Heroin is the most addictive substance in the world. It’s an opioid painkiller similar to morphine, but it’s not available by prescription. Unregulated drugs, particularly addictive drugs like heroin, are often impure or contaminated. Heroin must be purchased illegally and as a result is much more dangerous to consume.
Can I get addicted to heroin on the first try?
Though it’s unlikely you’ll develop an addiction to heroin the first time you use it, the initial experience can be slippery slope that quickly leads to addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates nearly 25 percent of people who try heroin will become addicted. If that statistic alone doesn’t frighten you, keep reading.
Why is heroin so dangerous?
Heroin is a deadly drug that has the potential to severely change everything about you—from emotions and physical appearance to the way your brain functions. Once injected or inhaled, heroin binds to the brain’s opioid—or “feel good”—receptors. This process creates excess dopamine, causing a euphoric high for the user. Once the brain has this experience, it wants to replicate it over and over, which is why you have the urge to use heroin again and again.
Another reason heroin is so dangerous is because, over time, your body develops a tolerance to the drug and requires more of it to achieve the desired high.
What are the negative side effects of heroin?
Here are some of the serious negative effects that repeated heroin use may have on your body:
- Tooth decay and damage
- Swollen gums
- Skin conditions
- Weakened immune system
- Malnutrition
- Sleep issues, including insomnia
- Sexual dysfunction
- Brain hypoxia (not enough oxygen-rich blood entering the brain)
- Difficulty breathing
- Infectious endocarditis which can lead to heart failure
- Kidney failure
If you or someone you know is addicted to heroin, we a can help you heal and recover. Our highly skilled and experienced team of clinical professionals will guide you each step of the way toward better mental and physical health and wellness. You are not alone; at Alpine Recovery Lodge, we’re in this together. Call us at 877-415-4060.
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