Heroin, an opioid drug, is one of the most addictive and dangerous of all street drugs that are commonly abused. Heroin addiction has become an epidemic in the United States, with usage rates having more than doubled among young adults in the past decade. As the number of heroin users has increased, so have accidental overdoses. This has become such a large and widespread issue that drug overdose has become the leading cause of accidental death for adults in America. Here are the top six most important issues in the field of heroin-dependency treatment.
Why is Heroin So Addictive?
Heroin is in a class of drugs known as opiates. Other drugs that are similar to heroin include many prescription drugs such as:
- Oxycontin
- Hydrocodone
- Morphine
- Methadone
In fact, many current heroin users first became dependent upon opiates from abusing prescription medications. 1 in 15 of all opiate painkiller consumers eventually move on to abuse heroin, due to its easier access and cheaper price.
Heroin is very addictive because it activates and stimulates the pleasure and reward centers in the brain. After heroin is either smoked, snorted or injected, it quickly crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds to opioid receptors in the brain to create an intense rush and high of euphoria. However, after prolonged use, the brain adapts to the presence of heroin and the user must ingest increasing amounts of the drug to get high and avoid withdrawals. Heroin withdrawals occur when an addict becomes so physically dependent upon the drug that, without regular use, the body becomes sick due to lack of the drug.
What are the Dangers of Heroin?
Aside from the very real risk of death by overdose, continued use of heroin is fraught with many other dangers. Users who inject the drug may experience bruised and scarred veins, serious infections at the injection site and risk contracting blood-borne illnesses such as HIV, AIDS or hepatitis. Sharing dirty needles is common among many addicts and is the primary reason for outbreaks of these diseases among groups of addicts.
Heroin is very toxic, and it can also damage the kidneys, lungs and liver. Since heroin is a street drug, it is mixed with random and unknown substances that could potentially cause blood clots. The respiratory system is very vulnerable to the ravages of heroin, and the depressed respiration rate that is caused by this drug can lead to pneumonia, tuberculosis or other infections of the lungs.
How Does One Successfully Detox from Heroin?
Detoxing from heroin is very painful, and medical supervision at an inpatient rehab facility is recommended for both the comfort and safety of a recovering addict. Withdrawal symptoms include:
- Restlessness
- Agitation
- Bone and muscle pain
- Insomnia
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever and chills
- Muscle cramps
Acute withdrawal symptoms generally last for one to three days, with the symptoms tapering off within about a week’s time. However, treating heroin addiction doesn’t end with successfully weathering the physical withdrawals. Addicts need to establish new coping mechanisms to deal with cravings, attend therapy and support groups and have a plan set up to deal with preventing a possible relapse once they have completed a detox and treatment program.
Is Inpatient Treatment the Best Hope for Treating Heroin Addiction?
Addiction is a complicated issue that is rooted in many causes, such as social, emotional, familial, genetic and socioeconomic challenges. Inpatient detox and rehab is a modality of treatment that requires an addict to be in a supervised residential facility, 24 hours a day over an extended period of time. People who suffer from drug addiction have a 40 to 60 percent chance of relapsing, so an intensive regimen of varied treatment is necessary to help improve the chances of successful and permanent recovery.
What are the Benefits of Heroin Inpatient Recovery Programs?
Successfully treating heroin addiction often requires treating an individual for mental illness at the same time. Referred to in the treatment field as co-morbidity or a dual diagnosis, drug addicts are twice as likely to suffer from mental illness than the general population. Some people may self-medicate to relieve symptoms of their mental illness, or drug abuse itself may be the cause of their mental or emotional illness. Either way, addressing these two related problems is a crucial component of successful recovery in an inpatient facility. Other benefits of attending such a program include:
- A safe environment that is drug and alcohol-free
- Medical supervision
- Individual and group therapy to address underlying mental health issues
- Outpatient support after discharge
Is Long Term Sobriety from Heroin Possible?
Addiction is categorized as a long-term and chronic illness, so continuity of care is essential for anyone who is hoping to maintain sobriety after detox and treatment. Heroin addiction ruins communities, families and individuals. It is responsible for thousands of deaths each year, so it is clear that longer-term preventative care for this disease is important for the health and well-being of a recovered heroin addict. Components that are integrative to a sustainable recovery include:
- Continuity of therapeutic care
- Pharmaceutical therapy, as ordered by a supervising doctor
- Attending peer support groups
- Building and maintaining social and family connections
- Individual enrichment, either through career or hobbies
Treating heroin addiction with the goal of long-term, sustainable and permanent recovery is an achievable goal, and one that increasing numbers of people are realizing through expanded community rehab programs and facilities. Treating the multifaceted problems and issues that underlie and cause addiction helps individuals to recover from drug addiction with the hope for a brighter, healthier and drug-free future.
I’ve been clean since 5/2/15 and doing great I was a heroin addict for over 20 years so I know if I can do it it’s possible for anybody to do it I’m doing it one day at a time and feel so much better about myself just thought I would share that Thank You keep doing what you guys are doing…..
Heroin is truly a real-life monster, if there ever was one. It destroys lives, families… and there doesn’t seem to be anything we can do to stop it. It’s already illegal, so what else can you do? It’s just horrible.
