Heroin Addiction

Most Americans are familiar with heroin as one of the most common illicit drugs in the country. According to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, heroin usage is on the rise. The mean age for first-time heroin users is 25. Unlike other illicit drugs, this means heroin is more commonly abused by adults than it is by young people. In 2009, there were 180,000 first-time users of heroin in the United States. From 2002 to 2008, the number of first-time users grew from 91,000 to 118,000 per year. This significant increase means it is becoming even more important for heroin addiction treatment options to be made available to the general public.

What Is Heroin?

Heroin is a highly addictive, illegal narcotic that is derived from morphine and classified as an opiate. It is the most commonly abused and the fastest acting of all opiates. Pure heroin comes as either a white or brown-colored powder, or as a black sticky substance known as “black tar heroin.” Heroin is often “cut” with other substances. A cutting agent is a chemical or other substance used to reduce the effects of the heroin. Because of this, the person using the drug often doesn’t know what concentration they are receiving, increasing the risk of overdose and death. Heroin is often “laced” with other drugs to increase effects and reduce costs.

Why Is Heroin Addictive?

Heroin acts systemically as a prodrug for morphine. It is converted into morphine by the liver, producing the same effects by acting on the brain. It causes euphoria, pain relief and anti-anxiety effects. When administered by injection, heroin directly crosses the blood-brain barrier, causing greater histamine effects. Its effects are more similar to morphine in this case.

Heroin is physically addictive, meaning repeated use causes physiological changes as the body adjusts to accommodate the drug. The number of opioid receptors in the central nervous system is reduced because heroin increases the effects of certain peptides. This causes tolerance and, eventually, addiction.

Tolerance occurs when the same amount of drug no longer produces the desired effect on the body, and the person is required to take more of the drug to compensate. Addiction occurs when the body adjusts on a biochemical and physiological level to the presence of the drug. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms are a hallmark of physical addiction.

Heroin Addiction and Withdrawal Symptoms

Heroin withdrawal can be painful and potentially life-threatening. Because heroin is physically addictive, sudden removal of the drug can send the body into shock. Heroin withdrawal symptoms can include any of the following:

Sweating

Frequent yawning

Anxiety

Restlessness

Loss of appetite and weight loss

Insomnia

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Flu-like symptoms

Depression

In patients with underlying medical conditions, there is also risk of heart attack and stroke. Heroin withdrawal is not normally dangerous as it can be managed effectively with the use of methadone in a professional detox program. Patients experience withdrawal symptoms during detox, but methadone supplements the presence of heroin in the body, reducing cravings and minimizing withdrawal symptoms. This is called a medical detox. Alternatively, a natural detox can also be used where no supplemental medications are given. This is not generally recommended for heroin addicts.

Heroin Addiction