Heroin is a strong drug that can drastically change your brain chemistry for the worse. In this article, you’ll learn more about what heroin does to you, from how it changes your brain and body for the worse.
At Multi Concept Recovery, we help individuals overcome addiction. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your unique recovery road to recovery.
Heroin is A Highly Addictive Substance
Before diving into the question “what does heroin do to you,” it’s first important to understand what heroin is. Heroin is a highly addictive substance that, when consumed, releases a surge of dopamine that that trigger your brain’s pleasure or reward response. This surge of dopamine makes the drug addictive, causing many to continue to abuse the drug to experience the same high as before.
Over time, an individual’s body will become dependent on the substance and will begin to build a tolerance for the drug where they will need to consume more and more of the same substance to achieve the same effect.
How Heroin Impacts the Brain and Body
Interested in learning “what does heroin do to you” in your brain and body. Heroin abuse has a range of short-term and long-term effects on the brain and body.
First, starting with the short-term side effects, when you abuse heroin, there are several immediate or short-term effects you will experience, which include:
- Slowed down breathing
- Vomiting
- Euphoric (“high”)
- Dry mouth
- Having a heavy feeling in your limbs
- And more
This occurs because heroin is a drug that slows down your breathing and heart rate, which can present potentially life-threatening consequences. For example, overdosing can occur because the heroin in your body can slow your breathing and heart rate down to the point of experiencing a coma or, in severe cases, death.
When it comes to what heroin does to you over the long-term, there are several negative long-term effects of abusing heroin, which include the risk of:
- Liver disease
- Depression and anxiety
- Kidney disease
- Heart infections
- GI issues
- Increase risk of infections
- And more
Heroin Addiction and Withdrawal Symptoms
Another essential factor to consider when understanding the question “what does heroin do to you” is understanding how heroin addiction impacts your brain and body. For instance, individuals addicted to heroin experience severe withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit abusing the drug. This is because heroin is a highly addictive substance that has adapted to expecting to consume the drug.
During the withdrawal process, individuals can experience a range of short-term withdrawal symptoms, which include:
- Intense cravings to abuse heroin
- Sweating
- Vomitting
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- And more
While many who are withdrawing from an addictive substance like heroin can expect withdrawal symptoms to last a couple of weeks, it is important to understand how significant an impact a drug can have on your mind and body.
Help Is Available
Now you know more about the question “what does heroin do to you,” and how it can impact your health and quality of life for the worse. If you or someone you know is struggling with heroin addiction, you must seek professional support to safely and effectively overcome your addiction.
Multi Center Recovery offers leading rehab centers to help patients heal and transform their health and quality of life for the better. Whether you are struggling with addiction, mental illness, or in need of dual diagnosis treatment, our compassionate team is here to provide you with the personalized care you need to lead a healthier life.
Ready to start your recovery journey? Contact us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the best treatment for heroin addiction?
There is no one “best” treatment when it comes to overcoming heroin addiction. That being said, there is a range of different treatment options available that can be highly beneficial in helping you safely and effectively overcome your heroin addiction.
For example, depending on the severity of your addiction, medication-assisted treatment may be recommended to help reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms and help you progress in the recovery process.
Other effective treatment options include behavioral therapy like cognitive behavioral therpay (CBT). Cognitive behavioral therapy can be highly beneficial because it helps you identify negative thoughts and behaviors and turn them into positive ones, which can be impactful for improving your health and quality of life for the better.
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How long will it take me to overcome my heroin addiction?
Overcoming addiction is a life-long journey that can be filled with many ups and downs. While typically it takes individuals around a couple of weeks to effectively detox and then another few months to establish healthy coping strategies, it is critical to understand that maintaining your sobriety is life-long.
This is because you will inevitably face triggers, cravings, and urges to abuse drugs and alcohol. This is why it is critical to establish healthy coping strategies in recovery and beyond so that you can turn to them when faced with triggers in your everyday life.
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What are some common signs and symptoms of heroin addiction?
Sometimes, it can be difficult to spot heroin addiction in a loved one. If you suspect that you or someone you know may be struggling with heroin addiction (or another substance use disorder), below are several signs and symptoms to look out for:
- Marks on arms or legs
- Sudden change in their behavior
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms
- Experiencing constant drowsiness
- Not keeping up with personal and professional responsibilities
- Inability to quit abusing drugs or alcohol
Heroin is a highly addictive substance. It is essential that if you or someone you know is struggling with heroin addiction to seek professional support so that you can heal and transform your life for the better. Unfortunately, addiction can be a very isolating disease that keeps you from seeking the essential care you need to get better.
At Multi Concept Recovery, our compassionate team is here to help you every step of the way to heal and transform your life for the better.
