Spotlight on Heroin Abuse: Effects, Addiction, Withdrawal Symptoms

Sarah stared down at the white powder on the counter. She looked up and caught her reflection in the mirror. She hardly recognized herself. Who was she? How did she get here? And how did she let her heroin abuse get this bad?

We have to travel back two years to find the answers to Sarah’s questions.

The first time she snorted heroin, Sarah didn’t really know what she was doing. She was at a friend’s house, and someone suggested she try it. A guy told her it’d make her feel warm all over, relaxed, and happy.

So, she tried it.

What is Heroin?

Heroin is an opioid, meaning it connects to opioid receptors in the brain. These receptors help control feelings of pleasure and pain. They also regulate heart rate and breathing.

• Heroin is made from substances taken from opium poppy plants.
• It can be a white or brown powder or a black sticky substance.
• The drug can be snorted, injected, or smoked.

As the heroin took effect, Sarah felt a “rush” – the drug caused a surge of pleasure as it stimulated these receptors. It also caused a release of dopamine (the brain’s natural “happy” chemical), which caused a feeling of euphoria.

All of this happens in the reward center of the brain, causing the body to crave another more in the future. The “reward” reinforces the drug-taking behavior, so Sarah wanted to use more heroin the next time she went to her friend’s house.

What Are the Side Effects of Heroin Abuse?

Short-term effects of heroin abuse include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Dry mouth
• Severe itching
• Clouded thinking
• Going “on the nod” – back and forth from conscious to semi-conscious

Long-term effects of heroin abuse include:

• Lung complications
• Liver and kidney disease
• Heart infection
• Constipation
• Stomach cramps
• Insomnia
• Sexual/menstrual dysfunction
• Mental disorders
• Nose tissue damage (from snorting)
• Collapsed veins (from injecting)

Collateral Damage Caused By Heroin Abuse

Heroin didn’t have “relaxed and happy” effects on Sarah’s body. It affected her mental abilities, her digestive system, and her cardiovascular system. And, like all people who become addicted to heroin, Sarah developed a tolerance for the drug. (That means she needed more and more heroin to get the same effects.) But Sarah continued to use heroin, despite the negative effects.

As she put more heroin in her body, Sarah suffered more long-term effects. She couldn’t sleep. The tissue in her nose started to deteriorate. She had frequent stomach cramps. And she started feeling depressed.

Sarah also started feeling the consequences of addiction that went far beyond the physical ones. She spent most of her time trying to find and use heroin, so Sarah rarely saw her family any more. And she lost interest in the guitar lessons she had been taking. Eventually, her drug use caused her to miss so much work that she was fired from her job.

Before she knew it, her entire life revolved around heroin use. Her experimentation with the drug had turned into a full-blown substance use disorder. Sarah was addicted to heroin – she was physically and mentally dependent on the drug. But she wanted to stop using…

Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms of heroin include:

• Muscle and bone pain
• Sleep issues
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Restlessness
• Cold flashes
• Uncontrollable leg movements
• Severe heroin cravings

After Sarah’s boss fired her, she realized she needed to get her heron use under control. She decided on a Friday that she would stop using. She was done. But by the following night, she was in agony. She had thrown up too many times to count. She had diarrhea, despite feeling like there couldn’t be any fluids left in her body. Her muscles ached. She hadn’t slept a wink. She was sweating and freezing at the same time.

And Sarah knew that using just a little heroin would make it all stop. In fact, it’s all she could think about.

Sarah was experiencing withdrawal. Her body had become dependent on heroin. And when she quit cold turkey, it was a shock to her system. As her body tried to restore some sort of balance without the aid of a constant supply of heroin, the withdrawal symptoms kicked in…and worsened by the hour.

Sarah decided she couldn’t deal with it – she truly felt like she was going to die. So Sunday morning, she started using again.

And by Sunday afternoon, Sarah found herself looking in the mirror. The person staring back at her was a stranger. She wondered how her life turned out this way – why did she let it get this bad? This life didn’t resemble the life she’d always wanted for herself.

A Different Path

Here’s the good news: effective treatments are available for heroin addiction. Behavioral therapy, medications, inpatient rehab, and outpatient treatment all offer ways to help people break free from opioid addiction.

Sarah’s journey isn’t over. There’s still hope.

Rather than trying to quit cold turkey, she can get inpatient detox (so medical professionals can ease her withdrawal symptoms). And once she finishes this detox period, she can continue with therapies to deal with the root of her substance use disorder.

One day at a time, Sarah can take steps away from addiction and toward a healthy, sober life. And so can you.

If you or someone you love is experiencing a substance use disorder, help is available. Call 800-996-6135(Who Answers?) today.