Heroin addiction
Heroin addiction doesn’t have to be the end of the road.
Heroin is a dangerous and deadly drug that brings thousands of people to their knees each year. The drug is well-known for being one of the most addictive and destructive substances available. If you’re living in the throes of active heroin addiction, it can feel impossible to escape. However, finding freedom from heroin addiction through treatment with Emerge Recovery is possible. Heroin addiction doesn’t have to be the end of the road.
What Is Heroin?
Heroin is an illicit opiate drug made from morphine. It comes in a few different forms, usually a white or brown powder or a sticky black substance (“black tar”). People use the drug by smoking it, snorting it, or injecting it intravenously.
Who uses heroin?
Heroin addiction, just like any other substance use disorder, can affect anyone. Most people who use heroin don’t start with the drug; they progress to using it after starting with other substances. For example, some studies show that as many as 86% of people who use heroin started with prescription pain relievers.
What are the effects of heroin addiction?
Heroin addiction causes a range of harmful physical and psychological effects. Over time, heroin use alters brain structure and physiology which can cause long-term damage to neural and hormonal systems. It can also impact decision-making skills, behavior regulation, stress response, and more. Heroin also causes excruciating withdrawal symptoms that can occur within hours of last taking the drug. Withdrawal symptoms include muscle and bone pain, vomiting, insomnia, restlessness, cold flashes, and involuntary leg movements (“kicking” heroin).
Why is heroin so dangerous?
Heroin is one of the most deadly drugs in use today. Unlike prescription medications, illicit drugs like heroin have no quality control. There is no consistency between batches and it’s often mixed with other harmful substances. Additionally, fentanyl, a drug 50 to 100 times stronger, has made its way into much of the heroin supply. The inconsistency between pickups and the strength of the drug usually means that one hit can be the difference between life and death.
What are some signs of heroin addiction?
The longer someone uses heroin the clearer their use becomes. It is a destructive drug that causes people to behave in ways they never would have before initiating heroin use. Some possible signs of heroin addiction include:
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Drowsiness
- Weight loss
- Flu-like symptoms
- Extreme mood fluctuations
- Cuts or scabs from picking at skin
- Isolating from friends and family
- Unexplained financial problems
- Getting into legal trouble
The signs of heroin addiction are alarming and progress with time. Overlooking possible signs now can lead to bigger problems down the road. It’s better to seek help sooner than wait until it’s too late.
How can you treat heroin addiction?
Thankfully, heroin addiction does not have to have the final say. You can find freedom from heroin addiction no matter how far down you may have dug. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve tried getting clean. Escaping the cycle of heroin addiction is possible so long as you’re still here.
Emerge Recovery is dedicated to helping you find the help you need and desperately deserve. No one should have to struggle with heroin addiction alone. You may have exhausted many of your options but we’re here for you. Our individualized approach to drug rehab exists to walk you out of the darkness of drugs and back into the light of life.
Reach out today to learn more and find out whether Emerge Recovery is right for you.