Heroin is an opioid that comes from morphine. Heroin can be derived from the poppy seed plant and it can be smoked, sniffed, injected, or snorted. With the use of heroin, the brain and behavior of the person is changed. You can easily get addicted to heroin. Because of the good feeling that leaves users, they will want more of it. Heroin is highly addictive since you cannot stop taking more so that you can achieve that good feeling you get on the same level. There are times when addiction starts with medications like painkiller. Painkillers can also be addictive and when it cannot be obtained anymore, one resorts to using illegal drugs like heroin in order to satisfy the craving for the good feeling.
Sometimes a heroin addict does not display any symptoms of use especially if one is determined to hide it. You will soon see the symptoms if his addiction increase. You will know a heroin addict by these signs and symptoms: drowsiness or agitation, slurred speech, depression, constricted pupils, needle marks, memory loss, constipation, runny nose or nose sores, and a reduced sense of pain.
If you are a heroin addict, then there is no single cure-all for it. In order to help an addict through recovery, there are many types of treatments that can be used. The patient, the substance being used, and any coexisting medical condition will determine the kind of treatment to be used for his recovery. Various kinds of treatments can be used for heroin addiction. It would be more effective if several forms of treatment are used instead of just one.
In treatment heroin addiction they can use medication or behavioral treatment.
During withdrawal, there are many physical symptoms that will appear when one stops using heroin while addicted to it. You can experience a serious kind of symptoms. These can include nausea, vomiting, pain, and diarrhea.
During heroin detox, a patient craves intensely for the drug and will experience a painful and uncomfortable withdrawal. Heroin is sometimes used to stop withdrawal pains and detox itself. heroin use during detox can be reduced if medication is used to ease cravings and physical withdrawal.
In most treatments, the first step is detoxing from the drug. Treatment cannot be very effective if detox is not completed because a person cannot endure it. In order for a patient to be safe during detox, it is necessary to have medical supervision. Detox can sometimes bring patients to the hospital.
Your behavioral treatment can either be an inpatient setting our an outpatient treatment setting. Behavioral treatment includes individual therapy, group therapy, or contingency management. In behavioral therapy the patient in helped to identify drug use triggers, to build coping skills when faced with cravings, to deal with relapse, and to identify and cope with issues causing emotional discomfort.
Although serious, heroin addiction can be treated.