I do appreciate websites that are trying to help put useful information out there for addicts and their loved ones; however, there were a few days things on this page that I felt were a bit misleading. Just like the well-known commercial for Malibu Treatment Centers or whatever with Pax Prentiss, when an individual crosses the threshold from dependency into addiction, that individual WILL ALWAYS BE AN ADDICT, contrary to Pax’s belief that now he is NOT. IF in fact that is true, then he NEVER WAS. The brain, even in Recovery, just does not work like that, regardless of how much we may want it to. We can never go back to before our first use (drink). It doesn’t matter how much clean time we have, it would only take a couple shots/hits/drinks/whatever and we’d be right back to using what we were using before we quit. Once an addict, ALWAYS AN ADDICT. Which brings me to my next point – an addict is NEVER recoverED… They must STAY IN RECOVERY; I am a RECOVERING heroin addict myself. There is a HUGE difference between clean time and Being In RECOVERY. One of them works and One of them Does Not. Any time I had ‘some clean time’ – it didn’t matter how long, it was just a matter of time until I found myself saying, “fuck it” all over again. This is the addicts’ motto – “fuck it.” (‘Cause it doesn’t matter anyway…) *Recovery is CONSISTENTLY working on SOBRIETY, everyday. Yes, attending meetings, honoring spiritual principles (if you don’t know what those are, I recommend googling it because honoring those are JUST AS IMPORTANT AS STAYING CLEAN), staying clean from ALL mind-altering chemicals (there IS a difference – prescriptions must be taken, but as an addict you MUST be careful and I highly recommend you be honest with your Dr. – I was this year for the first time with all my doctors and I’ve gotten more help than I’ve gotten in my entire life… They WILL help you if YOU are honest with them), REMOVE OLD CONNECTIONS AND ANYONE WHO USES ANYTHING TO THE UTMOST DEGREE THAT YOU CAN!! (even if it isn’t your drug of ‘choice’ – on a bad day, your brain will tell you its a drug of preference and you can’t trust ANYONE in this world to have your back if YOU CANT HAVE YOUR OWN RIGHT NOW!)…. Keep phone numbers for support for people to call when you’re pissed off and call them when you’re not pissed off…. They recommend this in meetings and tell you to keep to your own gender. I support this to a point… I DO AGREE WITH STAYING OUT OF RELATIONSHIPS FOR QUITE A WHILE… Because even though the physical body is done going through withdrawal in less than 2 weeks time, your brain has ONLY BEGUN to start its process. The brain has MONTHS of rewiring to do and it’s about to go through a DRASTIC change back to a more healthy state… The person you are on your last day of withdrawal is NOT the person you will be in 6 months or even a year from now if YOU STAY clean.
Living clean can only be successful if we, as addicts, remove all (I know that’s getting ambitious, but shoot for 100%, hope for 90%) of our addictive behaviors. We could stop doing drugs, but still be addicted to sex, the internet, and never do anything for recovery. One of two things will happen… Relapse or the “dry drunk” syndrome (a terribly unhappy life). And eventually I think relapse would anyway.
Based on my experience, I believe that most addicts have PTSD and codependency. And until the PTSD is dealt with, an individual will continue to relapse. This is what some support groups like NA help with. Personally, I do attend NA but I do my trauma work with a therapist. It has been amazing, yet I know I still have a long way to go. I never would’ve been able to tell you I had repressed traumatic memories from my childhood. I thought I had the best childhood until I started going to middle school… I just found out recently there’s things I’ve apparently blocked from my consciousness. So, anyway, these were just the thoughts I had when reading this but yes I’ve been sober a little over a year now so it is possible. I’m EXTREMELY grateful and my worst day sober is STILL 1000 times better than my best day high.
My prayers for you. Good job and keep it up. Will save for my son to read when he gets out of prison. He’s been in for 9 months clean now doing drug rehab program in prison. Pray it looks for him.
Thank you Lindsay for the excellent explanation. I will keep this, as it says it all. My prayers are with you in your difficult journey of recovery. Keep it up. My oldest son died of an accidental overdose and his younger brother is still struggling with addiction. You give me hope.
Lindsay what you said was so very true. I was thinking the same thing after reading it. There are alot of good things in this article but once your a addict, your always an addict. Doesn’t matter if it’s heroin . Meth, cocaine or soda and cigs. You will always have to the mindset of an addict. You can only hope that you use it on good things and not drugs. Recovery has been very hard for me because I feel like I don’t have anyone to talk to that understands. Even in my NA class, there wasn’t too many heroic addicts and the guys that were in there, looked like they were still using. My Girlfriend doesn’t understand the brain of an Addict so she’s about as Fed up with me as she can get. And I don’t blame her. I probably wouldn’t want to be with me either. Long story short, if your ever open to just email communication and helping guide a fellow addict,it would be appreciated. Good luck with your continued recovery and stay strong.
Julie hopefully your son gets the help that he needs . I’ve heard those prison programs can be very good while in there but you will face more temptation when you get out and associate with people you haven’t seen since you went in. Addiction is no joke and hopefully he can do what many of addicts can’t do…… Get clean and stay clean no matter what. Good luck. As a mom I know it’s tough. I feel bad for my mom having to endure what I’ve put her through. Hope it all works out.
Lindsay please let me know if your up for sharing some wisdom. I’m not a creep or anything. Just looking for someone to talk to that will understand. Thanks!
Tim E.
Norcal
If you still need a fellow addict to email with I am open to and looking for the same support and sharing ideas etc…not sure how to get in touch with you since they dont post email addresses on here and you didnt include yours and I dont know how I feel about putting mine in the comments for the world to see, hah…anyway…hope we link up.