Heroin is a powerful opiate with a rapid, euphoric effect on the body. Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive opioid sold on the streets and manufactured from the opium poppy. In the United States, nearly 40 people per day die from a heroin overdose. The substance can be injected, snorted, or smoked. It is common for heroin to be mixed with other drugs, such as crack, to achieve more of a high. Heroin has been a major contributor to the opioid epidemic.
Heroin binds to opioid receptors in the brain, which stimulates the release of dopamine to induce a euphoric feeling. This rush of euphoria is immediate and typically only lasts a few minutes. It can slow your heart rate and breathing and make you ” dreamlike “. Heroin use has been on the rise since 2007 due to the increase in prescription painkillers. People oftentimes resort to using heroin as a cheaper alternative to prescription opioids.
Heroin Addiction Signs, Overdose, and Withdrawal
Heroin affects the body detrimentally and may have serious long-term effects, including:
- Collapsed veins
- Heart infections
- Skin infections like abscesses and cellulitis
- A higher chance of getting HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C
- Liver and kidney disease
- Mental disorders
- Lung diseases
Withdrawal from heroin has a number of physical and mental symptoms:
- Pale skin
- Losing consciousness
- Pinpoint pupils
- Weakened or shallow breathing
- Blue lips or fingertips
- Slurring words
- Unresponsiveness
- Changes in mental state
- Low blood pressure
- Uncontrolled muscle movement
- Limp body
- Nausea
- Abdominal cramps
- Tearing
- Runny nose
- Sweats
- Chills
- Frequent yawning
- Muscle and bone aches
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Agitation
- Restlessness
- Tremors
- Goosebumps
- Fatigue or insomnia
- Anxiety or depression
- Hypertension
- Rapid heart rate
- Muscle spasms
- Muscle spasms
- Impaired respiration
- Difficulty feeling pleasure
- Drug cravings
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