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What is Heroin Addiction |
Heroin addiction is without a
doubt, the absolute worst drug addiction in the world.
Heroin addiction is both physical and psychological
slavery in the worst form possible.
Once the user becomes a heroin addict, they become a slave
by default. They have to have it or else they'll become
very, very ill, as if they were going to die. If that heroin
doesn't hit those receptors in the brain soon then the
user will begin to go into severe and painful
withdrawal.
For an addict, heroin is the only cure.
And he or she can not function properly
without heroin in their system unless the addict
is on a mission to get their fix.
Then that's when the addict turns into a
desperate James Bond and begins to plan and
execute reckless missions in order to get high
and avoid going into withdrawals.
Heroin is essentially a faster acting form of
morphine which relieves painful
heroin withdrawals symptoms completely and within seconds.
No one decides they're going to become a
heroin addict. That was not part of the
plan. They may have started off by experimenting
with a friend by snorting or smoking the drug.
After their first introduction of the drug
into their system, they may become nauseous and
vomit the first, second and even third time
because their body simply couldn’t handle it.
You would think that this alone would be enough
to deter them, but that was not the case. |
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They may continue using heroin as
an occasional past time and soon progress to weekend
use. By this time, they learn not to eat before getting
high in order to enjoy their high and avoid nausea and
vomiting.
Then he or she may enjoy the high and will start using
heroin every 2 to 3 days, then every other day, until
one day, they wake up and start feeling strange without it.
The 'soon to be addict' wakes up one morning with cold
chills running through his body and cant understand
what's going on until he puts a new dope bag into his
system. And then all of a sudden, just like magic, the
chills and pains are gone within seconds. He feels normal
once again and he’s healed!
From there it begins, 1 bag per day. The once occasional
weekend user is now beginning to become a heroin addict.
Then he or she starts using every day, not because they
want to, but because they have to in order to feel
normal and to keep from getting sick. If they
don't use, they'll become very ill which is also known
as getting “dope sick”.
If the user has been snorting or smoking only 1 to 2 $20
heroin bags per day for 1-2 months then they still have
a good chance to quit heroin cold turkey with the help
of family, drug-free friends and counseling. They’ll
still go through serious withdrawals but only for a
short time, meaning 7-10 days, then followed by mild flu
symptoms for several days.
Yet once you past this stage, then you truly become a heroin
addict. The user must have it or else.
Their first thoughts on the morning agenda are how to get
that first bag, “the cure”, in order to feel normal. The
'rush' is a bonus. Their main concern is the cure
so that they wont get sick.
Soon after that, snorting and smoking heroin just
doesn't satisfy any longer. It helps them to feel normal
and may give them a good high but that in
itself is not enough.
Their body needs more. Their mind desires the true
heroin high - the rush. And even though
the snorter or smoker has repeatedly told themselves
that they would never shoot up, somehow, the opportunity
to inject heroin presents itself. And if it hasn't yet,
then it will happen someday. It could be through a friend,
at the dope spot or just out of pure curiosity, but in
time it happens more often than not.
The user now has a serious heroin addiction.
The reason why I refer to it as a “serious heroin
addiction” is because you have to be out of your mind to
stick a needle in your arm every single day, several
times per day. I know because I've been there myself 18
years ago. I used to always tell myself that I would
never shoot up and stick a needle in my arm. That’s
for junkies.
Then one day, after having gone a couple of weeks cold
turkey, I returned to the dope city from which I was
trying to escape. I quickly found myself with 2 of my
closest dope-friends. They pulled out the dope-bags and I
was waiting to sniff mine until they said, “we
don't sniff any more - we shoot it now”.
I said “oh my God, no way, that's crazy!” Needless to
say, I tried it and got hooked all over again worst than
ever before. Shooting
up was a totally different high from snorting. And I
continued to shoot up every single day for a very long
time. It was slavery to live in such a manner day in and
day out.
Snorting heroin was no longer sufficient for me and
could not match the rush one gets from injecting. It was
a dirty lifestyle and a horrible nightmare for
sure. But I'm very thankful that those days
are long gone! I'm no longer a slave to heroin. I haven't
touched the stuff in over 18 years and I will never
touch that, or any other drug ever again!
