A big problem in our country today is the rise of heroin addiction. Most abusers of opioids will eventually turn to heroin when they run out of options. Because heroin can only be acquired illegally, it adds an element of danger to this drug.
Just like other opioid substances, heroin is very addictive and can lead to physical, mental and social disorders if used over a long period of time.
What is Heroin?
This drug is a form of morphine, that will commonly be found in the form of white powder. At times, heroin can be mixed with other substances, that will change the appearance to a yellow or brownish color. It may even be black, known as black tar heroin.
Heroin can be injected, smoked or snorted, and will quickly have a significant effect on the user. Because of its quick and intense effect on the body and mind, heroin is an extremely harmful drug and highly addictive.
How Dangerous is Heroin?
The level of danger the substance can cause a person depends on the amount of time and volume of usage. The constant abuse of heroin can cause significant physical and mental disorders, which may have some associated side effects. Heroin can have social and legal ramifications along with its effects on the body and mind.
Heroin use comes with a high risk of overdose. Because you can only get this drug illegally, there is no standard process by which the drug is created. It can be mixed in a variety of ways and can vary in potency. Any heroin user is at risk of overdose at any time. There is no way to know what you’re putting in your body and how your body will react.
Opioid addicts will eventually try heroin when they can no longer get their prescription drugs, or their prescription drug no longer gives the same euphoric feeling. Once heroin becomes their drug of choice, it will be extremely difficult to compete with its intense high and the ability to acquire it inexpensively. This all adds up to a highly dangerous drug, that comes with the risk of death. In fact, heroin is the main culprit when it comes to opioid deaths.
The Heroin High
Heroin is so desired because of the extreme, euphoric high it gives. The drug produces these feelings by binding to opioid receptors in the body. This causes nerve cells to release a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which regulates a users feelings of pleasure and reward.
When a person uses heroin, they receive a big rush of dopamine in their body, which gives them the feeling of euphoria. The addiction grows and the user will want to achieve the same sensation. While the euphoric high is the main effect of heroin use, there are some short-term effects attributed to heroin use.
Short-term effects depend on how the person is ingesting the drug. During the dopamine rush, a person can feel warm and flushed, as well as a dry mouth. They may experience minor depressant effects and pain relief.
After the euphoric state wears off, the user will feel groggy or drowsy for a length of time. The person’s mental function will be delayed and put them in a state of confusion.
Another short-term side effect of heroin can cause the body to lose temperature and slow down the body’s heart rate. Their breathing may slow enough to lead to coma and permanent brain damage. And there is always the risk of overdose.
Mental Health Concerns
Heroin abuse will change the physical structure and physiology of the abuser’s brain. This can create long-term imbalances in their nervous system that will may never be corrected. Heroin breaks down the brain’s white matter, which can have an effect on the person’s ability to make decisions and behavior.
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Other mental concerns include:
-Loss of memory
-Introversion
–Depression
-Anxiety
This list only scratches the surface of the potential risk of heroin abuse. Heroin can destroy a user’s personal life, job, and can create potential legal ramifications. It is a drug that can change a person’s appearance and impair their mental health. If you or a loved one is experiencing any side effects of heroin use or is suffering from addiction seek treatment today. Asana Recovery is here to help. Contact us at 949-438-4504.
