| The use of heroin is becoming an increasingly serious | | | | HIV/AIDS from infected needles, and hepatitis. |
| problem that is affecting many across the United | | | | Depending on the kind of heroin used, blood vessels |
| States. The drug possesses highly addicting | | | | may become clogged, infections arise, or pulmonary |
| characteristics that come from injecting, snorting, or | | | | reactions surface. |
| smoking the illegal substance. A common | | | | Getting Help for Heroin Addiction |
| misconception associated with heroin is that snorting | | | | Since serious withdrawal symptoms are associated |
| or smoking the drug holds less of a chance of | | | | with stopping the use of heroin, many users are |
| becoming addicted. Heroin comes from morphine, | | | | reluctant to face these difficulties. A doctor may |
| which is extracted from the seedpod of a poppy | | | | prescribe a synthetic opiate, such as methadone, to |
| plant. The white or brown powder, which has | | | | lessen the craving for the drug, as well as help with |
| evolved over time, is sometimes referred to by | | | | some of the withdrawal symptoms. A wide range of |
| many different street names, such as "junk," | | | | treatments are used to help individuals overcome |
| "smack," or "H." | | | | their heroin addiction, including other forms of |
| Effects of Heroin Abuse | | | | medication and therapy that taps into behavioral |
| When it comes to heroin abuse, users encounter | | | | responses that explores the personal dependency or |
| both short-term and long-term effects associated | | | | longing for the drug. |
| with the drug. After a single dose, short-term effects | | | | An array of support systems also adds to the |
| appear soon after and fade within a few hours. After | | | | success rate of recovering heroin addicts. The first |
| repeated use of heroin, long-term effects begin to | | | | step towards getting assistance for a heroin addiction |
| settle in, where an individual may suffer from | | | | is to ask for or accept help. One can turn to a family |
| collapsed veins, a heart infection, liver disease, and | | | | member, friend, doctor, or priest, who can then lead |
| cellulitis. A user may also develop poor health and a | | | | the way to the multitude of available services, |
| weakened immune system, which could lead to a | | | | including both inpatient and outpatient treatment |
| variety of complications. A fatal overdose may occur, | | | | options. |
| as well as contracting an array of diseases, such as | | | | |