Many addicts continue to suffer the same horrific
nightmare each and every day for many many years. Again,
it's not because they want to, it's because they have
to, or else they’ll get sick and feel as if they were
going to die, and may come close to doing so.
They become a slave to heroin, programmed to
seek and use heroin no matter what they have to do or
who they have hurt in the process.
Heroin addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease,
characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, and by
neurochemical and molecular changes in the brain. Their
manner of thinking actually changes drastically. In
other words, heroin
literally changes the person from who they once were
into an unpredictable and reckless addict.
And many
heroin addicts become criminal minded as well.
Heroin produces profound degrees of tolerance and
physical dependence as well, which become powerful motivating
factors for compulsive and every day use. If the addict
doesn't get their fix in time, and that
heroin doesn't hit those receptors soon, then the user
will go into severe and painful withdrawal.
Symptoms of heroin withdrawal include:
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Ice cold chills |
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Bone crushing leg pains |
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Restless leg syndrome |
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Severe muscle cramps |
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Painful stomach cramps |
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Nausea and vomiting |
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Diarrhea |
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Shaking and trembling |
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Anxiety and panic attacks |
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Insomnia and restlessness |
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Loss of appetite |
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Watery eyes |
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Runny nose |
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Excessive yawning |
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Extreme depression |
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and crying... crying for heroin |
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This is the reason why heroin addicts can not stop using
heroin just like that. It's not that simple. A heroin
addict knows very well that all withdrawal symptoms
vanish within seconds once they get that heroin into their
system. This is why relapse happens so often.
This is not just some horrible flu. A flu is no
comparison. No
one wants to feel as if they were going to die. This is
the reason why parents and loved ones of heroin
addicts need to be patient, understanding, and long
suffering towards the addict. Furthermore, the addict is
not in their right mind at the moment.
Heroin addiction is why addicts gradually spend more and
more time and energy obtaining and using the drug. Once
you’re addicted to heroin, your primary purpose in life
becomes planning, seeking and using heroin regardless of
how many people are hurt in the process. The heroin
literally and chemically alters their brain function and
behavior which causes them to do the unthinkable in
order to get cured.
The once honest son, daughter or decent adult turns
into a dishonest liar and a thief. And an addict will not
hesitate to lie, cheat and steal from their own mother
as well.
Their brains become hardwired to get that fix by all
means necessary.
I realize that this may not be the case with every
heroin addict and that there is such a thing as a
functioning addict yet both become dishonest, deceiving
all those around them while the typical addict will lie,
cheat and steal almost daily in order to support their
heroin addiction and to avoid going into severe withdrawal.
In time, physical dependence develops with higher intake
and every day use. With physical dependence, (physical
addiction), the body adapts to the presence of heroin
and withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced or
stopped. Furthermore, in time, intake must be increased.
Withdrawal may occur within a few hours after the last
time the drug was taken. But I can assure you,
withdrawal will occur. Heroin is an extremely dangerous
drug and has been proven to be one of the most
addictive, with heroin addicts relapsing more than with
any other drug in the world. It is important to spot
heroin addiction in its early stages in order to get
help to the individual.
For parents, friends and loved ones of heroin
addicts, the following are several common signs of
heroin use and addiction to watch for:
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One moment they're awake and the next moment drowsy |
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They can even fall
asleep at the dinner table |
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Signs of infections from the injections |
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Disoriented,
dazed,
poor mental functioning |
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The user scratching his head and face |
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Drowsiness and grogginess |
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Runny
nose and watery eyes when in withdrawal |
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Slurred
speech, slow talking and low toned voice |
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Closed
eyes, dropped head and constricted
pupils |
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Nausea
and possible vomiting |
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Unkept
appearance and careless hygiene |
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Missing
cash and valuable items |
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Stealing and/or borrowing money |
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Lying and deception all of the time |
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Possession of unexplained valuable items |
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More common signs of
heroin use and addiction: |
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Droopy appearance, with their mouths
hanging open |
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Signs of injection on the bending part of
the arm, and other parts on their body |
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Shallow and slow breathing |
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Snorting hard as if to swallow their own
mucus |
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Using the same clothes day after
day and skipping showers |
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Making up detailed stories all of the time
in order to obtain money |
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Change in performance, academic and work |
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Drug paraphernalia, aluminum foil, spoons,
syringes, cotton balls, balloons, white empty baggies |
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Lethargy and apathy |
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Flu like symptoms in the morning before they
go out |
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Change in friends from good friends to bad
friends |
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Little or no motivation to do anything other
than to get high |
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Ignores the consequences of their
actions and behavior |
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Withdrawal from usual friends, family, activities,
or other interests |
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Eyes appear lost, droopy, dazed as if they
were in another world |
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No interest or desires in future plans |
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Broken commitments and promises |
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Hostility towards others and always in
denial |
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Unexplained absences from work,
social events, or
school |
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Poor and careless self-image |
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Girls, not caring to put make up on before
going out |
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Running away from home |
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Difficulty in maintaining employment |
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Signs of a
heroin addiction overdose include: |
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Shallow breathing |
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Pinpoint pupils |
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Clammy skin |
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Convulsions |
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Coma |
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The withdrawal symptoms mentioned above peak between 48 and 72
hours after the last dose of heroin was taken and
will decrease after about 7-10 days. However, some people in
poor health have shown persistent withdrawal symptoms
for many months. Heroin withdrawal is not fatal to
otherwise healthy adults, but it can cause death to the
fetus of a pregnant heroin addict.
