Heroin addiction can be a devastating condition that impacts all areas of your life. Not least of all, the drug can wreak havoc on your brain, affecting both mood and cognitive function. If you’re dealing with a substance use disorder and aren’t sure where to turn for help, a heroin addiction treatment program may be the solution.
At Promises, we offer the assistance you need to break free from heroin addiction. It’s important to understand the long-term effects of heroin and how vital it can be to get help. When you’re ready to get started on the path to recovery, contact our knowledgeable team at 844.875.5609.
Heroin and the Brain
Heroin is an opioid made from morphine, which is a natural substance crafted from poppy seeds. This rapid-acting opioid may be injected, snorted, or smoked. It binds to opioid receptors in the brain, alleviating pain and causing euphoria.
Because it activates receptors in the brain’s reward center, heroin can reinforce your desire to take more of it. The more you consume, however, the more your brain may try to stabilize itself.
It does this by turning off some opioid receptors or making them less sensitive. You can then experience decreased pleasure, which leads you to take more heroin.
While this is happening, the body may no longer be able to function normally without the drug. If you attempt to stop suddenly, you can experience withdrawal symptoms such as:
- Insomnia
- Bone pain
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Cold flashes
- Vomiting
- Anxiety
These symptoms can be so severe that you start taking heroin again just to get relief. That, of course, only continues the vicious cycle of addiction. Heroin and the brain can build a bond that is difficult to break and can have serious consequences.
For example, your body can start to rely on larger quantities of the drug, and you may stop experiencing pleasure because of all those dulled receptors. At the same time, the chemical changes in the brain can impact your cognitive function, making you more impulsive and affecting your concentration levels.
All of these factors can contribute to further substance misuse.
Long-Term Effects of Heroin
Heroin addiction can cause all manner of long-term health issues. You can face kidney disease, respiratory issues, abscesses, infections, and severe constipation. You may also put yourself at risk of sexually transmitted diseases.
It’s also common to develop mental health conditions as a result of the chemical imbalances happening in the brain. For instance, you might have trouble stabilizing your moods and responding appropriately to stress. If you’ve lived with addiction for years, cognitive impairment is possible and could even be permanent.
Another potential long-term effect is sexual dysfunction. Women can experience fertility issues, too.
Perhaps one of the most serious long-term effects of heroin is the risk of overdosing. Because you need ever-increasing amounts of the drug to feel stable, there may come a time when your body can’t keep up. Heroin overdoses can be deadly if not addressed rapidly.
Start Your Recovery with Heroin Addiction Treatment at Promises
Heroin misuse can be overwhelming. If you’ve tried to get sober without help, you may have experienced severe withdrawal symptoms, and the fear of going through that again could be preventing you from recovering. By participating in a heroin addiction treatment program, you have a chance to start healing safely.
The team at Promises can help you find your path to sobriety. We offer inpatient and outpatient treatment options so that everyone who needs help can receive it. With us, you can start the recovery process with the exact level of support you need. Contact the compassionate team at Promises by using our online contact form or calling 844.875.5609 to learn more about our programs.