Heroin Addiction Treatment

What Makes Heroin So Addictive?

Heroin is derived from morphine, a naturally occurring substance in particular poppies grow in Columbia, Mexico, and various parts of Asia. When ingested, heroin affects pathways in the brain, reducing pain, enhancing feelings of pleasure and relaxation, and creating a euphoric high. This typically lasts about three to five hours, but over time, an individual will require more of the drug to achieve this same effect. This is known as tolerance.

As an individual’s tolerance builds, so does the risk of dependency. Generally speaking, a person is dependent on heroin when they begin to feel withdrawal symptoms while not using it. These symptoms can be highly unpleasant, causing the individual to experience intense cravings and a strong desire to continue using heroin to ease the discomfort associated with withdrawal.

Due to heroin’s intensity, tolerance and dependency can quickly lead to addiction. Someone addicted to heroin may find themselves going to extraordinary lengths and engaging in riskier behaviors to obtain and use the drug more often and in higher quantities. Tragically, this can lead to devastating consequences, including overdose and death.

Additionally, opioid addiction can lead to heroin abuse. Both prescription opioids and heroin target the same receptors in the brain, producing similar effects. Heroin, though illegal and more potent, can become appealing to those already addicted to opioids seeking a stronger or more cost-effective high.

Prescription opioids can become expensive and harder to obtain legally due to increased tolerance or changes in prescription regulations. Heroin, a cheaper and sometimes more accessible alternative, becomes an option due to its similar effects.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Heroin Use?

Heroin use can have severe and long-lasting effects on both the body and the mind. Some of the long-term consequences include:

• Physical Health Issues: Chronic heroin use can lead to a range of physical health problems, including collapsed veins (from injection), heart infections, liver and kidney disease, gastrointestinal issues, and lung complications.
• Tolerance and Dependence: Long-term heroin use often leads to increased tolerance, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effects. This cycle of tolerance can further reinforce dependence and addiction.
• Mental Health Challenges: Heroin abuse is associated with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety disorders, and other psychological problems. Prolonged use can alter brain chemistry, leading to difficulties in decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation.
• Social and Behavioral Impact: Heroin addiction can severely strain relationships with family, friends, and the broader community. It often leads to social isolation, financial problems, legal issues due to drug-related offenses, and difficulties in maintaining employment or educational pursuits.
• Infectious Diseases: Sharing needles or engaging in risky behaviors associated with heroin use increases the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases.
• Cognitive Impairment: Long-term heroin use can lead to cognitive impairment, affecting memory, attention, and decision-making abilities. This can persist even after cessation of drug use.
• Withdrawal Symptoms: When attempting to stop or reduce heroin use, individuals may experience severe withdrawal symptoms, including intense cravings, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, and uncontrollable shaking. These symptoms often contribute to the cycle of addiction as individuals continue using heroin to avoid withdrawal discomfort.
• Hormonal Imbalances: Chronic heroin use can disrupt hormonal balances in the body, leading to issues with reproductive health, menstrual irregularities in women, and sexual dysfunction in both men and women.
• Dental Health Problems: Heroin use, especially when smoked, can lead to poor dental health, including tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. This is often referred to as “meth mouth,” as it’s a common issue among various drug users.
• Nutritional Deficiencies: Individuals struggling with heroin addiction may neglect proper nutrition, leading to deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals. Poor dietary habits combined with the drug’s impact on the digestive system can contribute to malnutrition and related health issues.
• Increased Risk-Taking Behaviors: Chronic heroin use can alter decision-making processes and increase risk-taking behaviors, leading individuals to engage in dangerous activities beyond drug use, such as unsafe sexual practices or criminal behavior.
• Impact on Pregnancy: Heroin use during pregnancy can lead to serious complications for both the mother and the baby. It increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), developmental issues, and long-term health problems for the child.
• Brain Structure and Function Changes: Long-term heroin use can result in structural and functional changes in the brain. These alterations can impact cognitive abilities, memory, learning processes, and emotional regulation even after an individual stops using the drug.
• Chronic Pain and Sensitivity: Prolonged heroin use can result in increased sensitivity to pain, leading to a condition called hyperalgesia. This means that individuals in recovery may experience heightened pain sensations, which can complicate pain management if opioids are needed for legitimate medical reasons.
• Overdose Risk: The risk of overdose is significantly increased with long-term heroin use. As tolerance builds, individuals may take higher doses, increasing the chance of a lethal overdose, which can result in respiratory failure and death.

The long-term effects of heroin use can be devastating, affecting nearly every aspect of an individual’s life. Seeking professional help and support for addiction is crucial for managing these effects and achieving recovery. Treatment often involves a combination of therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and support groups to address both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction.

Signs of Heroin Abuse

There is no safe amount of heroin; any drug use is considered abuse, as heroin does not have any accepted medical benefits. However, it is not always easy to tell if someone is using heroin.

If you are concerned about a loved one, look for the following signs:

• Dilated pupils
• Slowed or slurred speech
• Flushed skin
• Difficulty concentrating or focusing
• Noticeable low energy
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Irritability or hostility
• Mood swings
• Increased secretiveness or lying
• Stealing
• Financial problems
• Avoidance
• Unexplained weight loss
• Scabs, bruises, or track marks on the skin
• Delusions
• Disorientation or confusion
• Paranoia
• Poor hygiene
• Apathy or lack of motivation

These and other signs indicate that someone is struggling with heroin abuse or addiction. It can be nearly impossible for someone with this condition to discontinue heroin use without professional help. If you believe that you or someone you love may need professional heroin addiction treatment services in Northern California or the nearby areas, reach out to The Lakes Treatment Center today to learn how our team can help.

How Does Heroin Addiction Treatment Work?

Due to the risk of adverse health effects, individuals are generally not recommended to stop using heroin altogether on their own. Instead, we assess new clients to determine an appropriate level of care, which often includes medically supervised detox. In some cases, medications may be used to help ease the withdrawal symptoms associated with detox and make the process more comfortable.

Once all traces of heroin have left the body, an individual can begin treatment for their substance use disorder. At The Lakes Treatment Center, we offer a customized heroin treatment program that can be individually tailored to each client’s unique needs. Depending on the level of addiction and the treatment required, this may include various individual therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), group therapy, pharmacogenetic (PGX) testing, and various other components.