How Addictive Is Heroin?

Heroin abuse is a major health problem in the United States. In fact, it’s one of the main reasons the country is currently experiencing an opioid epidemic. If you or someone you love is struggling with heroin addiction, you may already be planning to get professional help and undergo a heroin detox program.

Heroin is not only a strong illicit drug but also highly addictive, with discomforting and sometimes life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. If you or someone you love suffers from heroin addiction, a medical detox program is the first step to overcoming it. From there, a detox program client may transition into further treatment — typically an inpatient one. To learn about our heroin detox program in Baltimore, MD, please get in touch with Baltimore Detox Center today by calling [Direct] or reaching out to our team online.

What Is Heroin?

Heroin is an illicit drug made from morphine, a psychoactive substance taken from the resin of the seed pod of the opium poppy plant. It can be white or brown powder or a black, sticky substance called black tar heroin. This addictive substance is part of a class of drugs called opioids. Other opioids include some FDA-approved prescription pain relievers, such as codeine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone.

Heroin addiction has dramatically increased over the last decade. This increase is related to the growing number of Americans misusing prescription opioid pain relievers. People don’t start using opioids with the thought that they’ll become addicted. Heroin is highly addictive, so the body can build a tolerance to heroin, leading to dependency and addiction quickly. Some people who become addicted to those prescription drugs switch to heroin because it produces similar effects but is easier to get and more affordable.

What Are the Signs of Opioid Addiction?

Heroin abuse can also be called opioid addiction. Like any other type of substance addiction, the signs of opioid addiction can be behavioral, physical, and psychological. A primary symptom of this type of addiction is not being able to stop using opioids despite the negative consequences. Other signs of opioid addiction include:

Abandoning responsibilities
Anxiety attacks and bouts of depression
Irritability
Lowered motivation
Mood swings
Physical agitation
Poor decision making
Shallow or slow breathing rate

You or someone you love might have an opioid addiction if drug cravings arise and it’s difficult to resist taking opioids. This can be a problem because heroin addiction-related behaviors can cause trouble with your health, money, work or school, the law, or relationships with family or friends.

When Should You Consider a Heroin Detox Program?

Heroin is so addictive that people struggling with heroin addiction need to undergo a heroin detox program and then transition into further opioid addiction treatment programs. People who overcome heroin addiction must always consider getting admitted into a heroin detox program.

Detoxing from heroin at home can prove dangerous. Detox in a medical setting can be more comfortable and save a client’s life, as some severe heroin withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening. Detoxing from heroin alone can also sometimes be much more uncomfortable and leave someone prone to relapsing.

Clients of heroin detox programs often have access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), including using FDA-approved drugs to help deal with difficult symptoms during detox. Along with MAT, clients may also have access to mental health professionals that can help them process this emotional time.

Emotional withdrawal symptoms related to heroin, such as depression and anxiety, could be more prevalent in someone with an underlying or co-occurring mood disorder. When heroin stops being active in the bloodstream, clients may notice a dip in their dopamine levels, resulting in a crash of feelings and emotions. Being in a supportive and calming environment during the peak of these symptoms can help someone get through the process and focus on addiction recovery more easily.