Made from morphine, heroin is an illegal opioid which has become more than common in today’s society. Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid made from morphine, which is itself derived from the opium poppy. Heroin, morphine, and codeine are examples of opiates and opioids, and heroin is considered a highly addictive drug with a strong potential for dependence, similar to other opioids.
The most common forms of heroin include a white or brown powder and a solid, sticky substance known as black tar heroin.
People usually use this drug by inhaling, sniffing, or injecting it directly into the veins. When injected, the initial rush from heroin is felt within seven or eight seconds and lasts from 45 seconds to a few minutes.
The rise in heroin addiction is closely linked to the broader opioid epidemic, which has seen a significant increase in addiction to opioid pain medicines in the United States.
Despite knowing the devastating consequences of the drug, there are individuals falling prey to heroin use disorder. Often, what they may have started as an escape develops into a dependency that, with time, becomes impossible to get rid of.
However, with the right support, a structured treatment plan and credible professionals, recovery is within reach! At PCP (the Perry Clayman Project), we ensure to make the healing journey as smooth as possible. Our experts understand how challenging this proces
Introduction to Drug Addiction
Drug addiction, also known as substance use disorder, is a chronic and complex condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Heroin is an opiate drug and one of the most highly addictive substances, making heroin addiction particularly challenging to overcome. It is characterised by the inability to control the use of a substance, despite the negative consequences it may have on a person’s life.
This condition can involve the use of illicit drugs, prescription medications, or other substances, and can have serious repercussions on a person’s physical and mental health, relationships, and overall well-being. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, drug addiction is a treatable condition that requires a comprehensive treatment plan.
Most people with heroin addiction find it extremely difficult to stop without professional help, and treatment options include drug treatment through a local drug treatment service, as well as self help and support from loved ones and family members. This plan often includes medication, therapy, and support groups to address the multifaceted nature of the disorder and support long-term recovery.
What May Cause Heroin Addiction?
Several factors contribute to why people do not just wake up one day and decide to start using heroin out of nowhere. There is a whole science behind this addiction, which may stem from:
People who use heroin come from a wide range of age groups and social backgrounds, and the behavioural and physiological effects of heroin can significantly impact their social lives and daily functioning. Additionally, heroin is often used in combination with other drugs, such as alcohol or cocaine.
Mixing heroin with alcohol increases the risk of overdose and physical health complications, while combining heroin with stimulants like cocaine (a practice known as “speedballing”) can further increase overdose risks and make it harder to detect symptoms. Heroin is also sometimes cut with other drugs or additives, which can alter its potency and danger.
People who use heroin may also use other drugs, such as alcohol or cocaine, which can increase the risks and complications associated with addiction.
Family Influence
The family of an individual has a powerful influence on deciding whether he or she will abuse drugs in the future. For example, if one has heroin dependency in his or her family history, then he or she will be prone to become dependent on the same drug. It might not be today or tomorrow, but one day this person will also resort to heroin to seek pleasure. Recognising the signs of drug use in a family member is crucial for early intervention and support.
Family members play a vital role in providing emotional support, setting healthy boundaries, and actively participating in treatment and recovery efforts for those struggling with heroin addiction.
Peer Pressure
There can be instances when a person’s friends or colleagues have been addicted to heroin. And to get accepted into that circle, this individual, who previously had never done drugs, may start doing it under pressure from peers who are drug users.
Stress or Mental Health Issues
With lives becoming more hectic than usual, people are more keen towards exploring ways to seek instant pleasure. Addiction to drugs, including heroin, often fills this void due to their instant rewarding nature. People may often abuse these substances to experience a temporary high and forget about their worries. This abuse can lead to long-term health problems, including mental disorders, which are common among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) and addiction.
Understanding Opiate Addiction
Opiate addiction is a specific type of substance use disorder that involves the use of opioid medications, such as heroin, morphine, or codeine, as well as prescription painkillers. Opiates like morphine and codeine are naturally derived from the opium poppy, while opioids is a broader term that includes both natural and synthetic drugs, such as heroin and other opioids.
