Heroin Addiction Symptoms
Recognizing the Heroin Addiction Symptoms and The Importance of Getting Help
Heroin is highly addictive opioid substance that many users turn to after discovering the sedative and euphoric feelings produced by other harder-to-get opioid substances. It's very common for those who abuse prescription pain medications to turn to heroin due to its availability and cheaper price. Heroin addiction leads to many serious health risks. It's recommended that addicts seek heroin addiction recovery. Heroin addiction symptoms can be difficult to reverse without professionally trained substance abuse specialists.
How Heroin Affects the Body
Heroin addiction, unfortunately, has the tendency to occur quicker than many other substances. It is usually snorted, smoked, or melted down and injected. Like all other opioid substances, heroin enters the body and attaches to pain receptors, resulting in feelings of euphoria. Because heroin negatively affects the brain, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory functions suffer as well.
Heroin Addiction Symptoms
If you suspect someone you know is using heroin, looking for track marks is not the only red flag to look for. Unless you know exactly what to look for, it can be hard to determine if someone is abusing heroin. Educating yourself on heroin addiction symptoms can broaden your knowledge and help save your loved one's life. Some common heroin addiction symptoms include:
- Overly-relaxed state
- Coming in and out of consciousness
- Acting zoned-out
- Overly dry mouth
- Flushing or redness of skin
- Track marks on arms
- Mood swings
- Paranoia
- Depression
- Aggression
- Anxiety
Once someone becomes addicted to heroin, the cravings continue until the next fix. Changes in behavior usually follow. If you notice your loved one making irrational or impulsive decisions, this could be another indication that there is a possibility of substance abuse. Asking to borrow money, willingness to steal, disappearing for lengths of time, and exhibiting lack of self control are other signs that your loved one may be struggling with drug addiction.
The Importance of Getting Help
There are many health risks to be aware of that stem from heroin abuse. Long-term use can result in:
- Heart infection
- Severe stomach issues
- Pneumonia
- Clogged blood vessels
- Brain damage
- Liver and kidney disease
- Infections and abscesses
- Increased risk of HIV and hepatitis (from injection use)
Because of these severe health risks, it's imperative to seek heroin addiction recovery. Many rehabilitation facilities, such as San Antonio heroin rehab, offer inpatient and outpatient programs to safely guide addicts to recovery. Trained professionals provide the care necessary to help anyone with drug or alcohol addiction.
Trying to end heroin addiction on your own can be dangerous, considering the withdrawal symptoms. Heroin withdrawal can last up to a few weeks, depending on the individual. Breaking physical and emotional dependence is an intense but necessary step in heroin addiction recovery. Twenty-four hour supervision of medical professionals and counselors benefits inpatients during the withdrawal process. Sometimes, opioid-blocking medication may be prescribed to assist during this time to make withdrawal more comfortable.
Once inpatient withdrawal is complete, San Antonio heroin rehab centers offer outpatient programs to continue the recovery process. Even if the physical symptoms of withdrawal are gone, emotional and psychological issues may last up to a year or more. Recovering addicts learn new coping mechanisms and ways to strengthen the minds and souls during counseling sessions. Preventing relapse and encouraging recovering addicts to stay active in treatment is the priority of San Antonio heroin rehab.
If you feel that you're ready to make positive changes to your life and overcome heroin addiction symptoms, regardless of how severe it may be, contact the drug addiction specialists at San Antonio heroin rehab centers at (877) 804-1531 today.