Across the United States, opioid addiction is a widespread addiction. A large portion of the people suffering from opioid addiction are addicted to prescription painkillers, but as the laws and procedures for prescribing and distributing these drugs change, it’s becoming harder and harder for people to get enough of these drugs to fulfill their addiction. This is one of the leading causes in a spike in heroin use. Heroin is an extremely powerful opioid that has a reputation for being a ‘one hit hook’, meaning all it takes for many people to become addicted is just one hit. The drug is incredibly dangerous for a variety of reasons.
For starters, when compared to prescription drugs, heroin is much easier to afford, making it easier to access for many people. When a person is cut off from their prescription pills for any number of reasons, they’re also going to be more inclined to turn to an illicit substance, and most often, it’s heroin that they try. Heroin is also known to give users an extremely powerful euphoric rush, and it’s most often because of this rush of sensation that a majority of users become addicted so quickly. When a drug is known for being more affordable than other common drugs and offers such an addicting rush of sensation, it becomes an extremely dangerous substance.
Heroin also has a massive impact on the human body. Euphoria, drowsiness, slowed breathing and a slowed heart rate are all common short term health effects related to heroin use, and as a person uses more and more, these often develop into any number of serious health complications. Arthritis and skin infections due to collapsed veins are possible, and for people who share drug paraphernalia, there’s a huge risk of contracting serious diseases and infections, anything from Hepatitis C to HIV. Overtime, continued use often leads to serious issues with the brain’s health as well, and in women, heroin abuse has been linked to infertility and premature birth.
Heroin addiction is an extremely serious condition that is helping to fuel the even more widespread opioid epidemic across the country. While some steps have been taken to start changing how we approach treatment for heroin addiction, we still have a long way to go before we make it more accessible to the people who need it the most. If you’re struggling with an addiction to heroin, the time to get help is now, before you spiral further into its grip. The people at The Springboard Center are ready to help you get clean with a program that’s tailored to fit your needs. Make the call today: 432-620-0255.