These substances work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, producing feelings of pleasure and relaxation. Heroin, like other opioids, works in the same way by affecting the brain’s reward system and dopamine release. However, they can also cause negative effects, such as drowsiness, constipation, and respiratory depression. Opiate addiction can lead to physical dependence, where the body requires the drug to function normally, and tolerance, where higher doses are needed to achieve the same effects.
As tolerance develops, individuals may need to take more of the drug to experience the same effects, which can lead to increased dependence. Withdrawal symptoms can make it challenging for individuals to stop using the substance without medical help. The National Institute on Drug Abuse highlights that opioid addiction is a major public health concern, with millions of people struggling with opioid use disorder and needing comprehensive treatment to overcome.
The Stages Through Which Heroin Use Disorder Develops
Not even a single drug develops dependency through its single dose. The process is complex and involves stages such as:
● Initial Encounter: This is the phase where a person engages in drug use. In the case of heroin, an individual may either sniff, inhale, or inject the substance.
● Developing Tolerance: After a dose or two, the body might not be able to experience the same highs with the same dosage as before. This is because the body may have developed a tolerance against the drug. Now, to overcome this effect, the individual will have to increase the dose.
● Forming Dependency: In between satisfying the urges, overcoming tolerance, and increasing the dose, a person eventually forms dependency. Heroin is a highly addictive drug, and heroin users can develop dependence within two to three weeks of regular use. Heroin users often attempt to hide their addiction by concealing physical signs such as track marks, needle scars, and skin damage, as well as hiding drug paraphernalia. This person now cannot function normally without having the substance.
Symptoms of Heroin Dependency
An individual’s heroin dependency can manifest in many ways. Nevertheless, the path they choose for addiction, their symptoms are more or less the same. A few of the most common signs of heroin use disorder may include:
● Anxiety
● Depression
● Sudden weight loss
● Runny nose or flu-like symptoms
● Dry mouth
● Inability to make decisions
● Constant state of confusion
● Random bruises around the body
The above were some general signs of heroin use disorder. Another symptom that could directly indicate if a person has developed this drug’s dependency depends on how he dresses or covers himself.
For example, a heroin addict may start to wear long-sleeved shirts or full-length clothes even in hot weather. This is to hide track marks, which are visible signs of intravenous heroin use, characterized by discolored, raised areas on the skin. These are common signs seen in a heroin addict. Additionally, addressing drug-related problems is crucial in rehabilitation to minimise behaviours leading to illicit drug use and foster new, healthier behaviours.
Heroin Addiction Impact on the Body Organs
Heroin use disorder can have some adverse consequences on the various organs of our body. It can impact:
● Brain and Nervous System: Heroin acts directly on the opioid receptors in the brain. As a result, the user may experience an intense euphoria at first and then distorted cognitive abilities later on. Heroin also causes slowed breathing, which can be life-threatening in cases of overdose. Additionally, there is a significant risk of opiate overdose, especially during the transitional phase between detoxification and the initiation of maintenance therapy.
● Heart: Often injected intravenously, over time, heroin can make its users’ veins collapse. In worst-case scenarios, this damage can also disturb the rate at which the heart pumps blood, increasing the chances of getting a heart attack. Heroin users are also at increased risk of diseases like HIV and hepatitis from needle sharing.
● Digestive System: People who have developed dependency on heroin usually report poor appetite, constipation or bloating. This is because the substance is known to slow down digestion, which in turn creates all the chaos.
● Overall Immune System: Long-term addiction to heroin can disturb the production of white blood cells necessary for warding off infections. As a result, the user of the substance will frequently get ill or fail to heal from usual diseases.
Long-term heroin use can also lead to changes in brain function that may take months or years to return to normal after stopping.
Risks and Complications
Drug addiction can have serious risks and complications, including overdosing—heroin overdose is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. The opioid epidemic has resulted in thousands of deaths from heroin overdoses every year.
Heroin is a street drug that is often cut with other drugs, such as fentanyl, which increases the risk of overdose and makes its use even more dangerous. Individuals who struggle with drug addiction are at a higher risk of experiencing physical health problems, such as tooth decay, blood-borne viruses, and respiratory infections.
