WHAT IS HEROIN?
Heroin is an illegal drug processed from morphine, which naturally occurs in the seed pods of opium poppy plants. Heroin is considered an opioid because it’s made with opium, and it has the same highly addictive nature that opioid painkillers do, which are prescribed by doctors. Opium naturally comes from the opium poppy plant. It can also be manufactured synthetically.
When heroin is taken, opium from heroin will attach to opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body, which then blocks pain messages that are sent from the spinal cord to the brain. They then release large amounts of dopamine throughout the body. This strong feeling of dopamine release can make the opioid abuser feel addicted and want to keep taking heroin for its euphoric effects.
If you or a loved one are struggling with heroin addiction, contact Gratitude Lodge and get the healing process started.
WHAT DOES HEROIN LOOK LIKE?
Heroin comes in a white or brown powder. It can also be in the form of a black, sticky substance, this is referred to as “black tar heroin“.
HOW IS HEROIN TAKEN?
Amphetamine is taken orally, injected, or dissolved in water or alcohol before injection. The crystallized version of amphetamine can be smoked. When taken orally, effects occur in 15 to 20 minutes. When snorted, it takes 3 to 5 minutes to feel the effects. When injected, the effects are felt instantly. The effects can last for hours.
WHY DO PEOPLE USE HEROIN?
People use heroin to receive a feeling of euphoria from the opium that is in heroin. Many addicts use it to escape unhappy personal lives or to self-medicate for anxiety or depression. Unfortunately, there are a number of dangers of continued heroin use, like addiction, overdose, and death.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET ADDICTED TO HEROIN?
Heroin is highly addictive, but addictions form according to various factors. These include the physiological makeup of the person, their general health, frequency of heroin use, size of heroin doses, and more. How long does it take to get addicted to heroin? There is no specific timeline, but it can develop faster than you think.
Slang for Heroin
- CHINA WHITE
- JUNK
- MEXICAN MUD
- BLACK PEARL
- BLACK TAR
- WHITE HORSE
- CHIVA
- SKAG
HISTORY OF HEROIN
Heroin was first synthesized from morphine in 1874, which came from the seed pods of the opium poppy plant. In 1898, heroin was produced for medical use by the Bayer Company in Germany. In 1924, heroin was made illegal in the U.S., 21 years after medical professionals started to notice the addictive effect it had on users. By 1995, Southeast Asia produced 2,500 tons of opium, which led to illegal trading.
Heroin rose in popularity in 2010, after prescription painkillers containing opium were harder to obtain. While heroin started out as a popular urban drug, it grew in popularity in suburban neighborhoods during this time. It quickly began the second opioid epidemic in the U.S. At that point, deaths from heroin overdoses increased by 286% from 2002. Today, you’ll notice that black tar heroin is commonly found on the West Coast and produced in Mexico, and white and brown heroin powder is commonly found on the East Coast from South America and Southeast Asia.
WHAT DOES A HEROIN ADDICT LOOK LIKE?
If you or your loved one is addicted to heroin, you’ll begin to notice symptoms that resemble the flu, including vomiting and sweating. If you are wondering, “What does a heroin addict look like?” they may seem to be acting out of sorts, such as slurring their speech, moving slowly, or sleeping excessively. They may do whatever it takes to cure their heroin craving, including stealing or getting in trouble with the law. Heroin withdrawal symptoms can happen as soon as their first or second experience with the drug.
Also, it is worth noting that when it comes to heroin, nodding off can be dangerous as it can lead to a comatose state which can then cause overdose. Heroin nodding out is something to be aware of, if you notice that someone is nodding off on heroin, call 911 immediately, as they may be dealing with life-threatening problems. Let’s take a closer look at the symptoms of heroin addiction.
Heroin SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- NAUSEA
- DROWSINESS
- VOMITING
- SWEATING
- MOVING SLOWLY
- SENSITIVITY TO PAIN
- CRAVING HEROIN
- SLURRED SPEECH
Heroin PARAPHERNALIA
- HYPODERMIC NEEDLE
- SYRINGE
- SPOON
- CANDLE
- LIGHTER
- FOIL
- RUBBER-TUBING
- COTTON BALLS
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF HEROIN ADDICTION?
The short-term effects of heroin include euphoria and a feeling like a user is dreaming or walking through a dream. Then they may feel heavy limbs and depressed breathing. They also may experience a nodding off sensation that goes from drowsiness to alertness. Long term, users could experience respiratory failure. From inserting dirty needles, addicts could get an infection in their heart lining or valves. Injection can lead to a vein collapse.
SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF HEROIN ADDICTION
- EUPHORIA
- WARM, FLUSHED SKIN
- DRY MOUTH
- NODDING OFF AND DROWSY
- FEELING OF HEAVY LIMBS
- SLOWER BREATHING
- CONSTIPATION
- FOGGY MENTAL FEELING
LONG TERM EFFECTS OF HEROIN ADDICTION
- SKIN INFECTIONS
- RESPIRATORY FAILURE
- STOMACH CRAMPS
- PNEUMONIA
- KIDNEY DISEASE
- COLLAPSED VEINS
- INFECTION IN HEART AND VALVES
- LIVER DISEASE
COCAINE ADDICTION STATISTICS
14,000+
deaths from heroin overdose in 2019.
80%
Of heroin users started with a prescription painkiller.
18-25
age group with the greatest increase in heroin use.
HOW IS HEROIN ADDICTION TREATED?
Heroin addiction takes mental and physical treatment because of the withdrawal symptoms you will experience during detox. Heroin requires medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), counseling, and sometimes medication-assisted treatment (MAT). MAT is a comprehensive treatment that includes medicine, counseling, and therapy.
Here at Gratitude Lodge, you’ll detox from heroin under the care and supervision of expertly trained medical staff. After your detoxification process, you can stay in one of our residential addiction treatment centers in Long Beach and Newport Beach, CA. There, you’ll receive personalized counseling, participate in group therapy, and develop an invaluable support system that will help provide a long-lasting recovery and defense mechanisms from relapse. You may also receive naltrexone, methadone, or buprenorphine medications. Naltrexone helps prevent relapse, and methadone and buprenorphine help ease withdrawal symptoms.
Heroin Rehab at Gratitude Lodge
If you are looking for a heroin treatment program, Gratitude Lodge is a premier heroin detox treatment and inpatient rehab program located in Orange County with houses in both Newport Beach and Long Beach. If you need help detoxing from heroin, our team can provide you with the 24/7 support you or your loved one needs as they go through the heroin withdrawal timeline.
If you need help, contact our team at Gratitude Lodge today and the process started now at our heroin rehab and heroin detox program.
TYPES OF DRUG ADDICTION WE TREAT
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WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR INSURANCE
Drug and alcohol rehab should be accessible to everyone. At Gratitude Lodge,
we work with all major insurance plans to cover the costs of treatment.
