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Opioids

Heroin

Heroin's popularity has increased steadily over the past decade, quickly becoming one of the most abused and most dangerous drugs across the United States.

What Is Heroin?

Heroin is an illegal Opioid derived from Morphine which is a naturally occurring substance found in a variety of poppy plants. These plants are predominantly grown in South America, Central Asia, and East Asia. Heroin can be snorted, smoked, or injected. While most often depicted in its purest form, white powder, it can also be a brown powder or a black tar-like sticky substance (primarily coming from Mexico). “Black Tar” Heroin get its color and texture, and subsequently its name, from being the most crude and full of impurities. However, because the white powder form of heroin is almost always mixed with other substances it is impossible to determine purity from color alone.

Street names for Heroin include Big H, Dope, Horse, Hell Dust, Smack, Boy, H, and Brown.

The Effects Of Heroin Use

People who have used Heroin report feeling a “rush,” or a sense of euphoria. This occurs because Heroin binds itself to certain Opioid receptors in areas of the brain and cause a release of dopamine, or the “feel good” chemical. These areas include the parts of the brain responsible for feelings of pain and pleasure and the control of heart rate, sleeping, and breathing.

The “high” primarily comes from the triggering of the pleasure response in the brain in the same way our brain rewards us for positive behavior, such as eating when we’re hungry or exercising. This trigger, like all things that create a positive stimulus in our brains, is what leads down the path of addiction.

Heroin Addiction

Heroin, like most Opioids, is highly addictive. Yet, more people every year are trying Heroin for the first time. It seems like an easy thing to rationalize. “I can’t get addicted if I only do it once.” However, the reality is more complicated than that. 25% of people who try Heroin will develop an addiction. This is due to the “rush” caused by the chemical processes Heroin triggers. The release of Endorphins and Dopamine is the brain’s way of rewarding someone for good behavior. Opioids, like Heroin, trick the brain into releasing these chemicals faster than natural stimuli. Because of this reaction, people desire the substance more after trying it for the first time.

Because Heroin is most commonly injected, it is an especially dangerous drug from a health perspective. The sharing of needles is one of the most common vectors by which a number of incredibly serious diseases spread. Of these, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the disease that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is the most feared and deadly. However, rates of other diseases, especially various forms of Hepatitis, are considerably more common. Some studies have found that more than 90% of intravenous drug users in some areas either are or have been infected with Hepatitis at some point.

In 2016, nearly one-million people reported trying Heroin for the first time. That is 250,000 or more people who potentially became addicted. Someone using Heroin may tell themselves that they can quit when they like, but it isn’t an easy thing to look at logically, especially when your brain is now craving the substance. A few signs of a budding addiction include:

  • Cravings
  • Requiring Heroin to function
  • Requiring more Heroin to get the same high
  • Engaging in increasingly risky behavior

Looking in from the outside, it can be hard to detect if a loved one is abusing Heroin as the drug has a euphoric effect on users and they could be at the point where they are using it to function normally. It will take close inspection but if you have noticed changes in behavior of someone you know, and you suspect drug abuse, then be on the lookout for:

  • Bloodshot eyes
  • Constricted “pinpoint” pupils
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Secretive behavior
  • Changes in appearance
  • Lack of motivation
  • Extreme drowsiness or nodding off
  • Financial problems, borrowing money

Any one of these indicators, though easily written off, are potential signs of Heroin abuse.

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Treatment For Heroin Addiction

Like any addiction, recovery starts with ridding all traces of the substance from the body. Recovery can’t start until someone is completely off of whatever drug they’ve become dependent on.

For an addiction like Heroin, it is highly recommended to go through a clinic where symptoms of withdrawal can be treated medicinally. Doctors can prescribe medication, like Methadone and Buprenorphine, to reduce the severity of the physical symptoms of withdrawal, such as:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Insomnia
  • Agitation
  • Diarrhea
  • Dilated pupils
  • Sweating
  • Anxiety
  • Abdominal cramping
  • Muscle aches

Checking into a clinic will also open the door to keeping tabs on the psychological symptoms of withdrawal, like depression and anxiety, that could potentially lead to relapse or self-harm.

After detox is complete, other medications, like Naltrexone, can be prescribed and used regularly to reduce the risk of relapse.

Get Help for Heroin Addiction Now

Treating an Heroin addiction is much easier when done sooner than later. The substance is extremely addictive and can be fatal. For this reason, treatment should be sought immediately. If you or a loved one are suffering from addiction, do not try to tackle it on your own. It can be a serious issue that is more complex than one might realize. Instead, reach out to your friends, family, and community. If you don’t know how or don’t have anyone, then reach out to a dedicated treatment provider who can help with any questions you may have.

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Author

Cooper Smith

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  • Cooper Smith earned his Bachelor’s in Writing for Entertainment from Full Sail University. While he was initially interested in a career in television, he saw an issue in his community and felt compelled to do something more. Now, he uses his knowledge to reach out to people who may need help and make the public aware of issues we are facing as a society. When he isn’t behind a computer, Cooper travels somewhere new.

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Sources Cited

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Clinical Reviewer

Theresa Parisi

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  • All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by Theresa Parisi , a certified addiction professional.

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