have adverse effects. These effects can include:
Addiction
Heroin is highly addictive, and long-term use can result in physical and mental dependence on the drug. This dependence can be difficult to break free from and may require professional treatment options to address.
Heroin Overdose
Chronic heroin use can result in a person developing a tolerance to heroin. This tolerance can dull the drug’s effects, so a person has to increase their use of heroin in order to get the high that they want.
However, this can increase the risk of an overdose as the amount of heroin taken may be more than a person can safely metabolize. This can lead to an overdose.
An overdose is one of the most serious consequences of heroin addiction as it can lead to a coma or have fatal consequences if not addressed promptly.
Withdrawal
Aside from an overdose, another effect of long-term heroin use is that it can make withdrawal symptoms worse when a person stops using heroin. The symptoms of heroin withdrawal can include mood swings, anxiety, muscle and bone pain, and others. These can get worse the longer someone uses heroin.
Infectious Disease
Another long-term consequence of heroin use disorder is that a person can contract infectious diseases such as HIV or hepatitis. This is because some people inject heroin, and heroin users may share needles, which contributes to the spread of these diseases.
Chronic Health Problems
Abusing heroin can cause long-term health problems such as respiratory disease, liver and kidney damage, cardiovascular issues, and gastrointestinal disorders. Injecting it can also lead to collapsed veins, abscesses, and blood clots.
Mental and Cognitive Problems
Substance abuse and mental health are deeply intertwined with each other. Chronic heroin use can cause or exacerbate mental disorders such as anxiety disorders, depression, and other psychiatric conditions.
Aside from mental health issues, regular heroin use can also impair cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and decision-making.
Heroin Addiction Treatment
There’s no denying that heroin can make people feel good. That’s precisely why so many people use it. However, long-term use can result in some level of brain damage and other consequences.
Because of those long-term consequences, it is important to curb repeated heroin use in individuals with comprehensive substance abuse and mental health services.
People who are addicted to heroin may have to check into inpatient rehab to put themselves in an environment where they are away from their triggers and enablers as well as being unable to access the drug.
A person can also enroll in outpatient treatment if they’ve already completed residential treatment or if their addiction isn’t severe enough to warrant a major life disruption.
Behavioral therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be used to help recovering addicts identify and address the negative patterns of thought that lead to behaviors such as using heroin.
Treatment for heroin addiction will typically involve individual therapy sessions to help people address underlying issues that may contribute to their substance use.
Users of heroin may also attend group therapy sessions for ongoing encouragement, peer support, and accountability during recovery.
Heroin is a highly addictive drug, and treating it will require a comprehensive, multifaceted approach.
Let Us Help You With Your Dependence on Heroin
Chronic use of heroin can be hard to overcome. The body becomes used to its presence, as does the mind. So when a person tries to stop, the mind and body will protest, and often, many people start using again just to stop the pain of withdrawal.
But we can help you get through the withdrawal process. We can also manage your cravings by helping you develop healthy coping mechanisms. Contact us now, and we can begin your recovery journey. We take most forms of insurance.
