14 Jun 2012

Heroin Addiction

Heroin (aka Smack, H, Horse, Junk) is a highly addictive opiate which is generally easy to obtain and is usually cheaper than other addictive, illegal drugs like cocaine. Heroin is made by processing morphine – which is created from opium.

Heroin is one of the most commonly abused illegal opiates in circulation today. It’s also incredibly addictive.

Heroin affects parts of the brain which control automatic processes which are critical for your body to continue to function, like breathing and blood pressure. Often, when someone overdoses on heroin, they lose their ability to breath. Take a moment to digest this. Every breath you take, intentionally or when you body just does it on its own, is done in coordination with the brain “doing its thing” and getting the muscles and lungs to breath, intake air, exhale air. A lot goes into all of this action. If heroin gets in the way and the brain can’t “do its thing”, no breathing occurs. Period.

Users of heroin say that injecting the drug creates a rush of euphoria, then they go into an alternately wakeful and drowsy state. When regularly used, the body builds a tolerance to the drug, causing the user to want more of the drug as their ability to achieve the same high decreases. Consistent use can lead to addiction. Heroin addicts are prevalent enough to have a word created just for them – “junkies.”

Heroin is an incredibly addictive, and often fatal drug. Users can not only die from the drug or affects of the drug, but can contract diseases caused by dirty needles – like AIDS and hepatitis. Junkies can develop collapsed veins, infection of the lining of their heart, liver and kidney disease, and more. One person in treatment I spoke to awhile ago said he arrived with collapsed veins. While going through treatment he said he could feel his body healing and his veins returning to their former state. He described it as an amazing feeling to actually feel the blood rushing through his body. I couldn’t tell you what was actually occurring, but he felt a major difference and his well-being had much improved. And he was drug free.

Extreme and horribly painful withdrawal goes along with this drug – and with the majority of opiates. If you are addicted to heroin, or to any opiate, visit us. We have an inpatient program which has been proven effective in getting people off opiates. Contact us at (877) 850-7355.

Sources: NIDA, NDC, Interviews

NARCONON SUNCOAST

DRUG EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION