Heroin addiction is when someone is addicted to heroin and can’t stop themselves from using it, even when they know it’s harmful.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction to heroin or another substance, reach out to Summit at Harmony Oaks. Our Joint Commission-accredited and licensed treatment programs can help you reach sobriety and mental wellness.
What to Know About Heroin Addiction
Heroin is a powerful opiate drug that is derived from morphine, a substance naturally found in the seed pods of opium poppy plants.
Known for its intense euphoric effects, heroin can quickly lead to dependence and addiction, leading to life-altering consequences.
Heroin can change people and communities forever. Fortunately, we at Summit at Harmony Oaks are here to help. Our specialists can get you set up with a full addiction and health evaluation to determine how to help you get and stay sober.
Common Causes of Heroin Addiction
Various factors can lead to the development of a heroin addiction. These are:
- Genetic predisposition to addiction: People with a family history of substance abuse may have genetic traits that increase their vulnerability to addiction.
- Environmental influences: Growing up in an environment where heroin or other substances are regularly used can make this behavior seem normal. Socioeconomic factors like poverty, lack of education, and unstable living conditions can further raise the risk, often leading people to turn to substance use as a way to cope with their circumstances.
- Psychological factors: Mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, or PTSD can lead people to self-medicate with substances like heroin. Heroin produces a high that alleviates many of the negative symptoms of such conditions, causing people who use heroin to become addicted to and dependent on the drug.
Who Is at Risk of Heroin Addiction?
Certain populations are more vulnerable to heroin and opioid use disorder due to different risk factors, or elements that increase a person’s chance of developing heroin addiction.
Heroin addiction risk factors include:
- Age: Young adults ages 18 to 25 often report higher instances of drug use, including heroin. Urban areas with greater access to illicit drugs often have higher rates of heroin use.
- Socioeconomic status: People from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may face increased risks due to limited access to healthcare and education.
- Using prescription opioid painkillers and having an opioid addiction: People addicted to heroin often start with legitimate over-the-counter prescription drugs for pain management. Unfortunately, when these prescriptions become inaccessible or unaffordable, some may turn to heroin as a cheaper and more readily available alternative.
- Mental health problems: Those struggling with mental disorders are at an elevated risk of developing heroin dependence and overdose deaths. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, or trauma-related disorders can drive people toward substance use as a form of self-medication.
Signs & Symptoms of Heroin Addiction
Heroin addiction can cause a range of symptoms. Here are some of the most recognizable signs and symptoms of heroin addiction:
- Behavioral changes: People addicted to heroin may show a shift in behavior, such as social withdrawal and missing work or school. They may also avoid activities they once enjoyed.
- Physical symptoms: Heroin use visibly affects the body. Common symptoms include persistent drowsiness, shallow breaths, slurred speech, pockets of pus caused by infection, and skin infections like cellulitis and abscesses. Users may also appear lethargic or “nodding off” frequently. People who inject heroin may also develop hepatitis B and C and HIV.
- Mental health signs: People abusing heroin may experience intense cravings for the drug, driving them to seek it despite negative consequences. Anxiety and agitation levels may be high, especially if access to heroin is restricted.
If you have noticed these symptoms in yourself or a loved one and you suspect they are addicted to heroin, contact Summit at Harmony Oaks today.
Our mental and behavioral health specialists can diagnose your condition(s) and support you on your journey to sobriety.
Most Insurance Accepted
As a member of the Harmony Health Group family of treatment programs, we are able to work with many private insurance plans.
Verify InsuranceEffects of Heroin Addiction
Heroin addiction has a range of effects. Short-term effects of heroin use often include:
- A powerful sense of well-being
- Happiness (euphoria)
- Extreme relaxation
These pleasant effects can quickly lead to repeated use, pushing People further down the path of addiction.
While the short-term effects might seem appealing, the long-term health consequences paint a starkly different picture.
Prolonged heroin use can lead to:
- Liver disease
- Lung infections
- Changes to brain structure (including deterioration of the brain’s white matter, which can affect decision-making abilities)
- Heroin overdose, which can be fatal
Repeated heroin use can also cause heroin use disorder, a chronic disease that causes people affected to uncontrollably seek out heroin, regardless of consequences. People who inject or smoke heroin are at a higher risk of developing this condition.
Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms
Heroin use disorder also causes withdrawal symptoms within several hours after taking heroin. These symptoms peak between 24 to 48 hours after the last heroin dose, and subside after a week.
Symptoms of heroin withdrawal include:
- Insomnia
- Vomiting
- Bone and muscle pain
- Leg movements
- Cold flashes with goosebumps
Risks of Mixing Heroin with Other Drugs
Mixing heroin with other substances can be fatal.
When people mix heroin with stimulants or depressants, they may be at a higher risk of overdose. This deadly combination often leads to respiratory failure, which is life-threatening without immediate medical intervention.
In recent years, fentanyl has emerged as a significant threat in street heroin. Because it is very easy to produce a high with fentanyl, using heroin mixed with fentanyl can significantly increase the risk of overdose.
