Heroin is among the easiest of drugs to become addicted to. Many heroin addicts need no more than just one attempt at the drug to become addicted, even if mildly at first. Like many other drugs, heroin is used intravenously, or through smoking or snorting through the nostrils. Of these, the method most abusers prefer is injection, because the effect that is got from this method is considered the highest. This makes it the most popular method of use of heroin.

Effects of heroin: Heroin has its own way of working on the system. It primarily acts on the central nervous system initially. It starts acting within seven seconds of ingestion, when taken intravenously. In the few seconds of its being absorbed into the system, heroin can cause euphoria.

Immediately after being taken in, heroin enters the area that is the barrier between the brain and blood. This causes heroin to get converted into morphine. Once the euphoria settles down, it leads to dry mouth, skin flushing, and a feeling of heaviness. This in turn can lead to vomiting, nausea and itching. Following this, the heroin addict normally becomes sedate and sleepy for many hours. Many of the vital cognitive functions slow down and get impaired momentarily. These include the ability to reason. Heart beat and breathing slow down considerably.

The most important long term effect of heroin is its ability to be an addictive drug. Drugs are in themselves addictive, but heroin addiction is found to be the fastest to get into, and the most abusive of all addictions. This addiction has its own detrimental effects on the brain, mind and body.

Physically, long term heroin addiction leads to damage to the arteries, lungs, liver, kidneys and veins, and several infections, abscesses and bone diseases such as arthritis.

Emotionally, heroin addiction can very soon reach a point where seeking the drug becomes the sole objective of life for the addict. This has various serious ramifications, such as social isolation, family dislocation and professional under performance.

Heroin withdrawal symptoms, which start within hours of the last ingestion, include pain in the muscle and bone, restlessness, diarrhea, insomnia, cold flashes with goose bumps, or what are called “cold turkey”, strong body movements, convulsions and vomiting. Sometimes, these symptoms can last months. These however, are seldom fatal, and a heroin detox center can take care of these symptoms.

Treatment for heroin dependency: For heroin dependency, a combination of methods has to be tried to bring the heroin addict out of the “zone”. The first step is detoxification, wherein the effects of abuse are purged; this is followed by systematic lessening of craving tendencies. Drugs that help in this are buprenorphine and methadone. Finally, behavior therapies are introduced; typically at a heroin rehab center. These may include cognitive behavioral interventional therapies which are aimed at redesigning the outlook the addict has towards life, and help him deal with stressful situations without recourse to the drug. A method that combines the two approaches “medical and behavioral” is considered the best.

The author of this article knows all about heroin addiction. He has written many articles on cocaine rehabs. He has wide knowledge about the heroin rehab centers. He uses his knowledge for helping people to find the best heroin detox center.

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Heroin use has been popular with teenagers since about the sixties and reached alarming proportions in the US in the nineties. It is still used by teenagers and adolescents though it is becoming increasingly difficult to procure.

Heroin is rapid-acting, and one of the fastest drugs to become addictive. Most users start by snorting or smoking, secure in a misguided belief that in so doing the drug is not addictive. But this is not the case, and once the body becomes addicted they graduate to injecting themselves. Users typically relate experiencing a surge of pleasurable sensation, a “rush”, the intensity of which depends on the quantity taken and the speed at which it reaches the brain. With regular use intolerance sets in which requires greater or more frequent doses to satisfy the addiction.

Here are some of the symptoms that can warn parents of drug abuse:

Cycles of restlessness, increased energy, and insomnia.
Abnormally slow movements, speech or reaction time, confusion and disorientation.
Abrupt weight loss or gain
Bouts of excessive sleep
Unexplained changes in clothing, such as a switch to long sleeved shirts, to hide needle scars.
Presence of drug paraphernalia such as unexplained pipes or syringes.
A persistent cough or bronchitis with coughing up excessive mucus or blood, the result of smoking heroin.
Chronic sinusitis or nosebleeds from snorting heroin.

If any of these physical symptoms are noticed, it is time for the parent to seek expert counseling to deal with the problem.

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