Heroin Addiction

Heroin is a highly addictive drug, and it has become a serious problem in the United States. People have been sniffing and smoking heroin more these days than before because of increased purity and because they think that by sniffing or smoking the drug it will be less addictive. Sometimes people choose to smoke or snort the drug because of the negative connotations, even in the drug world, about intravenous use.

Heroin usually looks like a white or brown powder. Street names for heroin include “smack,” “H,” “skag,” and “junk.” Other names may refer to types of heroin produced in a specific geographical area, such as “Mexican black tar.” Heroin can be smoked , injected, and snorted as previously mentioned. Heroin addiction can be difficult to treat, but heroin addiction treatment has been successful. Sometimes drugs such as methadone, and more recently suboxone, are used to help a person with the withdrawal and cravings after heroin cessation.

The effects of heroin happen soon after a single dose and last a few hours. After someone injects heroin, the person feels a surge of euphoria (commonly referred to as a “rush”) accompanied by a warm flushing of the skin, a dry mouth, and heavy extremities. Soon after the initial rush, the user goes “on the nod,” an alternately wakeful and drowsy state, where the person seems to be on the verge of falling asleep, or “nodding out.” The drug heroin depresses the CNS (Central Nervous System) causing slowed and slurred speech, slow gait, constricted pupils, droopy eyelids, impaired night vision, vomiting, and constipation.

National Therapeutic Services specializes in treating heroin addiction.