What You Need To Know About Detoxing From Heroin

One of the leading causes of death in America is drug addiction. It is also one of the most difficult conditions to treat. When a person starts using drugs it becomes easy for them to become addicted as their body will start to become dependent on the drug. Fortunately, the chances of being drug-free after years of becoming addicted are quite high especially if the patient is taken to a very effective rehabilitation center. If you have a loved one who is suffering from addiction to drugs such as heroin, then you must learn everything that you need to know about detoxing from heroin. 

Effects And Withdrawal Symptoms Of Heroin 

 

Heroin is an opiate drug that has an almost immediate effect on a person's mood depending on the amount that is taken. On higher doses it can cause severe drowsiness within 7 to 8 seconds of intake. People get addicted to heroin because it gives them a sense of pleasure and well-being. It also causes them to feel drowsy and is known to reduce pain in the body. The adverse effects include decreased heart rate and blood pressure as well as nausea and vomiting. Taking heroin in high doses can even be deadly. 

Heroin addiction is one of the most difficult conditions to treat mainly because of the withdrawal symptoms that addicts experience the moment they do not get their fix. Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include agitation, anxiety, muscle aches and insomnia. Although these symptoms are extremely uncomfortable, they are not usually life threatening and the good news is that they are treatable. 

Heroin Addiction Recovery

Many families opt to send their addicted loved ones to drug rehabilitation centers where they undergo different treatment programs. One of the most used treatments for heroin addiction  is heroin detox which is usually one of the first steps in the addiction recovery process. Experts agree that this is one of the most important steps in getting rid of heroin addiction. The most crucial thing however is to make sure that you enroll your loved one in a facility that will give them the proper treatment.

Different detox centers can vary in terms of how they deal with painful withdrawal symptoms that follow after trying to stop heroin use. Before deciding on which rehabilitation facility to send your loved one to, make sure to do your research.  One of the most commonly used prescription medications is called Methadone which is a non-intoxicating drug that reduces one's desire for heroin and at the same time prevents withdrawal symptoms. Treatment is available to help your loved one heal from his addiction.

FDA Requests Heightened Regulations For Hydrocodone Painkillers

The Food and Drug Administration is planning to recommend prescription painkillers, such as Vicodin and others containing hydrocodone, be reclassified as “Schedule II” substances from their current “Schedule III” status – imposing tougher restrictions on how they are used and prescribed.

OxyContin, defined as “potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence” by the Drug Enforcement Administration, has already been placed in the Schedule II category.

Increase In Hydrocodone Painkiller Abuse

The agency has explained the move in a recent statement; having become “increasingly concerned about the abuse and misuse of opioid products, which have sadly reach epidemic proportions in certain parts of the United States.”

Requests from the DEA to reclassify the substances have been longstanding, citing increased rates of addiction and overdose throughout the U.S.

Patients and pain specialists argue that the new restrictions would make obtaining the drugs more difficult for individuals struggling with debilitating, chronic pain – increasing suffering for those who use the substances properly.

Balancing Valid Painkiller Use With Abuse And Misuse

The FDA touched on the debate, stating that it “has been challenged with determining how to balance the need to ensure continued access to those patients who rely on continuous pain relief while addressing the ongoing concerns about abuse and misuse.”

The reclassification would not allow physicians to call prescriptions into local pharmacies. It would also lower the number of refills afforded to patients without additional doctor visits.

Do you believe this is a necessary step in the fight against prescription or illegal drug addiction? Post your thoughts in the comments section below!

How Does Substance Abuse Really Affect The User?

The effects of substance abuse on the human body can be permanent or temporary. Damage may worsen over a longer duration with increased frequency, up to and including overdose and death. Diminished regard to personal hygiene, financial troubles, domestic violence and depression may also come about as a result from continued use habits.

Substance Abuse Statistics

According to recent studies, more that 8% of Americans ages 12+ have dabbled with illegal substances within the past year. A 2007 survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that 14.8% of students ages 13 – 18 had engaged in some type of recreational drug use within the previous 30 days. Though addiction is often defined as a mental health issue, the effects it can take on the body are rather extensive.

Substance Abuse Effects On Brain And Body

Substance abuse effects the body in a variety of ways, including changes in brain functionality, organ damage and skin infections.

Pregnant women with addiction issues impose enhanced risks to their unborn children, including behavioral disorders, developmental delays, low birth weight and premature birth.

The effects of substance abuse on mental health include personality disorders, lapses in memory, violence, depression and irrational behavior.

How Quickly Do Negative Effects Start After Using Drugs?

The negative effects of substance abuse can begin taking shape after only one use or many. Substances that are smoked or inhaled, such as marijuana, may cause increased appetite and high blood pressure. Cocaine and other narcotics have been known to cause heart attack following overdose.

Perhaps the most common effect of substance abuse is addiction. Over a long enough use period, addicts may begin to experience withdrawal symptoms when the substance is not readily available. These symptoms can last anywhere from several days to a year or more depending on use history, amount and frequency.

Prevention And Treatment For Substance Abuse

Abstinence is key to the prevention of substance abuse effects. Recognizing when casual use upgrades to abuse is another crucial factor. Treatment centers for alcohol and narcotic addiction often prove useful in minimizing and managing the effects of the abuse by way of replacing the addictive substance with prescription alternatives. Support groups and counseling also play a vital role in the recovery process by helping patients deal with their addictions in a positive and healthy manner.

Heroin / Marijuana Use On The Rise

A recent government study finds marijuana topping the illicit drug market among American adults and teens.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) polled a total of 70,000 U.S. citizens ages 12+ regarding their 2012 drug use habits. The survey concluded increased heroin and marijuana use rates over previous surveys.

According to SAMHSA, marijuana’s continued popularity among Americans is nothing new, with 7.3% of those surveyed admitting to smoking in 2012 – a climb from 7% in 2011 and 5.8% in 2007.

Routine or daily use of marijuana rose to 7.6 million in 2012 from 5.1 million in 2007.

Heroin use increased significantly, jumping from 373,000 users in 2007 to a whopping 669,000 in the recent study.

Many blame the rise in heroin use to an increase in prescription painkiller addiction, as heroin’s lower price and accessibility offer a more convenient and affordable pill alternative.

As for first-time users, the highest numbers were associated with marijuana (2.4 million), prescription painkillers (1.9 million), tranquilizers (1.4 million) MDMA, or Ecstasy (0.9 million), inhalants, cocaine and stimulants (0.6 - 0.7 million).

As a whole, illicit use varied little from 2011 poll results: About 9.2% of the United States adult and teen population claimed they were currently using in 2012, roughly 24 million Americans 12+.

Learn more about illegal drug addiction – Call Above It All Addiction Treatment Center today!