In the United States, heroin addiction has quickly become a public health emergency, as millions of Americans are choosing cheaper drugs to feed their addictions to prescription painkillers. This puts users at significant risk because it removes all traces of medical professionalism from the equation, instead placing control into the hands of predatory drug dealers. Today, our drug rehab in Palm Beach County shares the most common signs of heroin use to look out for and the treatment options available for recovery.
What Is Heroin?
The use of opium dates back to 3400 B.C.E. in Mesopotamia and has evolved thousands of years since. The discovery of morphine by German pharmacist Friedrich Sertuerner in 1803 opened the door of possibilities for others who came after, with the newfound ability to isolate and extract drugs from plants and experiment with them. The invention of the hypodermic syringe in 1853 also offered a new way of administering drugs in precise doses.
Heroin was first synthesized from opium poppy near the end of the 19th century and marketed as a non-addictive cure for morphine dependency and a cough suppressant. By the middle of the 20th century, however, the truly terrifying nature of heroin’s addictive power came to light, and it had been reclassified as a controlled substance. Now, heroin is a dangerous plague that affects all levels of American society.
Heroin is an illicit and highly addictive opioid drug made from morphine, a naturally occurring material taken from the seed pod of some types of poppies. It is a member of the opiate drug class. The most common forms of heroin are powder, either white or brownish, or a sticky black substance called “black tar heroin.” It may be smoked, snorted, or injected.
Well known for its euphoric effects, heroin binds to opioid receptors in the brain quickly, producing pleasurable feelings while suppressing pain. It is, nevertheless, also linked to several grave health hazards and implications. Frequent use can result in several harmful health effects, such as respiratory depression, overdose, and an increased risk of infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis. It can also cause tolerance, which means higher doses are needed to produce the same effects.
What Does Heroin Do to the Brain and Body?
Heroin is one of the most destructive drugs ever created, having claimed thousands, perhaps even millions of lives since being introduced to the public. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that approximately 23 percent of all people who ever use heroin will develop an addiction.1 The most common way to use heroin today is through injection, though it can be smoked or snorted.
While the most publicized danger of heroin abuse generally focuses on deaths from overdose, there are other very serious health risks associated with heroin use. The drug negatively impacts several areas of the body, including the lungs, heart, brain, intestines, and kidneys. This does not include infections and blood-borne diseases that come from using and sharing dirty syringes.
Heroin effects on the brain and body include:
- Lungs: Heroin use slows down lung function, which is often the way many die from abusing it. An individual may stop breathing before their heart stops beating during a heroin overdose.
- Heart: An addict’s heart can be severely damaged from heroin abuse. This is especially true for those who use cotton when injecting, as the bacteria from the cotton can begin to grow on heart valves, potentially causing infections and destroying the valves.
- Kidneys: It has been found that heroin abuse is linked to high protein in the urine, which may cause kidney failure.
- Intestines: The use of heroin and other opiates/opioids reduces intestinal function, leading to constant constipation. The result can be hemorrhoids or anal fissures, which may require surgery.
- Brain: Some studies have indicated that heroin abuse leads to brain disintegration and deterioration of white matter. This may impact decision-making ability, behavior, and responses to adverse situations. Some users may even experience troubling hallucinations.
The Stages of Heroin Addiction
The initial signs of heroin use are related to the high caused by the drug. Heroin causes a euphoric rush, making users feel relaxed and comfortable without a care in the world. Once addiction has set in, the euphoric feelings have been diminished, and many abusers are only using the drug to avoid painful withdrawal effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and body aches.
What begins as a singular usage can easily spiral into something much more dangerous. Heroin addiction symptoms worsen and become more apparent with continued use, leading to tolerance, which leads to the need to increase usage, which makes accidental overdose increasingly likely. For individuals who cannot afford to support their growing addiction, many end up losing everything, selling their valuables, and committing theft and property crimes to feed their habit.
A significant percentage of heroin addicts were drawn to the drug because of a prior addiction to opioid prescription pills. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that drug overdoses rose for 11 consecutive years, from 1999 to 2010, with over 60 percent involving prescription drugs and 75 percent involving opioids.2 The number of heroin-related deaths increased 39 percent from 2012 to 2013.3
The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that approximately 23 percent of all people who ever use heroin will develop an addiction. In 2016 alone, 984,0000 Americans reported using heroin in the past year.4 The CDC also notes that approximately 20% of all overdose deaths involved heroin in 2020. This is a troubling precursor to the fact that the US saw the rate of heroin-related overdose deaths reach a level that was 7 times higher in 2020 than it was in 1999.5
With millions of Americans suffering from chronic pain, the prescription of opioid painkillers has increased. The risk of these drugs being used recreationally, the development of tolerance, and the propensity for abuse have caused local and federal authorities to crack down on over-prescribing and some pharmaceutical companies to reformulate drugs to make them less easy to abuse. While this has reduced painkiller abuse, it has led to an increase in heroin abuse. Heroin is cheaper and often more easily attainable than prescription drugs.
The Signs of Heroin Addiction
The earlier you notice heroin symptoms of use, the higher the person’s chances of reaching sobriety and staying sober long-term. Heroin warning signs and symptoms may be subtle enough at first to where you may not even realize there is a problem.
Many people who become addicted to drugs or alcohol can function normally in the early stages of their addiction, attending to their family and responsibilities as if nothing is wrong. Eventually, however, as their drug use persists, the problem may become more apparent.
