Advice on heroin treatments, recovery, rehab, detox, and more.
*This page was medically reviewed by Dr Robert Lefever in April of 2021
Heroin addiction is currently one of the most dangerous drug addictions in the world. It is known to be exceptionally addictive, second to very few substances on earth. From the first hit, you can become a heroin addict.
This page has been created to tell you everything you need to know about a heroin addiction, including how to break free of it. Let’s start by understanding what heroin and heroin addiction are.
What is Heroin?
Heroin is a drug made from morphine, like many painkillers are. The difference is that heroin is illegal and deadly. While morphine is issued to address extreme pain, heroin is taken to chase the euphoric high of the first use.
Morphine used to be known as “the milk of the poppy” and was used extensively during the nineteenth century for its pain relieving properties[i].
Unlike morphine, heroin is used recreationally and is less commonly known by its chemical name of diamorphine. Diamorphine is a condensed version of morphine, making it about 50% more potent, according to studies[ii]. In one instance, patients in a post-surgery hip operation situation were only given half the amount of morphine in diamorphine form to achieve the same level of relief.
Rather than being a super drug, heroin is deadly. Overdosing causes hypoxia, a blockage in the amount of oxygen reaching your brain. This can cause a coma, brain damage, or long term mental impairment[iii].
Other Names for Heroin
Heroin has several street names. If you are offered any of the following it is heroin in disguise:
- Brown Crystal[iv]
- Brown sugar
- Dirt
- Salt
- Smack
- Tar or Black Tar
- White Junk
How is Heroin Used?
Heroin is usually heated into a liquid form and injected straight into the veins. It might also be snorted or smoked, but injection is by far the more common method.
Since injection of heroin is standard, heroin addicts often end up contracting HIV and hepatitis variants using dirty needles.
How is Heroin Used?
Heroin is usually heated into a liquid form and injected straight into the veins. It might also be snorted or smoked, but injection is by far the more common method.
Since injection of heroin is standard, heroin addicts often end up contracting HIV and hepatitis variants using dirty needles.
What does Heroin do to the Body?
Heroin is addictive because of how it affects your mind. Heroin enters the bloodstream and immediately goes to our brain. It essentially changes how our brain works, altering our perception of emotions like pleasure and removing feelings of depression and anxiety.
This is one of the reasons why it’s such a popular recreational drug; because of how good it makes the user feel.
Unfortunately, the drug will start to affect other parts of the brain which make it difficult for us to tell what’s good or bad for our bodies. Eventually, the brain can no longer overcome the addiction and that’s when we need expert help from the outside. Social factors, such as how accessible and inexpensive heroin is, can also contribute to the rapid addiction of heroin.
Due to heroin’s close relationship to prescription pain medication, a large majority of those who are currently suffering from a heroin addiction started by taking prescription opioid pills.
This also contributes to the widespread accessibility and addiction to heroin.
With all these reasons combined, it’s easy to see just why heroin is such a dangerous and fearsome drug. It only takes a couple of repeated use and the realization that it’s so accessible to become fully addicted to the drug.
Heroin Addiction Facts and Statistics
Heroin addiction is more common than you think. In fact, around 13.5 million people[v] across the entire world inject drugs such as heroin into their body, developing a gradual dependency that could destroy their life if the addiction is not handled correctly.
In the UK, the Office of National Statistics[vi] have been recording trends in drug use for years now. Their report for the year ending 2020 found that 3.6% of all adults in the UK had used a Class A drug in the last 12 months. Admittedly, heroin isn’t the only Class A drug, but this is still an alarming statistic.
Worse, they highlight that 7.4% of all young adults from 16-24 admitted using a Class A in the same time. That’s about 467 thousand young people in the UK.
What causes a Heroin Addiction?
There are multiple factors which can cause someone to develop an addiction. Typically, there are a few key factors which align to make some form a habit of drug use.
If you only ever share social interactions with other drug users, you will likely succumb at some point. If you never socialise with other heroin users, however, you can avoid this pitfall.
Some of us are genetically predisposed to habit forming addictions. Others are unlucky in the circumstances of their birth and grew up with addicted parents and other neglectful circumstances to battle. Addiction is often a symptom of larger problems.
Side Effects of Heroin Use
When you decide to keep using heroin you will form an addiction. When that addiction has taken hold, you should expect the following short term and long term effects.
Short Term Effects of Heroin Addiction
Short-term side effects of heroin include a rush of a pleasurable sensation. This rush is what most heroin users are aiming for, but the length of time it lasts will change depending on the person. After these initial effects, the users will often feel drowsy for several hours and they won’t be as agile with their mind[vii]. In many cases, the user will also experience slowed breathing which can lead to a come or even brain damage.
