Heroin addiction is a major problem in the United States. It comprises a significant number of deaths related to drug overdose every year. Although heroin is known to be illegal in almost all states, this addictive substance is still considerably accessible, even to the teenage population.
Since heroin addiction is a serious issue, underestimating its negative effects may cause health repercussions. Thus, it is important to know what heroin is: its physical properties and its impact on the human physique.
Heroin, a compound often heard in news and movies, is a highly addictive substance that acts like morphine and opium. It has the properties of a painkiller, which produces a feeling of euphoria after consumption.
Heroin is created from the seed pod and resin of poppy plants grown outside of America, and it can come in the form of brownish-white powder or a black viscous liquid, also known as ‘black tar’. The drug can be considered as the illegal and more dangerous version of prescription opioids. It has the potential to cause lethal overdoses and guaranteed withdrawal symptoms.
Recent studies label heroin as the drug that causes an unstoppable addiction. This is due to the fact that those attempting to quit heroin eventually end up having countless drug relapses. People with heroin addiction need help whether from a medical professional or from a loved one.
How to stop someone from using heroin?
Going through heroin withdrawal is not easy to do alone, especially when moral and social support is absent during the detox process. Unsupervised attempts to stop may result in severe withdrawal symptoms that are both uncomfortable and dangerous.
To stop someone from using heroin, professional help from healthcare facilities and treatment spaces is necessary. The recovery process requires precise timing in healing phases and in medicine intake. Additionally, proper guidance from drug counselors in a trusted treatment center ensures long-term sobriety for those with heroin addiction. They also get another chance to have a productive life after their detox journey.
Not everyone with heroin addiction chooses to seek professional help which is why the role of their loved ones is very important. In addition to the moral support they can provide, family and friends can help guide their loved ones with addiction toward acceptance of their health condition. Allowing them to recognize and acknowledge their own need to seek help already goes a long way.
The following are some ways you can help a family member or a friend who is hesitant to be admitted for addiction recovery, or immensely struggling during their heroin withdrawal and detox phase:
Assure them that everything will be okay.
A loving assurance that painful times will soon come to pass can encourage them to be hopeful again. This will motivate them to keep moving forward in their recovery journey.
Explain potential dangers if they do not seek help.
It is essential to remind them that health complications due to addiction can drain their capacity to function. If worse comes to worst, heroin addiction can also cause severe depression and in extreme cases, death.
Show them that a productive and happy life still awaits them.
One of the common fears of those with drug addiction is having to be reintegrated back to society. Making them realize that there are people who care for their healing can inspire them to come out of their fears and change for the better.
Make them feel that you are present and ever-supporting.
The rehabilitation process can be physically uncomfortable and mentally draining. Words of encouragement during visits can boost their spirits and give them the will to continue their journey to recovery.
Believing in them.
Lastly, believing in their capacity to change can empower them to embrace their healing process despite the difficulties they may encounter along the way. In times when they’re losing the faith to believe in their healing, their loved ones’ faith can be their pillar and their ultimate strength.
How unhealthy is heroin?
Heroin is one of the most addictive illicit substances. Even the occasional use of heroin can cause withdrawal symptoms once the user decides to stop using it. The manner of injecting heroin into the body presents potential risks to the user as well. To be specific, injecting powder directly into the bloodstream may result in infection and risks of getting AIDS.
With that said, is using heroin unhealthy then? The simple answer to that is, yes.
What does heroin withdrawal feel like?
An abrupt heroin withdrawal without medical supervision is not advisable. The withdrawal can be intensely uncomfortable. As a result, the person tends to be restless both physically and mentally.
Heroin works its way into the user’s brain by hardwiring it to need and seek the addictive substance. When drug use becomes absent in their daily routine, the craving manifests in breathing difficulties, convulsions, migraines, and even fatigue.
What are withdrawal symptoms from heroin?
The symptoms of heroin withdrawal can range from internal feelings to external manifestations. As heroin becomes a need for the affected individual, the removal of the substance causes the brain to crave in various intensities. These unaddressed cravings manifest as physical sensations known as withdrawal symptoms. The following are symptoms of heroin withdrawal:
— Insomnia and migraine
— Anxiety and depression
— Muscle weakness and fatigue
— Breathing difficulty and change in heart rate
— Convulsions and sudden seizures
These are just some of the symptoms that one can identify during heroin withdrawal. However, the symptoms vary across individuals since our bodies react differently to stimulus and cravings. While some can experience mild symptoms, others may have to deal with life-threatening ones.
We Are Here To Help
At Buena Vista Health and Recovery Centers, we provide personalized treatment for drug addiction. We have highly-regarded rehab centers in Tucson, Az. Our programs do not focus solely on treatment, but also on prevention and reintegration into the community. We believe that everyone deserves another chance at a productive life.
If you or someone you know is seeking rehab, get in touch with one of our addiction professionals today. Give us a call at (800) 922-0095 or visit our rehab center in 5151 E Pima St, Tucson, AZ 85712.
