Heroin is the most abused and most rapidly acting opiate. Users feel the effect of the drug within minutes, if not seconds, depending on the method of use. Heroin is injected, snorted, or smoked, with injection being the primary means of administration. However, as heroin is beginning to reach younger and more middle-class users, smoking and snorting has increased in popularity. All three methods are highly addictive and pose similar health threats. Heroin is sold as a white or brownish powder or as a black sticky substance referred to as black tar heroin, and while considered one of the cheaper illegal drugs, can cost the user $250 a day to support their addiction. See the history of heroin.
Symptoms of Heroin Use
Symptoms of heroin abuse include the following symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Increased activity followed by drowsiness or stupor
- Itching
- Constricted pupils
- Track marks
- Finding spoons, foil, or gum wrappers with burn marks
- Needle paraphernalia, including products for disinfecting
Dangers and Effects of Heroin Abuse
The short-term effects of heroin include these symptoms:
- A “rush”—a burst of pleasurable sensation
- Flushing of the skin
- Dry mouth
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe itching
- Spontaneous abortion
Users will also experience drowsiness and clouded mental function after the initial effects of heroin have worn off. This is experienced in conjunction with slowed cardiac function and slowed breathing, both of which can lead to death.
The long-term effects of heroin include these complications:
- Infectious diseases such as AIDS/HIV and Hepatitis A and B
- Infection of the heart lining and valves
- Arthritis
- Scarred or collapsed veins
- Bacterial infection
- Abscesses
- Lung conditions such as pneumonia or tuberculosis
Street heroin is also rarely pure, and the additives used to “cut” the drug often have negative side effects of their own. In addition to the powerful physical addiction and negative physical reactions to heroin, users also undergo a change in personality and behavior. This means family, friends, and work can all be lost to heroin addiction. Users miss big occasions in their and others’ lives, often resort to crime to obtain more of the drug, and disappear on binges for weeks. Users develop a tolerance to the drug and gaining more and more of it becomes the primary goal in life. A typical addict must inject four times a day in order to maintain their high and avoid withdrawal. Withdrawal from heroin can involve the following:
- Restlessness
- Muscle and bone pain
- Insomnia
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Cold flashes
- Intense cravings for heroin
Withdrawal symptoms last around a week, although some individuals may continue to experience them for months. While heroin withdrawal is not fatal in otherwise healthy adults and is considered less dangerous than withdrawal from alcohol, drug cravings last for years and often lead to relapse. watch our heroin addiction video.
Need Help Finding Treatment Centers for Heroin Abuse?
If you or a loved on has a heroin abuse problem and needs heroin detox rehab, please call our toll-free number. We are here to help and can provide information about heroin addiction treatment and steps towards recovery. We are available to help 24 hours a day. Don’t suffer another day because of addiction; call us today.
