Heroin Addiction Signs, Symptoms and Side Effects

Heroin is one of the deadliest drugs that are highly addictive and illegal. It originally comes from opium from the poppy plant before it is processed into morphine then to heroin.

The drug comes in many different forms, including a black sticky substance (tar heroin), solid black chunks and white or brown powder. Heroin can be injected directly into the veins, under the skin, or into the muscle. It can also be snorted or smoked.

Heroin delivers the same signs, symptoms and side effects regardless of the mode of use. Just like other drugs, the users are always exposed to the possibility of overdose after getting hooked to it.

Most abusers develop heroin addiction due to the pleasurable effects that it gives to them. Users may experience a warm, calm feeling; sudden “high” and improved confidence.

Some users may right away experience itching; dry mouth; nausea and may feel the urge to vomit. After the immediate symptoms, users will have more symptoms that can make them less active and alert.

Heroin addiction can make the users feel drowsy and sleepy for some hours. Others will exhibit a feeling of foggy mental state; slowed breathing and slowed heart rate.

Signs of long term addiction can cause the users skin problems including infections and abscesses; heart problems; liver and kidney disorders; bruising on injection areas of the skin and may eventually have collapsed veins due to long term injections.

When one starts abusing the drug, it can easily bring three dangerous side effects:  tolerance, dependence and heroin addiction. Tolerance is the state where users are looking for more quantity; higher purity and even try other means of using the drug to get the same side effects.

Users are already dependent on heroin when they display withdrawal symptoms in the absence of drugs or when they do everything to use heroin in order to feel normal.

Heroin addiction starts when the users continue to use and search for drugsdespite problems. The active ingredient in heroin called opiate molecules interfere with opioid receptors responsible for regulating blood pressure and breathing; rewarding behavior; and pain reception.

With long term abuse of heroin, the life of the users will be intensely affected. It may bring dilemmas in homes, relationships, jobs and finances. Some abusers are also caught in legal troubles as their addiction to heroin worsens.

In terms of health, heroin addiction  often leads to a weaker immune system. The abusers may have constant mental issues such a personality changes and depression. Their sexual function deteriorates while women often have trouble with their menstrual cycles.

Users are high risk for developing infectious disease such as hepatitis and HIV/ AIDS. Due to snorting, their nose tissues and septum are also severely damaged.

Women using heroin during pregnancy are high risk for miscarriages. Their babies are ore likely to have low birth weight. The child will be born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) where babies are born addicted to heroin and displaying withdrawal symptoms.

The fatal effect of heroin addiction is an overdose. Users may experience slow heart rate; slow breathing; unconsciousness and permanent brain damage that often leads to coma and death.