Heroin is a potent opioid drug that induces euphoria and provides pain relief. Many people turn to this drug after developing a dependence on prescription opioids. When they can no longer obtain enough of their prescription medication to mitigate cravings or withdrawal symptoms, heroin can become a dangerous alternative. Unfortunately, heroin also has severe detrimental effects on the brain, especially when used long-term.
Heroin addiction can develop quickly, with dependence happening before people realize it. For heroin addiction treatment in Florida, contact My 5 Palms at 1.844.675.1022. We’re here to guide you on your path to sobriety.
How Does Heroin Affect the Brain?
Heroin belongs to a class of drugs known as opioids. This type of drug is primarily prescribed for relief from chronic pain due to injuries, accidents, or surgeries.
Opioids function by acting on the brain’s opioid receptors and induce feelings of pain relief and euphoria. Heroin enters the brain and is converted into morphine, which binds to the opioid receptors, particularly in those areas affiliated with feelings of pain and pleasure. As a result, dopamine levels are elevated. Dopamine is typically produced by your brain when you engage in activities that you find enjoyable, like listening to music you love, meditating, getting great sleep, or exercising. However, the dopamine surge from heroin far surpasses the level your brain achieves through non-drug-related means.
Eventually, people’s brains adapt to the intense dopamine hit from heroin, leading to tolerance and dependence. This means they will require increasingly higher doses of heroin to achieve the same effects. And if individuals try to cut back or quit, they encounter uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Heroin Use?
Using heroin over an extended period can have a profound impact on your health. Some of the long-term effects of heroin use include:
- Impaired decision-making
- Reduced impulse control
- Increased risk of infectious diseases and collapsed veins if used intravenously
- Organ damage
- Difficulty holding down a job
- Challenges maintaining relationships
Addiction to this opioid can be all-encompassing, so people may spend beyond their means to obtain more of the drug or get into legal trouble for having it in their possession. Long-term heroin use can result in financial and legal ruin.
Treatment for Heroin Addiction
Preventing or addressing the long-term consequences of heroin use involves getting the proper treatment. While you can choose to go cold turkey and quit heroin abruptly, it’s exceedingly difficult and often not effective. Many who choose this route as a means of quitting end up relapsing after a short time. It’s best to opt for professional help at a heroin addiction treatment center.
Enrolling in treatment offers you the advantages of:
- Behavioral therapy – Meeting with a therapist one-on-one allows you to explore the underlying contributors to heroin use and come up with helpful coping strategies to reduce your risk of relapse.
- Support groups – Your peers in recovery can be some of your greatest allies as you navigate the challenges of overcoming addiction. You can share your struggles and learn strategies that work for others.
Access to medication, therapy, and support can make all the difference in your addiction recovery. These resources have been proven to increase the chances of long-term success for many clients.
Call My 5 Palms for Heroin Addiction Treatment Today
Let My 5 Palms help you commit to removing heroin from your life for good. Use our online contact form or call 1.844.675.1022 to start your recovery journey today.