Heroin Addiction Treatment at Summit at Harmony Oaks
At our newest facility, Summit at Summit at Harmony Oaks Center in Chattanooga, TN, patients get to access highly effective heroin addiction treatments. These include the following.
Detox is the first step when treating heroin addiction. It involves clearing a substance, such as heroin, from your body.
The goal of detox is to help break the physical reliance on heroin.
To achieve this, medical professionals closely monitor patients’ withdrawal symptoms to ensure safety and comfort. They may prescribe medications to ease withdrawal symptoms like vomiting, nausea, or anxiety.
Summit at Harmony Oaks also offers residential programs, which provide a structured and supportive setting that fosters healing and growth.
These programs require patients to live at our facility, so they can receive the care they need every step of the way.
Residential programs provide many benefits, including:
- 24/7 support: Residents receive round-the-clock care and continuous access to medical and therapeutic support.
- Structured routine: Residents follow a daily schedule, which helps establish stability, reducing the emotional and physical chaos often associated with addiction.
- Community environment: Residents have the opportunity to meet and befriend peers who are on similar paths, building camaraderie and mutual support.
- Therapeutic interventions: Residents have access to a range of therapies — including individual counseling, group therapy, and holistic treatments — which address both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction.
- Personalized treatment plans: Our healthcare providers work with residents to create a customized program that meets individual needs and ensures more effective recovery outcomes.
Outpatient programs are designed to meet the needs of people who need treatment for heroin addiction but have commitments that prevent them from attending full-time residential programs.
There are three levels of intensity for outpatient programs: partial hospitalization programs or PHP (the most intense), intensive outpatient programs or IOP (the second-most intense) and general outpatient programs (the least intense).
Summit at Harmony Oaks offers dual diagnosis treatment for people with opioid addiction, which address mental health disorders and substance use disorders together.
Many people with a heroin addiction also face challenges like depression, anxiety, or PTSD, which can fuel a cycle of worsening substance use that’s difficult to escape without proper support.
As with our residential and outpatient programs, we will work with patients to create personalized treatment plans. A one-size-fits-all approach rarely works in addiction treatment, so we tailor our plans to address both heroin addiction and any underlying mental health conditions.
Our mental health services focus on providing integrated care, combining addiction treatment with mental health services for more comprehensive, cohesive support.
This includes therapy sessions with healthcare providers specializing in both areas. We also offer a range of therapeutic support options designed to help patients build resilience and develop healthier coping strategies, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and group counseling.
Fight Heroin Addiction at Summit at Harmony Oaks
Contact UsHeroin addiction can be emotionally and financially devastating for families and communities to face.
Fortunately, Summit at Summit at Harmony Oaks is here to help. We offer mental health and substance misuse treatment services in Chattanooga, TN, including residential, outpatient, and mental health programs.
Talk to our professionals today to learn more about how we can help you with your journey to sobriety.
Heroin Addiction FAQs
Yes, heroin causes a range of withdrawal symptoms. These include:
- Sweating and chills
- Muscle aches and pains
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Cravings for heroin
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Depression
The best treatment for heroin addiction is a personalized approach. Depending on your symptoms and the severity of your addiction, your tailored treatment plan may include:
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combines medications like buprenorphine and methadone with behavioral therapies and counseling to manage withdrawal symptoms and minimize cravings.
- Behavioral therapies that provide strategies to change behaviors and attitudes related to drug use. Contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy are common examples.
- Support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous provide shared experiences and community support to foster long-term recovery. The mix of peer support and professional treatment creates a strong framework for fighting addiction.
Each person’s journey to sobriety and mental well-being varies depending on their needs and symptoms. Talk to professionals from Summit at Harmony Oaks today to learn more about the best heroin addiction treatment for you.
Although there is no real “cure” for heroin addiction, healthcare providers can work with patients struggling with addiction to achieve sobriety. A range of treatments, from detox, to MAT, to outpatient services and therapy, can help you break free from heroin use disorder.
Sources
- American Psychological Association. “Substance use, abuse, and addiction.” Retrieved from: Substance use, abuse, and addiction (apa.org) Accessed on October 14, 2024.
- CAMH. “Heroin.” Retrieved from CAMH – Heroin Accessed on October 14, 2024.
- DEA: United States Drug Enforcement Administration. “Heroin.” Retrieved from DEA: Heroin Accessed on October 14, 2024.
- Mayo Clinic. “Drug Addiction (Substance Use Disorder).” Retrieved from: Drug addiction (substance use disorder) – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic Accessed on 10/14/2024.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Fentanyl.” Retrieved from NIH: Fentanyl DrugFacts Accessed on October 14, 2024.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Heroin.” Retrieved from: NIH: Heroin Accessed on October 14, 2024.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. “What are the long-term effects of heroin use?” Retrieved from NIH: Heroin Research Report Accessed on October 14, 2024.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Treatment and Recovery.” Retrieved from: Treatment and Recovery | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (nih.gov) Accessed on October 14, 2024.
- Yale Medicine. “How an Addicted Brain Works.” Retrieved from: How an Addicted Brain Works > News > Yale Medicine Accessed on October 14, 2024.