By Heroin is made from morphine, which occurs naturally in the Asian poppy plant. Heroin users come from all backgrounds, cultures, and ages. Purer forms of heroin are readily available to attract new customers. This new purer heroin is especially dangerous because it can cause overdoses and addiction. Some people, especially young people, may not be aware of the dangers of using heroin, especially the threat of addiction and overdose. Thus, heroin addiction is rapid and severe and requires addicts to undergo heroin addiction treatment in San Diego for a lasting solution.
Even recreational users are not immune to the threat of heroin addiction. Whether heroin is injected, smoked, or snorted, the onset of heroin addiction is rapid and severe. Heroin addicts will have cravings for the drug and experience withdrawal symptoms if they do not get it regularly. They may lose interest in daily activities. Heroin users may have a hard time limiting their use. They may build a tolerance requiring more of the drug to get the same effect. Problems with their jobs and personal relationships arise. Heroin addiction can quickly become an expensive habit, which can make them turn to crime.
Heroin has profound effects on the brain. It increases the amount of dopamine in the brain, which causes increased feelings of pleasure and euphoria. It activates the pleasure centers, interferes with the brain’s ability to feel pain, and depresses the central nervous system. Short-term effects of heroin use include: dizziness, feeling of euphoria, a warm flushing of the skin, dry mouth, constricted pupils, watery eyes, runny nose, heavy feeling in the extremities, severe itching, nausea, vomiting. Euphoric feelings are followed by drowsiness, clouded mental function, or stupor. Feelings of well-being that may last 4–6 hours and decreased respiration and heartbeat also occur.
Heroin causes damage to the nervous system. It may also cause short- and long-term harm to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. New and chronic users alike can be the victim of a heroin overdose. Rising levels of drug purity combined with by-products and impurities can lead to adverse reactions and overdoses. Symptoms of an overdose can be loss of consciousness, pinpoint pupils, slow breathing, and clammy skin. They may enter a coma or suffer permanent damage if they survive at all.
Trained addiction professionals should conduct individual assessments that address each individual’s treatment needs. The heroin addiction treatment programs should offer access to a continuum of care that provides the intensity of therapy appropriate throughout each stage of heroin addiction recovery, from extended residential care to lifetime aftercare services. The individual program should incorporate leading forms of therapy that have proven effective in addressing underlying causes of heroin drug use, dual diagnosis, and issues with family, employers, school, and the legal system.
In addition to heroin abuse treatment, the highly qualified staff should offer specialized individual and group therapy for depression, anxiety, abuse, trauma resolution, and more if needed. They should also provide medication management and individual counseling for a wide range of mental illnesses and other personality and behavioral disorders if and when required.
