The side effects of heroin can have a devastating impact on the human body. It’s not just about the physical damage. Many individuals who abuse heroin end up with mental and emotional fallouts that can last for years. It can seem impossible to pull yourself out of the spiral of heroin addiction. Fresh Start Recovery Center assists long-term heroin users who need support for health and mental health disorders caused by heroin addiction with a heroin addiction treatment program.
Dealing With the Immediate Effects of Heroin
Morphine is one of the most powerful opioids in existence. It’s found in poppy plants and used for severe pain conditions. One of the reasons that heroin has such a strong and immediate impact on users is because it breaks down into pure morphine once it enters the body.
Opioids work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain. They are responsible for controlling our feelings of pleasure and pain. When you take heroin in any form, the opioid receptors respond by increasing the amounts of dopamine coursing through your body. It is a chemical that increases feelings of happiness to a euphoric state.
The “highs” you achieve from short-term heroin use are typically accompanied by symptoms like:
- Nausea
- Dry skin
- Itching
- Decreased heartbeat
- Slowed breathing
The Long-Term Effects of Heroin Addiction?
Many people have found themselves caught up in the heroin epidemic sweeping through the country. You can become addicted to heroin quickly because of the effect it has on the brain. Over time, the structure of your brain changes in response to long-term heroin abuse. People often find that their tolerance level grows after each use. The brain stops producing as much dopamine at the original dosage level. That often leads to individuals taking larger quantities of heroin in an ongoing effort to achieve the initial feelings of pleasure.
You may find yourself losing control of your ability to control your emotions. People may find your behavior unpredictable or even frightening. You can get to the point where you are incapable of responding to stressful events without turning to heroin.
Other changes in your body can include growing hormone imbalances and neurological damage. You may be afraid to stop using heroin because you fear going through withdrawal. The symptoms typically kick in for long-term heroin users a few hours after their last dose and can include:
- Muscle aches
- Bone pain
- Uncontrolled leg movements
- Feelings of restlessness
- Cold flashes
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Increased heart rate
- Cravings
More severe side effects can set in after 24-48 hours. While most withdrawal symptoms go away after a week or so, individuals with a long-term heroin addiction can feel the effects for months after their last use of heroin. While it can be a very unpleasant experience, heroin withdrawal isn’t typically life-threatening.
What Treatment Is Available for Heroin Addiction?
Fresh Start Recovery Center offers various addiction treatment services to help individuals with heroin addiction. Many clients have success achieving recovery by participating in individual and group counseling sessions. Our facility offers men’s rehab programs and women’s rehab programs, so clients feel more comfortable opening up about past trauma or other experiences.
Once you complete your program, you can choose to continue receiving therapy for heroin addiction on an ongoing basis at Fresh Start Recovery Center. Many clients form support networks through the connections made while enrolled in one of our addiction treatment programs.
Our goal at Fresh Start Recovery Center is to treat all aspects of a client’s health. Many individuals come to us with untreated mental health conditions that often make their illness worse. If you think you might benefit from the services offered through Fresh Start Recovery Center, feel free to reach out to us by calling 833.625.0398.
