Heroin Detox

We Make Heroin Detox Easier On You

The major issue with heroin, and opiates as a whole, is that they are extremely addicted substances and it is very easy to get hooked. Individuals who use these substances experience chemical changes in their brain and often dodge the honest truth about their addiction. This means is it often family and friends who eventually detect signs of heroin use. It is not easy getting a loved one to admit they have a heroin addiction and finding a heroin detox program, but it could save their life.

The most obvious way for a user to identify that they have a heroin dependency, and probably an addiction, is when a powerful withdrawal symptom is experienced: cravings. Unfortunately, a user who experiences this symptom may already be in late-stage addiction and facing a challenging recovery process.

One of the most common forms of heroin use is via intravenous injections. When injected, the drug effects are fast-acting. Injections direct the substance right into the bloodstream, triggering a rush of euphoria. Other effects that are quick to present include dry mouth, pale flushed skin, constricted pupils, slowed respiration, and a lack of consciousness. Thoughts and memories become difficult to form or hold on to. The ability to make decisions and maintain self-control is greatly impaired. Heroin use also takes a great toll on the user’s immune system, making them susceptible to frequent colds and infections.

Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms

Nausea
Sweats and chills
Soreness and aching in muscles and bones
Sinus issues
Fatigue and loss of energy
Agitation and restlessness
Vomiting and diarrhea

Severe Cases of Heroin Addiction

Strong cravings
Depression
Anxiety
Increased heart rate
Anxiety or paranoia
Muscle spasms
Respiration issues
Psychological stress
High blood pressure

What to Expect During Heroin Detox

The heroin detox process may look different from someone who has only used heroin a few times than it would for a person who has used heroin habitually over several weeks, months, or years. The longer and great amounts an individual uses, the more severe the process will be and the longer it will take to fully detox. In addition to these factors, how the substance was ingested can also play a role in affecting how dependent the brain and body have become on the drug, as well as the overall detox process.

For some individuals, the detox period is over within 5-7 days. However, more advanced heroin addiction could mean a detox period several days longer. Therapy, counseling, and medical treatment are all parts of a medically assisted detox program. This type of structured and supervised detox program helps create a smoother transition off the drug and reducing the risk of complications.

How to Spot Heroin Addiction

Regardless of the substance used, addicts often try to hide their drug use. They may wear clothing to hide track marks created by using needles to inject heroin intravenously. They may store heroin paraphernalia in discrete locations, such as small glass pipes, small plastic baggies, burnt spoons, used syringes, and white or tan powder residue. Heroin use is also notorious for causing constipation, so the user may consistently seek out laxatives.

In addition to these signs, someone who is addicted to may disappear and be unreachable for long periods of time in order to use in privacy. If they are around others when they come down off of a heroin high, they may be irritable and begin to exhibit other visible withdrawal symptoms.

Risks of Heroin Addiction

Heroin addiction is a dangerous addiction for a number of reasons. Namely, how the disease progresses. With continued use over time, the euphoric high becomes less and less powerful. As they chase this high, it gets worse and worse. Eventually, the addiction becomes so progressed that the main motivation for getting high is to avoid the onset of severe withdrawal symptoms. This is when heroin addiction stops being fun or exciting, and the nightmare begins and intensifies each time the last dose of heroin wears off.

The chemical composition of heroin is toxic and causes long term health effects. Harmful effects include permanent damage to blood vessels, the brain, lungs, kidney and liver. It can also cause long term damage to the brain, leading to memory loss and decreased cognitive function.

The effects of heroin use are not strictly health-related. In the drawls of addiction, the user often puts stress on their relationships, careers, and overall day to day life. Getting their next fix becomes more important than anything else in their life, including eating and bathing. They may not be aware of the damage that they are causing along the way, and even if they are, they may not be able to stop using without the proper addiction treatment.

Low energy, tendency to doze off
Breathing that is slow
Pupils appear small
Skin looks flushed
Runny nose and cold symptoms
Tendency to itch and scratch
Nausea and vomiting
Constipation
Impaired speech
Loss of appetite
Neglecting hygiene and grooming

Common Health Risks

Heart damage and infection to lining and valves
Lung Damage
Dysfunctional Cognitive Abilities
Kidney disease and possible failure
Infections due to needle sharing (HIV, Hepatitis)
Collapsed veins
Skin infections and abscesses
Liver disease
Complications to the lung
Pneumonia
Complications of the lungs

Risk of Heroin Overdose

Getting treatment to stop using heroin is so critical because of the high risk of overdose. Although drugs such as Naloxone have been created to prevent death from overdose, the rates of overdose from heroin use are still astronomical. A heroin overdose causes hypoxia: a sharp decline in breathing which in term prevents the flow of oxygen to the brain. In some cases, an overdose can lead to coma, brain damage, and possibly death.

Heroin addiction is a deadly, life-threatening disease that can lead to irreversible effects on one’s health and relationships. Without help, this addition will more than likely turn deadly. Immediate professional help and heroin detox is the only way to avoid harm to yourself or a loved one.