Heroin is a type of opioid drug. Opioids are made from morphine that is harvested from the opium poppy seed plant. All opioid medications and Heroin contain morphine. The medical purpose of morphine is to reduce pain. Heroin and other opioids cause the person to feel euphoria and less physical, mental, and emotional pain. The reason people abuse Heroin is to numb how they feel. Heroin is a powerful opioid that causes the user to get physically addicted and not care about anything else.
What Does Heroin Do to Your Body?
Heroin slows down the normal body processes because it is a central nervous system depressant. Breathing and heart rate slow, as do mental reactions. People who are using Heroin are essentially very slowed down. Their average flight or fight responses have been suppressed by the effects of Heroin in the central nervous system. Heroin also greatly distorts the reward center of the brain. The brain interprets the presence of Heroin as being a pleasure-causing chemical known as endorphins and dopamine. People with Heroin confuse the brain, and it will no longer make chemicals to make them feel good or normal. Heroin addicts must use Heroin every day, or they will experience severe withdrawal symptoms.
What Are the Signs of Heroin Addiction?
Once someone is addicted to Heroin in about a year, they will no longer have a job and make excuses regularly about it. They will also no longer enjoy being around family or friends. Weight loss will occur, and they will appear tired all the time. The common signs of Heroin addiction include:
- Frequently nodding off and looking sleepy
- Borrowing and stealing money
- Drastic changes in personality (constantly tired, agitated, disinterested in regular activities)
- Claiming they are sick a lot
- Lying about where they go
- Nausea and vomiting often
- Hanging out with new people who look strung out
- Getting arrested for shoplifting
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms
What are the Best Treatment Types for Heroin Addiction?
The most successful course of treatment for heroin addicts is to begin at a medically supervised heroin detox followed by a long-term inpatient or intensive outpatient heroin rehab program. Heroin addiction is known for changing people and their priorities. The lifestyle of heroin addiction is surrounded by crime and lies. Anyone on Heroin will need in-depth therapy and supportive treatment that helps them return to who they were before. Heroin addiction usually lasts from two years up to ten years in length. It is the one addiction that completely takes over. Higher than average success rates are found with intensive outpatient heroin treatment programs.
What Do Addiction Specialists Recommend for Heroin Treatment?
Evoke Wellness at Cohasset supports all of their patients in opioid use disorder treatment programs with numerous types of specialized behavioral therapy and prescribes medication-assisted treatment (MAT). The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends both as they are evidence-based.
A range of evidence-based treatments including medicines and behavioral therapies are effective in helping people stop heroin use. Medicines to help people stop using Heroin include buprenorphine and methadone. They work by binding to the same opioid receptors in the brain as Heroin, but weeklies, reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Another treatment is naltrexone, which blocks opioid receptors and prevents opioid drugs from having an effect. (NIDA)
Get Off Heroin for Good at Evoke Wellness at Cohasset
Heroin addiction can be overcome with plenty of professional support and a long-term recovery program. However, the first step in ending this addiction that typically holds people in for many years is first to be admitted into our medically supervised Massachusetts Heroin detox center. The detox program allows someone to transition immediately to an inpatient or outpatient heroin treatment program. Call us to get immediate admission into the heroin detox unit and to learn how to end your addiction for good right now. We have saved thousands of people from Heroin, and it starts with one phone call. We provide rides and travel to us. Call for priority admission and chat or email to learn more.
