Heroin takes a toll on your life. From the first use, your physical and mental health are at risk. There are short- and long-term effects of heroin—some of which are life-threatening.
Why Do People Use Heroin?
Opioids, the class of drug that heroin belongs to, are extremely addictive. They affect pain receptors in the brain and body called “opioid receptors.” When someone uses opioids, which include prescription painkillers like OxyContin, they feel less pain, more relaxation, and even euphoria. However, over time, they’ll need higher doses of opioids to feel the same effects. This is known as “tolerance.” Their brain and body also become dependent on opioids to feel pleasure or relax at all; this is an addiction.
People might start using heroin for a number of reasons. Many turn to the drug after developing an addiction to prescription painkillers following an accident or surgery. Someone might experiment with it to try and cope with their mental health or just to see what it feels like.
The Short-Term Effects of Heroin
Heroin, like other opioids, is a depressant. This doesn’t mean someone will feel instantly depressed when they take it (although mood can be affected), but their body functions do slow down. The drug depresses the central nervous system, which affects nearly everything someone does—including breathing.
The side effects of heroin use appear in as little as 10 minutes after use and last about five hours. These short-term effects include:
- Skin flushing
- Confusion
- Shallow breathing
- Slowed heart rate
- “Heaviness” felt in the arms and legs
- Nausea and vomiting
- Itchy skin
- Dry mouth
- Emotional numbness
- Trouble thinking
- “Nodding off” or passing in and out of consciousness
Short-term effects of heroin start after the first time someone uses the drug. The higher the dose someone uses, the more severe—even life-threatening—their symptoms can become. Even the first time someone tries heroin, it carries the potential for an overdose.
Signs of a Heroin Overdose
Overdose occurs when someone uses more heroin than their body can tolerate. If someone is inexperienced with heroin or if their drug is contaminated with something else, like illicit fentanyl, they can easily overdose. Heroin overdose can be fatal.
These are signs to look for:
- Unconsciousness/extreme drowsiness to the point they don’t respond to talk or touch
- Slowed, irregular, or stopped breathing
- Snoring or gurgling
- Bluish/grayish or pale skin, lips, and fingernails
- Pinpoint pupils that don’t respond to light
What to Do If You Recognize an Opioid Overdose
Opioid overdoses—including those involving heroin—are reversible. Naloxone (Narcan) is an opioid overdose reversal drug that’s available in many states without a prescription. If you recognize an opioid overdose:
- Call 911
- Administer Narcan by spraying into the person’s nose
- Ensure the person is lying on their side
- If they’re not breathing, do rescue breathing
- Try to keep them awake
- Stay with them until emergency help arrives
Narcan will only work on opioid overdoses. If you think someone has overdosed on a different type of drug, call 911, but do not administer Narcan.
The Long-Term Effects of Heroin
Over time, the effects of heroin can become more noticeable and severe. Chronic use takes a toll on the brain and body—including the immune system, skin, sexual function, and heart.
Infections
If someone takes heroin using injections, it can lead to infections in the blood vessels and heart valves. Injections can also cause collapsed veins. When someone shares needles with other users, it increases the chances that they will contract tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis, or other forms of contagious diseases. In the United States, the majority of new hepatitis C cases come from drug users who use injections.
Skin and Teeth Issues
Some of the other long-term effects of heroin include symptoms like skin problems and bad teeth. Sores, lesions, and skin infections are risks of injected heroin use. Chronic heroin use can also lead to gum inflammation, tooth decay, and more missing teeth.
Stomach Problems
Since opioids are depressants, they also slow the digestive system. This can lead to chronic and/or severe constipation, stomach pain, nausea, and bloating. The longer or more frequently that stomach issues happen, the more likely someone can become malnourished (not absorbing the nutrients from the food they eat) or for severe complications—like intestinal obstruction—to occur.
Brain Damage
Heroin can cause the white matter in your brain to deteriorate, making it difficult for someone to remain calm in stressful situations or control their behavior. That, in turn, makes it difficult to maintain stable employment and meet other responsibilities in daily life.
White matter is located under the brain’s surface gray matter. It is critical to the transmission of electrical impulses that allow the brain to communicate with all parts of the body. Think of it as a network of roadways that allow the brain to process thoughts and learn new things. As that white matter deteriorates due to heroin abuse, cognitive abilities decline.
Mental Health Effects
Mentally, the individual may suffer from depression, poor intellectual performance, or memory loss. Heroin addiction can also cause anxiety and worsen any pre-existing mental health conditions, which may have been what led someone to try heroin in the first place.
Other Long-Term Effects
Every person who struggles with heroin addiction will have a different experience, which may include different long-term effects. They might deal with:
- Hormonal imbalance
- Sexual dysfunction
- Arthritis
- Collapsed veins
- Respiratory issues from snorting/smoking heroin
- Cold sweats
- Liver disease
Heroin Use Disorder Makes It Hard to Ask for Help
Unfortunately, some of the issues that people who use heroin encounter can be treated, but they might not seek medical attention until they become life-threatening. This is in part due to the stigma they perceive as someone who uses drugs, but also because they might not be willing to stop using the drug if that’s what they’re told to do. Intense cravings and the rapid onset of withdrawal symptoms will drive someone to continue using the drug—even injecting it—despite severe issues like infections, abscesses, open wounds, collapsed veins, and other painful injuries.
These intense cravings and challenging withdrawal symptoms are the signs of heroin use disorder, an addiction to heroin.
But Heroin Doesn’t Just Affect Health
Some behaviors that are often exhibited when addiction starts include:
- Difficulty maintaining employment
- Reckless use of heroin in dangerous situations
- Neglecting dependents in order to secure the drug
- Spending money on drugs rather than buying food and other essentials
If heroin is so detrimental to someone’s health and everything they’re involved with in their life, why is it so hard to quit? Part of the reason is that the drug changes the brain and causes intense cravings. Without heroin, someone might feel like nothing brings them joy or even makes them feel okay. Another reason is the onset of withdrawal symptoms, sometimes called being “dope sick.”
Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms caused by heroin and other opioids include the following:
- Depression
- Muscle spasms
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bone pains
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Chills
- Agitation
Medications such as methadone and suboxone can limit specific withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms can last up to three days during detox. Afterward, someone’s brain and body still crave heroin. That’s why it’s crucial to seek professional care while going through withdrawal. Quitting heroin use on your own can quickly lead to relapse, which can be dangerous if your tolerance has decreased. Using the same high dose as before could quickly lead to an overdose.
Heroin Addiction Treatment Options
Heroin addiction is a serious medical condition, and it requires specialized treatment to recover. There are a variety of different treatment options available, and the type of treatment will depend on individual needs. Heroin addiction treatment options include:
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT): This involves using drugs such as methadone and buprenorphine to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms while the individual works on addressing their addiction. MAT can be used in conjunction with counseling and psychotherapy to provide a comprehensive treatment plan. Additionally, other medications such as naltrexone and acamprosate may also be prescribed to help prevent relapse.
- Detox and residential treatment: This includes residential treatment programs and detoxification services. People are provided with a safe environment where they can focus on recovery without the distractions of their daily lives. They also receive around-the-clock care from trained professionals to ensure that they remain comfortable and follow through with their treatment plans.
- Outpatient treatment: This type of program involves regular visits to a rehab center and may involve individual and group counseling and other forms of therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Outpatient programs allow individuals to continue working or attending school while receiving treatment. These are good options for those who have already detoxed and need further support.
Recovery is possible. And, with the right support and guidance, you or a loved one can overcome addiction and regain control of life. Red Oak Recovery® can help. Call 828.382.9699 or contact us online.