Long Term Effects of Heroin Addiction
When it comes to long-term usage, heroin has a host of problematic symptoms that give the drug its dangerous reputation. Using heroin for long periods of time can change the physical structure of the brain which creates imbalances that are difficult to fix. In addition, studies have shown that the brain’s white matter can deteriorate with repeated heroin use, reducing one’s decision-making abilities and making it difficult to control their behaviour.
Stages of Heroin Addiction Treatment
If you are wondering how heroin addiction is treated in rehab clinics, the following section should help. These are the stages of treatment for recovery from a heroin abuse problem.
Detox
Once you have admitted you are a heroin addict, the first step is to get off the heroin. Heroin detox is complex by comparison to other drug detox programs because the typical use of Buprenorphine and Suboxone won’t do. Heroin is so addictive that these don’t work alone. The addiction must be weaned onto something slightly less strong. Often, heroin detox uses methadone as a steppingstone between.
Heroin detox should always be medically assisted.
Rehab
Rehab for heroin addiction includes group therapy and one-on-one sessions with a clinical psychologist. You will be offered different types of therapy to help you recover, depending on your choice in rehab clinic. You should consider a residential rehab clinic as being treated as an inpatient is far better than being treated as an outpatient for heroin addiction.
Secondary Treatment for Heroin Addiction
Secondary treatment, or aftercare, is offered by rehab clinics to help you return to the normal world. It usually includes your continuing attendance in group therapy, or telephone support. However, there are some things you can do to make life easier on yourself.
Think about your friend group and narrow it down to those that don’t use heroin.
Think about helping others to quit to channel the extra energy you have.
Find alternative hobbies and productive habits, to replace the time spent on addiction.
Surround yourself with as much positivity as possible.
Heroin Addiction Treatment Timeline
Heroine withdrawal begins within a few hours of your last use. It will peak within 3 days of discontinuation, then will maintain the discomfort level for up to a fortnight. Symptoms will gradually lessen but expect to feel cravings for at least 30 days[viii].
Signs of Heroin Use
If you think your loved one is using heroin, look out for the following signs to confirm your suspicions and talk to them about getting the help they need.
Signs of a heroin addiction include:
- Equipment for heroin use such as tiny plastic bags, syringes, rubber tubing, burnt spoons and powdery residue are quite common signs of heroin addiction.
- In terms of appearance, a heroin addicts’ pupils may appear small and they may have drowsy eyes. Their skin is often flushed, and they may even appear to breathe slowly.
- Physical signs may include vomiting and a loss of appetite
- Heroin users also tend to complain about nausea and constipation
- They may neglect their home or stop taking care of themselves
- Heroin users tend to cover their arms to hide scars and injection markings
Asking someone to show you their arms isn’t enough to spot heroin use. They may find hidden spots to inject to disguise the marks, such as between their toes. One study[ix] found the arm to be most common but pointed out the multiple other sites that heroin injectors might use.
Symptoms of Heroin Withdrawal
Within a few short hours after taking the drug, it’s also common to experience withdrawal symptoms such as vomiting, insomnia, diarrhoea, vomiting or even cold flashes. These withdrawal symptoms get worse around the 24-hour mark, and they can get progressively worse depending on how accustomed your body is to heroin.
Common Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms include:
- Painful muscle cramps
- Tremors and shaking in your body
- Chills which can occasionally become extremely hot
- Drug cravings
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Loss of weight
- Loss of appetite
- Headaches
Let’s not forget those flu-like symptoms which can persist for weeks after you quit, either[x].
How much does Heroin Rehab Cost in the UK?
Expect to spend a minimum of £1,000 per week on your rehab stay. This can be much higher if you want a luxury residential rehab program. You cannot detox from heroin alone. At the very least, you need to go through medically assisted detox to cleanse the drugs from your system.
Free Consultation on Heroin Addiction
If you want to know how to get help for your own heroin addiction, use our free consultation button above to start the process.
How to Get Help for Heroin Addiction?
Help4Addiction can provide you with the help and support needed to combat serious addictions to drugs such as heroin. If you or a loved one are dependent on taking heroin to relax and cope with everyday life, then we have the treatment needed to help you overcome your addiction. Call 0203 955 7700 and speak to one of our experts for immediate help and advice to get the treatment you or a loved one needs.
[i] https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/painkillers/a-short-history.html
[ii] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1862890/
[iii] https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/heroin
[iv] https://www.verywellmind.com/common-slang-terms-for-heroin-67371
[v] https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/heroin/international-statistics.html
[viii] https://www.verywellmind.com/what-to-expect-from-heroin-withdrawal-22049
[ix] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3985009/
[x] https://www.healthline.com/health/opiate-withdrawal
