What is Heroin & Heroin Signs of Use
Heroin is an opioid drug derived from morphine, a naturally occurring chemical found in the opium poppy plant. Heroin use has increased United States due to a variety of factors, including the opioid crisis. For people dealing with addiction to prescription opioids, they lose access in some way and turn to heroin, which is cheaper and easier to access. In a study done with national-level, general population, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that, “…nearly 80 percent of heroin users reported using prescription opioids prior to heroin.” Understanding the factors behind addiction is incredibly important in treatment and in preventative action.
Heroin use and legality varied in the past, with more people using opium. Opium is derived from the poppy seed, which heroin is created from when processed. Heroin is more potent than opium, which was historically used for medical purposes. It was not until the early 1900s that the government started regulating opium use and in 1924 the Heroin Act prohibited the manufacturing, importation, and possession of heroin, even for medicinal use. There is still no acceptable medical use of heroin in the United States, though some have called for implementing and regulating medical use in certain cases. This is unlikely to happen anytime soon, especially because heroin carries a high risk for addiction. There are risks, including overdose, even with short-term use of heroin, and long-term use can be seriously damaging.
WHAT DOES HEROIN LOOK LIKE AND HOW IS IT USED?
It’s possible for heroin to be a white or brown powder, or a black sticky substance, which is referred to as black tar heroin. The whiter heroin is, the more pure it is. Snorting heroin and smoking heroin are some of the ways that people ingest heroin, as well as sniffing. They might start with injecting heroin, though often that will happen after some time when they need to feel the effects faster and stronger. Injecting heroin also begins to leave physical signs that people often want to hide. Heroin track marks are some of the more obvious physical signs of heroin use.
Speedball is a mixture of cocaine with heroin or morphine, a stimulant and a depressant respectively. Often people use the combination with the hopes of enhancing the positive effects, while reducing the negative effects. NIDA explains, “Respiratory failure is particularly likely with speedballs because the effects of cocaine wear off far more quickly than the effects of heroin. Fatal slowing of the breathing can occur when the stimulating cocaine wears off and the full effects of heroin are felt on their own.” Furthermore, with the combination there is the risk of death due to stroke, heart attack, or aneurysm. There has been somewhat increased awareness due to the deaths of public figures like River Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Belushi, and Chris Farley. Still, people often assume they will take only enough to feel the effects and that they can guard against overdose.
Mountain View Recovery Treatment Programs
Patient Resources
Addiction is complex, which means treatment and long-term recovery are complex. Despite this, it shouldn’t scare anyone – patients or their loved ones. It just means that treatment and recovery both require thorough and thoughtful planning.
Outpatient Program
Our outpatient program (OP) is a transition preparatory phase. It provides a minimum of nine (9) hours of weekly outpatient treatment. This involves a minimum of one (1) hour/s individual substance abuse/behavioral health counseling per week.
Adventure Therapy
For a long time, nature has been seen as a balm to the problems we face in society. Even during pre-industrial times, people would seek out the countryside as a means to feel better. Many people have also used nature as a way to understand the world.
Trauma and Recovery
Just like physical trauma occurs, so does psychological trauma. Any number of traumatizing events occur and cause psychological trauma. A lot of people will experience trauma before or because of addiction. It’s possible for addiction to deepen…
Neurofeedback
Nobody sets out with the intention of becoming addicted to anything. Even someone making a conscious decision to try substances is not intending to become dependent, experience withdrawal, and risk overdose or death. There are numerous factors.