Heroin Addiction Treatment Information

Heroin is an addictive drug; its use is a serious problem in America and becoming more rampant.  Heroin is processed from morphine, a substance extracted from the seedpod of the Asain poppy plant.  Heroin is usually a white or brown powder that can be dissolved and injected.  The most common street manes for heroin include smack, H, and junk. The popularity of heroin use is increasing at a frightening rate.

Health Hazards of Heroin

Serious health conditions are associated with the use of this drug, they include fatal overdose, serious health conditions, spontaneous abortion, collapsed veins and particularly in IV users, infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.  Statistics show that eight percent of drug-related emergency department (ED) visits in the third and fourth quarters of 2003 involved heroin abuse.  Other opiates, which could include heroin, were involved in an additional four percent of drug-related visits. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse there are currently 600,000 heroin addicts needing treatment

Although the use of gateway drugs such as marijuana seem to be leveling out, use of the more permanently debilitating drugs such as heroin.   There is an epidemic of so-called "casual" use in the United States. While the percentage of heroin users who administer the drug via Intravenous (IV) injection is the same, more and more are smoking or sniffing the drug. It seems America’s youth are buying into the misconception that as long as they do not use heroin intravenously, they will not become hooked. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse there are currently 600,000 heroin addicts needing treatment. Heroin has many serious health hazards associated with its use. HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, Fatal Overdose, Collapsed Veins and Infectious Diseases just to name a few.

Aside from the debilitating effects of long-term use the heroin user will most likely suffer from three factors: Tolerance, Addiction and Withdrawal.

Common paraphernalia associated with heroin use include spoons, cotton balls, needles or "rigs", foil, straws, razor blades, matches or candles and tourniquets.

Tolerance
With sustained use of heroin or other opiates a user will develop a tolerance to the drug.  What is meant by tolerance is that the more a person uses a drug the more drug the person needs to get the same high. The body adapts to the presence heroin and withdrawal symptoms may occur if the use of heroin is reduced or stopped. The high rate of tolerance makes the drug that much more addictive and dangerous.

Addiction
There is a physical dependency that occurs once the user becomes addicted to heroin and/or opiates. As more low-priced, high-quality street heroin becomes available, this can happen within the first few uses of the drug. Heroin is highly addictive both mentally and physically.

Withdrawal
One of the most troubling aspects of heroin addiction is the withdrawal period. Among users this is called “dope sickness”. With long-term users this may be a daily exercise in desperation. Withdrawal may occur as soon as two hours after the last dose and symptoms include drug craving, restlessness, insomnia, cramping, vomiting and diarrhea, cold flashes and kicking movements (hence the term “kicking dope”). The symptoms of withdrawal occur most visibly between 48 and 72 hours after last use and may continue up to a week or more. Among long-term dependent users withdrawal may require hospitalization as it is occasionally fatal although less so than barbiturates and alcohol

For more information on heroin check: www.heroinabuse.net