Heroin is an extremely powerful, and addictive, opioid drug that can lead to severe and negative short term and long term personal, financial, and social effects. Heroin is not only a very dangerous and harmful drug that often brings about chronic addiction, and death via overdose, it is also an illegal drug that can put the unfortunate user in serious legal duress.
Below, we want to explore the short term and long term effects of heroin use.
Short Term Effects
The addictive nature of Heroin is due to its ability to create very intense pleasurable and EUPHORIC feelings. Heroin does this by binding to opioid receptors in the body. Once this binding takes place, a neurotransmitter called dopamine is released into the blood stream. Dopamine mediates a feeling of pleasure, a high if you will, that is rewarding and feels good to the user. This dopamine high will decrease with continuous use of heroin, as the user becomes tolerant of the drug. In order to repeat this high sensation, more of the drug is required.
Thus begins a reinforcing feedback system.
Some of the short-term effects of heroin are:
A “rush” which is a strong increase in euphoric feelings
Feelings of being warm and flushed
Heavy sensation in the extremities
Reduced sensation of pain
Drowsiness
Sedation and Relaxation
Lethargy
Long Term Effects
People with chronic use of heroin over time may often experience:
Damaged teeth and gum swelling
Damaged skin from scratching
Severe constipation
Increased susceptibility to diseases from weak immune system
Weakness and sedation
Poor appetite and malnutrition
Sleeping problems
Decrease in sexual functioning
In addition to the above, long-term chronic heroin use can often times leads to dependency…addiction…to the drug. It is not uncommon for people addicted to heroin to suffer consequences to their personal life such as financial issues, relationship turmoil, school or employment troubles, and legal troubles
We Can Help
If you are addicted to heroin, prescription pain medications, or any other narcotic, we can help! Please pick up the phone and call us at Scottsdale Internal Medicine today.