Heroin is an addicting chemical that originates from seed pods that are found inside an Asian opium poppy plant. When this substance enters the brain, it binds to the opioid receptors as it is converted to morphine. The receptors are associated with reward and pain, meaning you experience a greater rush than with any other drug.
The Feeling you Get from Using Heroin
When you use heroin, it doesn’t just make you feel amazing by causing a euphoric rush. In addition, it decreases pain and anxiety that you may be experiencing. Also, it helps you feel a detachment from people and the world which is huge if you are severely depressed.
Using Heroin for the First Time
People find a lot of different reasons to get high on heroin. Addicts of heroin preach the substances powers to make them feel better. The first time an addict gets high, they experience the best high of all. The problem with that, is that they cannot and will not ever be able to experience that initial high. This is what typically leads to overdoses because people use more and more chasing the feeling of their first high. This is the cause of heroin addiction.
Street Heroin
Another scary thought when it comes to heroin is that when purchased from the street, it is usually diluted or “cut” with other substances. This can include:
- Starch
- Sugar
- Powdered milk
- Other drugs
The worst thing that heroin can be cut with is fentanyl. This is another painkiller but compared to morphine, it is 50 times more powerful. When drugs are bought on the street, the user doesn’t know exactly what they are ingesting or how much of something is in the drug. This makes it easier to overdose or worse, die.
Injecting Heroin
The greatest high of heroin can be experienced when it is injected into the veins. This brings more risks including spreading disease through used needles. Heroin can also be used through the following methods:
- Snorting
- Smoking
- Orally ingesting
- Suppository
Regardless of how heroin is used, it is highly addictive and very hard to quit.
Withdrawing from Heroin
The symptoms that an addict will experience when withdrawing from heroin are excruciating. If one suddenly quits taking heroin, they may experience the following:
- Muscle and bone achiness
- High anxiety
- Insomnia
- Irritability and agitation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
When an addict goes cold turkey and begins to go through the detox process, the pain gets so bad, they typically end up using again. Therefore, it is important to use a drug rehab treatment center that can help you medically detox so that your withdrawal symptoms during your heroin addiction recovery journey can be tolerated a little easier.
