Classified as an opioid, heroin is known to be highly addictive. Cheap and easy to get, it produces a powerful and lasting high similar to painkillers. Those with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues are especially vulnerable to heroin addiction, because using the drug temporarily relieves them of their symptoms, altering perceptions of pain and pleasure. Heroin addicts may want to stop using, but they can’t. That’s what we’re here for. The professional team at our drug recovery program in Sandy has the tools to help you break your heroin addiction.
How Does Using Heroin Affect Physical & Mental Health?
In the short term, heroin gives users a rush of warm, happy feelings that can last several hours. However, users report a “crash” after the drug wears off, leaving them feeling sad and anxious and desperate to regain those good feelings.
Additionally, heroin overdose is common because users develop dependence and need more of the drug to achieve the high they are seeking. Users who quit and have been clean for a period of time and use again sometimes don’t understand that their body is no longer used to the dosage they previously had become accustomed to, and the result is an overdose.
In the long term, regular heroin use can damage the heart and lungs, and lead to infections in the heart as well as liver and kidney disease. Because heroin is administered by needles, there is the added risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.