Drug Addiction Symptoms & How to Deal Impactful With Them

Heroin addiction is real. There is no discrimination with this opiate. It could be your mother, father, sister, brother or other relatives that are hooked on this problematic and deadly drug. A school valedictorian or the CEO of a company can be the culprit of addiction. No one can foretell or assume because of the way you look or where you work, you can't become heroin latest victim.

Understanding Heroin Effects

First of all, heroin is an opioid drug that is made from morphine. You may have heard of morphine before, and it was a popular medication as far back as the early days of the west. Many country doctors used morphine in their practice. It is still used today. Heroin is made from morphine. It can be a white or brown powder or black and sticky, which is called black tar. You may have heard some of the nicknames heroin is given like hell dust, Big H, horse or smack. rnOne of the ways a person may use heroin is by sniffing it first through the nose. Later, they may smoke it or inject it using a needle. Either way, it enters the brain at an alarming rate and blocks the opioid receptors (everyone has these). The drug then controls most feelings of pain and pleasure, affecting heart rate and breathing. rnSymptoms of Drug Addiction Let's talk about the symptoms of this type of addiction. When you take heroin the following may happen. First, a feeling of pleasure takes over your whole body but then other things can happen like a dry mouth, a warm flushing of the skin, or a heavy feeling in the arms and legs. You may have lots of itching, nausea or vomiting and especially cloudy mental functioning. Many people call it nodding when you go from one state of consciousness to the other. Or, if you suspect someone you love has any of these symptoms, it is probably a smart move to call someone and ask questions. rnLong Term Effects of Addiction This is a question many people with long term heroin addiction may ask themselves but feel helpless to do anything about it. Do you find yourself unable to sleep or know someone who can't? Insomnia plays a huge part in an addicts life. If you inject the drug, collapsed veins can send you to the hospital, even be fatal. What some addicts do not realize or are unable to think about is their long term health. It is possible with continued use an addict can damage the lining of the heart and valves, causing infections and damage. rnHere are other long term effects of heroin usage: ● Abscesses that don't go away (puss and swollen tissue) ● liver disease ● Kidney disease ● stomach cramping ● constipation ● pneumonia and other lung complications ● depression ● social anxiety ● personality disorders ● Men - sexual dysfunction ● Women - irregular cycles for menstruation

Symptoms of A Heroin Overdose

If you are using heroin or know someone who is, or even suspect heroin use, it is so important to arm yourself with knowledge. It may save your own or someone else's life. If you or someone has taken too much heroin, it slows the breathing so much that the drug can actually stop a person's breathing to the point where a person becomes unconscious and die. Dry mouth, shallow breathing, pupils that look like pins, discoloured tongue, blue nails and fingertips, confusion can all be signs and symptoms of a heroin overdose. Call 911 immediately.

How To Deal With Heroin Abuse & Addiction

Do not try to do this on your own. If you want help, there are many places to reach out. A family doctor may be a step in the right direction. If you are a parent and you believe your child is on heroin, the best thing to do is to get a professional to help. Most parents are not equipped to know what is best for an addict. rnThis goes the same for an adult who tries to help their spouse, loved one, family member or even a friend. Knowing the person has a problem is the first step to getting them help. The problem with thinking all they need is some tender loving care may very well kill them. Heroin kills. It is imperative to reach out for help. If you are ready to find an addiction treatment or plan to get help, then learn the facts about addiction and get ready to call for help.

Why Get Help?

By getting addiction treatment, it will help each individual learn how to deal with their addiction and the potential for relapse is less with professional treatment. A program that has been researched and has had many positive results is so much better than trying to do this on your own.