| What is Heroin? | | | | Heroin has effects on the central, circulatory, and |
| Heroin is a drug that is used to diminish pain in a | | | | respiratory systems of the body. It can cause |
| medical context, however, it is used and abused for | | | | physical tolerance and dependence, wherein a user |
| its recreational effects of sedation, muscle relaxation, | | | | needs it to feel normal and needs to continually |
| pain relief, and euphoria. Heroin is a depressant, and | | | | increase the dose of heroin to achieve the same |
| like other depressants and opiates (OxyCotin, | | | | effect. This causes psychological addiction. Taking |
| OxyCodone) can cause serious physical dependence. | | | | heroin can also cause collapsed veins from the acid |
| If you or someone you know is using heroin, please | | | | used to mix it when injecting it, usually citric acid like |
| encourage them to seek medical treatment. | | | | lemon juice. Users injecting it and sharing needles are |
| Is it Serious? | | | | at a very high risk of contracting blood-borne |
| In a 2005 survey, 370,000 people reported using | | | | diseases like hepatitis and HIV. Heroin, especially |
| heroin within the last 12 months, and in the same | | | | heroin that is "cut" or mixed with other substances |
| year there were 164,572 emergency room visits | | | | to increase volume, can cause infection of the heart |
| caused by heroin use and is a serious problem in the | | | | lining and valves. It can cause pneumonia in the lungs |
| United States. It is a physically destructive drug when | | | | and decrease liver functionality. And it causes |
| used regularly and can be fatal when one over-doses. | | | | abscesses around injection points where bacterial and |
| This commonly occurs when someone misjudges the | | | | fungal infection often occurs. Heroin use has no |
| amount or potency of a dose of heroin. Close to half | | | | long-lasting positive physical effects and the negative |
| of people using heroin in 2005 visited the emergency | | | | long-lasting effects can cause chronic pain and death. |
| room for heroin-related health issues. | | | | What are the Effects of Heroin Withdrawal? |
| What Are Signs of Heroin Abuse? | | | | Heroin withdrawal is the most painful and difficult of |
| Heroin users snort, smoke, or inject heroin | | | | all recreational drugs, beginning six to twenty four |
| intravenously (in their veins). Users who snort heroin | | | | hours after the last dose, and lasting between 3 and |
| will sniffle and touch their nose frequently. Users who | | | | 7 days, with lingering physical and psychological |
| smoke it can have dental problems and chapped lips. | | | | effects lasting months. Common symptoms include |
| Users who inject ("shoot") it will have scars and red | | | | sweating, cramps, cold sweats, nausea, diarrhea, |
| bumps across major veins on their arms and feet | | | | anxiety, insomnia, severe muscle aches (most notably |
| ("track marks"). All users will show signs of itchy skin, | | | | in the legs), vomiting, fever, and depression. |
| flushing and rashes, pupil constriction, disorientation, | | | | Psychological withdrawal from heroin is much harder |
| confusion, sedation, and inebriation. While not taking | | | | to quantify than the physical withdrawal symptoms, |
| heroin, heroin users can seem skittish and paranoid. | | | | but the actual distancing of a user from the abuse |
| Many heroin users addicted for prolonged periods of | | | | substance is the hardest behavioral change someone |
| time may seem especially thin or gaunt, may smell | | | | going through withdrawal can encounter. If you or |
| unfavorably, and may suffer from a general lack of | | | | someone you know is addicted to heroin, it is |
| good hygiene and seem sick or ill. The clearest sign | | | | strongly recommended you visit a rehab center to |
| of use is finding used needles, bent spoons, and | | | | facilitate a less painful, safer, healthier withdrawal and |
| baggies of heroin powder or tar. | | | | recovery from heroin addiction. |
| How Does Heroin Effect An Individuals Body? | | | | |