Addiction To Heroin Research Paper

Heroin, a powerful narcotic, acts upon the brain as a painkiller, increasing physical addiction and ongoing emotional dependence (Schaffer Library of…). Heroin has many challenging and highly risky effects on the user, all the more hazardous if overdosing is present. This extremely dangerous drug, heroin, will never cease being used, but may cease the existence of an individual.

Heroin is a drug most children grow up learning about as being one of the worst things you can do. Being young, a child could never imagine doing something to them that is harmful. Yet here we are, at home, right in Northeast Ohio with the biggest heroin epidemic in history. Heroin is essentially a pain blocker. It turns into morphine when it enters the brain. Is this why it is so popular, or is it because this drug is becoming cheaper and cheaper? The answer is both. Heroin offers users a cheap, quick fix to temporarily numb themselves. With its growing popularity, this drug needs to be stopped. The Heroin and Opioid Epidemic Northeast Ohio Community Action Plan is currently a working draft that will

Chronic use of the drug can cause collapsed veins from injection, heart infections, abscesses, constipation, gastrointestinal cramping, and liver disease. Street heroin is known to contain additives that can clog the blood vessels that may lead to the lungs or brain. This can lead to infection in the cells of vital organs. If used heavily and then stopped, withdrawal symptoms will occur, causing the user to become restless, have drug cravings, muscle and bone pain, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes, insomnia, and kicking movements. Withdrawal symptoms typically occur between 24 to 48 hours after the user's last dosage and usually subside after a week (Types of Prescription

Headlines such as ¨Heroin Addiction Sweeps Small Towns¨ and David Muir Reporting Breaking Point Heroin in America¨ (ABC 20/20 March 2016) are only two of hundreds of such headlines that give credence to this epidemic. This is taking a heartbreaking toll on communities across America. Heroin is a drug that does not discriminate based on sex, age or ethnic backgrounds. A user can be your neighbor, a family member and even someone who has affluence status. The fastest growing segment of society is teenagers and young adults in their early 20ś making up 57% of the total users.

Heroin addicts have the psychological dependence on heroin that leads them into the state of self-destruction and the possibility of leading to death by the extreme use of heroin. Never estimate the poppy flower for its power that withholds the fiends to their mentality enduring the euphoria enslavement of the mind that contained for many centuries. The heroin addiction nation is a self numbing injection and dry approach to have the mind under the state of the greatest feeling of great happiness leaving the pain behind under the spell of heroin. Heroin comes in many forms for addicts to enjoy in their own way. They come in powder and rock like form that is combined with other narcotics. The snorting form for heroin is not

Psychological effects are very pronounced. To a heroin addict there is only two groups of people, the user and everyone else. The addict will often surround himself with other users. This ensures a continued supply of the drug as well as someone who will keep their dirty secret. This is also dangerous on two other related front. Since HIV and hepatitis can be transmitted with a shared needle they append other health related issues. The effect continues when the addiction causes a person to withdraw from their family, careers are ruined, debt increases and illegal activities is perpetrated. For most addicts there is only three consequences. They are incarceration, mental hospital or death.

Withdrawal symptoms can include muscle and bone pain, sleep problems, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps, uncontrollable leg movements, severe heroin cravings (“Heroin”).

Heroin is bad. That should not come as a surprise. What might come as a surprise, on the other hand, is that America is currently going through a heroin epidemic. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Heroin use more than doubled among young adults aged 18-25 in the past decade.” However, heroin addictions do not arise ex nihilo. The silent perpetrators are pharmaceutical companies and their weapons are prescription painkillers.

Most users prefer to ingest heroin  through  injection. Which takes the mind altering substance straight into the bloodstream, resulting in what most users describe as a "rush".  In addition to injection through the bloodstream, heroin can also be taken in through different methods. These include to snort or to smoke.  Furthermore, the short term effects of heroin last a couple hours then disappear. Theses include; a rush, dry mouth, respiratory depression, nausea and warm flushed skin. Long term effects include; Bad teeth, Inflammation of the gum, Constipation, Cold sweats, Itching Depression, Pustules on the face, Loss of appetite, and Insomnia. In addition to the long term effects of this mind altering drug, heroin  can also clog blood vessels that lead to major organs causing organ failure.  Not only are users exposed to the effects of the drug, but they are also susceptible to diseases from unsanitary habits. Addicts who inject drugs like heroin are at risk of contracting HIV or HCV through blood contact. Which occurs through the use of sharing needles and other equipment.   Furthermore, once heroin reaches the brain, it turns into morphine. It connects to the opioid receptors. Which in turn is in charge of the major components of the brain. Nonetheless, like any other drug users can overdose on heroin. Once this occurs the supply of oxygen reaching the brain ceases causing hypoxia.

Users report experiencing intense pleasure and numbness of pain.  Each time the brain is exposed to heroin, it craves more of the drug to get the same effectiveness, which in turn causes the person to build up a tolerance.  The person begins to spiral into a vicious cycle of using more and more of the drug until they ultimately become addicted.  Heroin raises blood pressure and heart rate.  Overtime, the brain is physically altered and the white brain matter deteriorates.  This causes a decline in the person’s ability to make good decisions.   In the case of an overdose, the rate of breathing is lowered causing a lack of oxygen to the body.  Narcan is a drug that can be administered to combat the effects of heroin, however, it needs to be given before the heart stops.  There have been some people who seek an ultimate high and have purposely overdosed on heroin, with the hope that Narcan will prevent death.  Sadly, too often this plan does not work and the person has died as a result.

It is clear that heroin usage is on the rise and will continue on this same path until the discussion widens to people of all walks of life. Heroin is impacting the entire nation, and has become such a critical issue that it has even been addressed in the recent presidential debates. Both candidates showcase an active interest in finding effective solutions to the problem and vow to make drug prevention part of their long-term political

Heroin is a powerful opioid drug that produces euphoria and feelings of relaxation. It slows respiration, and its use is linked to an increased risk of serious infectious diseases, especially when taken intravenously. People who become addicted to opioid pain relievers sometimes switch to heroin instead, because it produces similar effects and may be cheaper or easier to

Heroin addiction is a chronically relapsing disease, usually characterized by tendencies such as drug seeking, drug abuse, tolerance and physical dependence. Substance abuse disorders have increased the levels of morbidity and mortality and with a consequent significant increase in HIV spread across the globe. Heroin increases psychiatric disorders, especially with mood anxiety, impulse control, and imbalance –related disorders.

The effects of heroin can be very devastating, both short term and long term effects. There is a rapid physical change that can be seen due to the use of heroin. People who use heroin may experience a few pleasant short term effects such as; feelings of being warm and flushed, heavy sensation in extremities, and sedation. Unpleasant side effects may include drowsiness and lethargy. The long term effects is what really gives heroin such a bad reputation. Within a short period of time severe side effects come in. Such as; oral damage (gums and teeth), digestive issues, severe itching causing people to itch till you bleed causing scabs, breaking down of the immune system, malnutrition, sleeping irregularities, and decrease in sexual functions

The initial effects are physical ones. Users get a rush, which makes their skin warm and flushed, dries out their mouth, gives them heavy feelings, makes them nauseous, makes them vomit, and gives them severe itching. For a few hours after heroin is taken, users continues to feel the effects, but more psychological ones. They may feel drowsy for hours. Their breathing and heart function may be slowed down, and their brain may become cloudy. There are also long-term psychological effects of using heroin. It can deteriorate the brain. This affects decision-making, the ability to regulate behavior, and the ability to respond to stressful situations. These effects, both long-term and short-term, can be detrimental to health, and some people’s