Nutritional supplements can improve your health and wellbeing. Order supplements online here!
Heroin addiction is on the rise among adults between the ages of 18-25. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the number of people using heroin for the first time doubled within a period of 10 years, while the number of people who have become dependent on this illegal substance has dramatically increased from 214,000 in 2002 to 626,000 in 2016.
Experts in addiction medicine in Minneapolis say that the effects of heroin are critical to a person's health since it's an opiate that can impact the brain's receptors. With continued use, the person's body develops a tolerance to the substance, thus "rewiring" the brain's function, physiology, and structure.
Heroin also inhibits the brain from receiving oxygen, which the brain cells need to function. A lack of oxygen in the brain can lead to overdose, or death.
Heroin brings a feeling of rush and euphoria for the user in the first 5-20 minutes. The person will instantly feel his skin getting flushed, or experience dryness of the mouth as well as increased thirst. This feeling of high and extreme happiness does not last long, despite the surge.
In the next few minutes, the person may feel his mind getting fuzzy or cloudy since heroin dulls the central nervous system. He may also feel that his legs and arms are heavy, as he starts breathing slowly and descends into a relaxed state.
For some users, this phase may feel as if all their worries and anxieties have melted away, including their body pain. However, doctors in addiction medicine, Minneapolis strongly emphasize that this drastic shift can also raise the risk of respiratory failure. Experts refer to this incident as respiratory depression.
As the addiction worsens, a heroin addict may eventually experience several physical changes that are actually symptoms of health deterioration. These include:
Heroin may be smoked, snorted, diluted, and injected. How an addict uses heroin may also have some health consequences.
For instance, some users share needles to inject heroin into their system, but this raises their risk for acquiring infectious diseases and other bacterial infections. The constant injection also damages the soft tissues of the skin and leads to collapsed veins.
Chronic heroin users may develop problems with their lungs, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis, for habitually smoking the substance. They could also have damaged nasal mucous membranes from snorting.
Heroin addiction is a complex addiction. If you, or someone you know is addicted, seeking help from a professional can be a big and significant step towards better health.
Valley Medical and Wellness Addiction Treatment in Minneapolis provides innovative and comprehensive addiction therapy. We are dedicated to healing your mind, body, and spirit, and helping you stay motivated to change. All this while empowering you to create a happier and healthier life for yourself.
Schedule an appointment with our addiction doctor in Minneapolis today. You can speak to all members of our staff in confidence. We value your privacy. Call us at (612) 444-3000.
