This post on the effects of heroin is meant to educate and help those who may have a loved one who is experimenting or addicted to heroin. Quite often people who haven’t used drugs or who have not had any exposure or education find it difficult to understand how someone would consider even trying such a thing. Hopefully by learning how heroin works you may get a better picture of how you can help your loved one.
When a heroin user injects or inhales heroin, the drug effects the brain very quickly. The brain converts heroin to morphine which allows the opioid to connect to the brain’s pleasure receptors. Once this happens the heroin user feels a sudden surge of pleasure, often referred to as a “rush”. The “rush” is usually accompanied with a warm sensation of the skin, dry mouth, a feeling of heaviness, nausea, vomiting, and severe itching.
Heroin effects the brains natural ability to control the cells which allow you to feel pleasure. Over time, as the brain is continually on pleasure overload from the heroin the body’s natural pain-pleasure system will cease to function without the use of heroin.
Heroin affects almost every part of the body, signs of heroin use:
* The heart - (lowering blood pressure and pulse rate)
* The lungs - (breathing can be slowed even to the point of death)
* The eyes - (become droopy, pupils very small and do not react to light)
* Vocal chords - (voice becomes raspy, slow, and slurred)
* Muscles - (coordination is slowed, and head nods forward)
* Skin - (dries out and itches)
* Cough - (suppressing the cough center in the brain)
* Reproductive system (damaged)
* The hormonal system (woman’s period delayed and men produce less testosterone)
* Sex drive (decreases sexual desire even to a point of indifference)
* Digestive (nausea, addicts determine a good batch of heroin if it makes them vomit)
* Immune system (breaks down)
* Intestines (causes severe constipation with chronic use)
* Pain receptors (insensitivity to warning pain signals, which keep a user from treating pain)
Most heroin abusers will feel drowsy and have clouded mental function for several hours after use. It is common for heroin users to experience a clinical overdose. Most are not intentional, but happen because when purchasing on the street they are not able to know the purity of the drug. Some signs of an overdose include:
* Weak heart beat
* Breathing is labored and lungs fill with fluid
* Drop in blood pressure
* Pale or a blue skin
* Pinpoint pupils
* Fresh needle marks
* Gasping or rattling when breathing
* Slow heartbeat
* Convulsions
An overdose happens quickly and can lead to a coma, and even death if not revived quickly. Heroin statistics show, an estimated 3 to 4 thousand people die from heroin overdoses each year. There are many drug rehab centers that specialize in heroin addiction. If you or a loved one is suffering from heroin addiction get help now.