Some of the most common signs of heroin use are:
- Slow, slurred, or incoherent speech
- Disorientation and clumsiness
- Decreased attention to hygiene and appearance
- Scabs, abscesses, or visible vein damage at major injection points (arms, neck)
- Track marks on the arms and legs (from using a needle)
- Possession of paraphernalia like needles or syringes, burned spoons, scorched aluminum foil
- Avoiding eye contact
- Extremely constricted pupils
- A marked increase in time spent sleeping
- Loss of momentum in life
- Repeatedly stealing money or valuable items from loved ones
- Wearing long sleeves or long pants, even in extremely warm weather (to hide track marks)
- Extreme weight loss
If you recognize the signs someone is using heroin, get help immediately. Oftentimes, the individual requires inpatient drug treatment to be separated from triggers and temptations at home and recover from the physical and psychological impact of drug use.
Signs of Heroin Withdrawal
When someone who is dependent on heroin quits using it or drastically reduces their dosage, they experience heroin withdrawal. While withdrawals are usually more uncomfortable than they are fatal, a person can die from heroin withdrawal if they become overly dehydrated. Even so, the degree of an individual’s dependence, the quantity and frequency of heroin use, and their general health are some of the variables that can affect the onset and intensity of withdrawal symptoms. Here are a few typical indicators of heroin withdrawal:
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Sneezing
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Aches in muscles and joints
- Generalized discomfort
- Heightened perception of pain
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Restlessness during sleep
- Profuse sweating, especially at night
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Depression
- Agitation
- Excessive yawning
- Dilated pupils
- Goosebumps (also referred to as “gooseflesh” or “cold turkey”)
While heroin withdrawal symptoms are usually not fatal, it’s vital to remember that they can be severe and difficult to tolerate. It is advised to seek expert medical assistance to safely manage withdrawal symptoms. A thorough heroin detox may include potential drugs like buprenorphine or methadone, along with medical oversight and support.
Why Is Heroin So Addictive?
The intensely addictive nature of heroin can be attributed to its ability to bind opioid receptors within the brain. Once the drug has reached the brain, it is converted into morphine, which grants the users the infamous sensations of calm, pain relief, and euphoria, or feelings of extreme contentment. This profound relief creates an intense cycle of reinforcement that causes users to consistently seek out and take more heroin.
The drug’s capacity to subvert the brain’s reward system accounts is another explanation. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and reward, is overstimulated during heroin use. This surge of dopamine fuels a powerful desire to use drugs again by reinforcing the behavior. As the brain adapts to natural rewards over time, people may need heftier doses of heroin to experience the same level of pleasure. As a result, a cycle of increasing use, tolerance, and dependency develops, which eventually leads to addiction. Without medical care and support, it can be extremely difficult to overcome the physical and psychological dependence on heroin.
How Much Heroin Can Kill You?
The precise lethal dose of heroin can differ significantly depending on several contributing factors, such as the way it was taken, how pure the substance was, and the tolerance levels of the user. Because heroin is an intensely potent drug, even seemingly minute doses can have a drastic effect on the brain’s central nervous system. That said, looking at an adult not tolerant to opioids, a lethal dose is considered roughly 30 milligrams.
It is also crucial to note that it typically is not only the drug itself that results in death. Several other factors can play a role, including the individual user’s sensitivity to opioids, polysubstance abuse with other drugs like alcohol or benzodiazepines, or contamination of the heroin with drugs of higher potency, like fentanyl. This results in the purity of heroin often being up in the air, intensely heightening the risk of a lethal overdose.
Signs of Heroin Overdose
A heroin overdose is a serious medical emergency that needs to be treated right away. For quick intervention, it is imperative to recognize the symptoms of a heroin overdose. Here are a few typical symptoms of a heroin overdose:
- Slow or shallow breathing: One of the most important symptoms is respiratory depression, which is characterized by a person’s breathing becoming shallow, irregular, or slow.
- Blue or pale skin: People who have a low oxygen supply may get blue or pale skin, especially around their lips and fingertips.
- Unresponsiveness: The person may become utterly unconscious, hard to wake up, or unresponsive.
- Pinpoint pupils: Heroin use frequently results in pinpoint pupils or constricted pupils. However, an overdose can cause extremely small pupils.
- Weak pulse: The individual may experience an irregular or weak pulse.
- Limpness or weakness: Excessive relaxation of the muscles can cause weakness or limpness.
- Confusion or delirium: The individual may show signs of disorientation, delirium, or confusion.
- Nausea and vomiting: These are typical signs of a heroin overdose.
- Choking or gurgling sounds: The person may make gurgling or choking sounds as a result of the respiratory system being suppressed.
- Loss of consciousness: In extreme circumstances, the person may completely lose consciousness.
It’s critical to contact emergency services right away if you think someone is overdosing on heroin. Naloxone is a drug that can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and is available in many places. It can save lives when someone quickly seeks professional medical attention and administers naloxone.
Finding a Heroin Rehab Near Me
Break free from heroin addiction. If you notice signs someone is on heroin or you’re battling addiction yourself, our Banyan rehab in Lake Worth is here to support you on your path to recovery. We recognize the difficulties you face. Our skilled and sympathetic staff is prepared to assist you with individualized, evidence based treatment for heroin addiction.
