Understanding Heroin Addiction

Heroin often tops the list for being the most addictive drug ever created. This illegal opioid drug can harm and damage a person’s life, requiring them to enter a detox program over the long term.

When a person is addicted to drugs, relationships suffer, physical abuse occurs, and illness and disease begin to take root. These issues can destroy a person’s will to live. Fortunately, Peace Medical offers detox programs designed to help those addicted to heroin and other drugs. Keep reading for an overview of heroin addiction and its effects.

What Is Heroin?

Heroin is an opioid drug that mimics natural substances made from opium poppy plants found in Mexico, Columbia, and parts of Asia. Heroin is generally found in a powder or a tar-like form. Heroin acts in such a way as to provoke intense cranial pleasure, so much so that the heroin user looks to enjoy that experience again. That’s where the addiction can start. When heroin use becomes routine, it increases the dependency on the drug. This creates a user’s very high craving for the drug, and without it, very low lows.

Why Do People Use Heroin?

People are often attracted to heroin for a variety of reasons, but it’s often to achieve a sort of temporary pleasure, euphoria, or high that can last for various lengths of time. It mimics natural highs like dopamine and endorphins. This feeling starts the process of addiction for a user.

Maybe the initial heroin user got a prescription for legal painkillers and subsequently enjoyed the sensations of the painkillers. This is how heroin users often start. In fact, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, about 80% of new heroin users started out by misusing prescription painkillers.

Physical Effects of Heroin

Initial heroin users usually look for that pleasurable high, but other effects may come into play as well. The physical effects might include a dry mouth, a feeling of heavy limbs and legs, and a warm flush on the skin when snorting or injecting the drug. Heroin users also exhibit signs of drifting between states of lucidity and sleepiness.

Peace Medical is the detox center for healing and wellness. Please contact us if you or a loved one is struggling with heroin addiction. We’ll help the user move forward.