Heroin is an opioid used to eliminate physical and emotional pain. Opioids are essential for people recovering from major surgery, but the social and occupational consequences of long-term opioid use often outweigh the benefits. Heroin stops people from experiencing pain and causes chemical changes in the brain’s ability to release pleasurable endorphins without the use of psychoactive drugs. This diminishes natural rewards usually experienced during normal sources of happiness. It also disrupts our ability to tolerate even minor physical or emotional discomfort. Contact Crestview Recovery in Portland to learn about our life-saving substance use treatment options for heroin-addicted patients.
Heroin Users
Heroin addiction can happen at any age. Many people find themselves in search of heroin after developing a dependency on prescription opioids. For individuals in search of addiction recovery and a new way of life, a professional heroin addiction rehab center may be the best answer. The following programs have proven to be effective in treating heroin addiction:
- Residential addiction treatment
- Medical detox
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
Heroin is one of the most addictive substances in the world. Many people start taking painkillers for pain, become addicted, and switch over to heroin. The makers of Oxycontin have begun using an abuse-deterrent formula, which has caused many users to change to heroin. This has resulted in a tripling of heroin deaths in the U.S. Heroin is processed from morphine, which comes from poppy plant seeds. It can come in a white or brown powder or a blackish tar. Heroin can be injected, snorted, and smoked.
Heroin’s Effect on the Brain
Heroin is a central nervous system depressant that binds to cells in the brain that perceive pain. It produces a feeling of happiness and relaxation. Unfortunately, the body gets used to this feeling, causing people to need more and more of the drug to feel normal. Heroin use can be fatal; the depressant effect of the drug can stop organ function altogether. Heroin is more dangerous when combined with drugs like fentanyl, cocaine, and benzodiazepines.