A heroin addict will keep using the drug even though
they’re going through chaos in their life as the result
of their heroin addiction.
They cannot choose whether they’re going to use or not.
In their minds they have to use and that determination
drives them to find ways to obtain the drug.
This
need to use in order to keep from going into withdrawal
becomes the driving force in their daily life. And in
many cases, the heroin addict will do anything to get
their fix - anything.
Physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms were once
believed to be the main reasons for heroin addiction.
Yet this may not be the case entirely, since craving and
relapse can occur weeks and even months after withdrawal
symptoms are long gone. And because of this, counseling,
meetings, and/or therapy are strongly recommended.
Relocation may also become a last resort as well.
Heroin addiction is one of the most destructive
drug addictions in the world and has been rapidly
increasing in North America, giving rise to alarm
amongst the authorities and health professionals.
The rising epidemic of heroin addiction cuts across
gender, class and race lines, making it harder to
contain. The joy during the use of the drug and the
painful feelings during withdrawal add to the rate of
increased addiction versus successful addiction recovery
numbers. And to experts, heroin addiction remains one of
the most complex and frustrating drug addictions in the
medical field.
But despite the upward battle in prevention and recovery,
there are some positive gains in terms of awareness made
towards heroin addiction. Heroin, a
dangerous and extremely addictive opiate continues to
destroy millions of lives not only by means of
addiction, but by overdose and death as well.
Can heroin addiction really be conquered?
Yes it can! Although 'few there be' that quit heroin and
stay clean for good, an addicts' strong determination
and heartfelt desire to quit can eventually bring them
to the place of actually becoming free from heroin once
and for all. A variety of effective methods are
available for heroin addiction. And treatment tends to
be more effective when heroin addiction is identified
early.
Quitting heroin cold turkey should always be Plan A and
sometimes becomes the only option for most addicts who
are not able to obtain other types of medications such
as methadone, which eliminates withdrawal symptoms, and
has been proven to keep heroin addicts off of heroin.
Other pharmaceutical approaches, such as Suboxone,
Subutex, Buprenorphine
and behavioral therapy are also used for treating heroin
addiction. Buprenorphine is a recent addition to the
line of medications now available for treating heroin
addiction and addiction to other evil opiates.
This medication is different from methadone in that it
offers less risk of addiction, when used as a crutch,
and can be prescribed in the privacy of a doctor's
office. Buprenorphine/Naloxone (Suboxone) is a
combination drug product formulated to minimize abuse as
well.
He/she can conquer heroin addiction and stay clean for
good by implementing and executing any of the following
plans accompanied by counseling, strong moral support
and relapse prevention therapy (RPT):
Plan A:
Quitting Heroin Cold Turkey
Plan B:
Quitting Heroin Warm Turkey with lesser evil
pharmaceutical drugs
Plan C:
Quitting Heroin with Methadone or Suboxone
Plan D:
Quitting Heroin in a Drug Rehabilitation Center
Please explore this website for additional information
on heroin, heroin addiction and how to quit heroin once
and for all. If I can do it, then you or your loved ones
can do it too! No matter what, don't give up by any
means and don't lose hope. Keep pressing on and keep
moving forward. |
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