Additionally, drug addiction can lead to an increased risk of mental health disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, can be highly addictive and deadly, underscoring the need for effective treatment and support services.
Addressing these risks and complications is crucial for improving the overall health and well-being of individuals affected by drug addiction.
How Does Heroin Dependency Affect the Overall Quality of Life?
Besides impacting the human body organs, heroin use disorder also has a substantial impact on how an individual lives their life. It can result in:
● Disturbed Relationships: An individual with heroin dependence can never form stable relationships. Because they are always under the influence of the drug, they like to spend their time alone and, as a result, neglect important relationships around them. Heroin addiction often causes significant strain on loved ones and family members, who may struggle to provide support and maintain healthy boundaries.
● Financial Crisis: Addiction, whether it is to heroin or any other drug, is expensive. Those suffering from the condition may often go to any lengths to satisfy their urges. Such individuals may get involved in theft, debt, or vandalism to obtain the finances to fuel their addiction. The impact of addiction varies greatly depending on personal circumstances, including substance use and mental health.
● Legal Consequences: Possession of heroin is illegal in many countries. Individuals involved in dealing with or the use of this drug may face imprisonment, which may even complicate the process of reintegration into society.
Most people who use heroin experience effects that last for three to five hours, depending on the dose. Heroin’s metabolites, such as 6-MAM, can be detected in the body for several hours after use.
Treatments for Heroin Use Disorder
Recovering from heroin addiction can seem like a never-ending battle. But the good news is that Rehab Today by PCP makes this journey more manageable and interactive by offering different treatments.
Treatment options include opioid substitution therapy, which involves replacing heroin with a safer, prescribed opioid drug, as well as therapy and heroin rehabilitation programmes under professional care. Those with heroin use disorder can start their treatment at PCP with confidence.
You will be given a key worker who will help you put together a personalised treatment plan, decide between maintenance therapy or detox, and continue to support you for at least 6 months after detox to help you stay off heroin.
Professional Assessment
A professional and thorough psychological as well as medical assessment by health care providers can decide what kind of treatment plan suits an individual’s condition the best. For this evaluation, a mental healthcare practitioner might ask you questions like:
● When and how did you start using heroin?
● What is your family and friends’ background? Are there any instances of heroin addiction there?
● Have you ever tried to quit using heroin? If yes, what was your reaction?
● What are the goals you want to achieve by the end of the treatment?
Detoxification
The next step involves safely getting rid of the addictive substance from a person’s body. This process, known as detoxification, is regulated under medical supervision to ensure safety and manage withdrawal symptoms effectively.
PCP offers multiple private drug detox clinics throughout the UK to help people recover from drug abuse. It provides the right setting and expert care to support you throughout the process. With us, you never have to consider detox as a painful intervention!
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Quitting any addiction is accompanied by endless dangerous withdrawal symptoms. To ease the withdrawal process and support ongoing management through maintenance therapy, doctors may prescribe medications such as:
● Naltrexone
● Buprenorphine
Behavioural Therapies
Psychological support and behavioural therapies help mental health practitioners to identify what actually caused the dependency to develop. One such therapy is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which many of the therapists use. It aids in identifying the triggers or negative thought patterns and then developing healthy coping strategies to maintain an addiction-free life.
Inpatient or Outpatient Rehab Programmes
Depending on the severity of a person’s addiction, he or she may be asked to enrol in an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation programme. Those whose condition isn’t severe may also be allowed to attend day care rehab so they can continue with their daily life responsibilities. However, people with severe dependencies are advised to attend specialised rehabs for heroin addiction.
Take the First Step Towards a Healthier Life Today!
Heroin addiction can ruin a person’s life to the extent that he or she does not want to exist anymore. Even the withdrawal signs can become so distressing that they might begin using the drug again.
Here at Rehab Today by PCP, we want no one to have to fight heroin addiction alone. Therefore, our expert team offers comprehensive treatment programmes to help you regain control over your life. From medical-grade detox to inpatient and outpatient rehab plans, our recovery procedures are carefully curated for each and every individual.
We will be with you every step of the way. Contact us today and start on the path to a life free from addiction.
Your new chapter begins now.
