If you or a loved one are battling a heroin addiction, it’s important to understand the short- and long-term effects of heroin use and addiction treatment. On this page, you’ll be able to explore quick heroin facts and learn about the first step in treatment.
What Is Heroin?
Heroin is a highly potent and addictive opioid drug with severe and potentially deadly side effects. When used, heroin binds to receptors in the brain and spinal cord, delivering an intense rush of relaxation and pleasure. This is part of the reason the drug is so addictive.
While addiction can be incredibly challenging to overcome, several effective treatment options at Buena Vista Recovery can help you achieve lifelong sobriety.
Quick Heroin Facts and Statistics
Learn more about heroin use with these fast heroin facts and statistics:
- Heroin-involved overdoses and deaths continue to rise in the U.S., with more than 13,000 people dying from a heroin drug overdose annually.
- Nearly 20% of all opioid-related deaths involve heroin in the U.S.
- Heroin is used by injecting, snorting, sniffing, or smoking.
- Around 80% of people who use heroin first misused prescription opioids.
- Like many drugs, many people regularly using heroin develop a tolerance and must use higher and more frequent doses to achieve the same effect, increasing the risk of overdose and death.
The Short and Long-Term Effects of Heroin
Heroin can affect people differently, and side effects can become more severe with higher dosages or frequencies. Some of the short-term effects of heroin use include:
| Short-Term Effects | Long-Term Effects |
|---|---|
| Confusion | Abscesses |
| Drowsiness | Collapsed veins (if injected) and damaged tissue inside the nose (if snorted) |
| Dry mouth | Infections within the heart’s lining and valves |
| Feeling hot or flushed | Liver and kidney disease |
| Heaviness in the arms and legs | Lung complications, including pneumonia |
| Nausea | Stomach cramping and constipation |
| Severe itching | Various mental health disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder and depression |
| Vomiting |
Heroin Addiction Treatment
Heroin is a dangerous and addictive drug that is challenging to quit alone. But fortunately, you can start on the road to recovery and get help at Buena Vista.
We offer several treatment options that can help you overcome addiction, prevent future relapses, and enjoy long-term sobriety.
The first step in addiction treatment is a medically supervised detox, as withdrawal symptoms can become severe and potentially life-threatening.
During detox, our staff will help you get through withdrawal symptoms safely and as comfortably as possible while eliminating the possibility of immediate relapse. Additionally, we’ll help support your recovery by creating a personalized treatment plan and helping you transition into treatment after detox.
If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin addiction, help is available! Contact Buena Vista for more information on heroin addiction treatment and start on your journey to long-term sobriety.
