Every year sees an increase in the number of people dependent on heroin. A CDC report indicates that in 2013, 8200 American citizens died as a result of overdose of heroin. When compared to the figures for 2002, this was a 400 percent in increase. The most affected group of people are those between 18 and 25. Addicts are also commonly addicts of prescription opioid drugs.
As a result of the skyrocketing in the rate of addiction, several treatment centers have also been established. A visit to a heroin treatment center to seek help will usually result in the detoxification of the subject as the first step. Supervision is provided by a physician during the detoxification. Other strategies are used in addition to detoxification, which include changes in lifestyle, therapy, support groups, and medication.
Withdrawing from an addition is usually not a simple process, because it can be very painful and long. The withdrawal process can take weeks depending on factors such as the level of addiction and physical health. Medications are usually prescribed to minimize the discomfort that is associated with withdrawal. These medications help the body to adjust to functioning without the drugs.
Being an opiate drug, heroin functions in the body by suppressing some functions of the central nervous system, which include temperature regulation, blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate. The drug binds to opioid receptors, which leads to an increase in chemicals in the brain that cause feelings of pleasure. Thus, abusing the drug causes a rush of pleasure, and sudden withdrawal causes the exact opposite to occur.
The level of dependence of the brain to the substance determines how painful it is for one to withdraw from an addiction. Ease of withdrawal also depends on the level of chemical change that the addiction has caused to the brain. Withdrawal symptoms for people with mild addictions include abdominal cramps, bone aches, muscle aches, tearing, sweats, chills, excessive yawning, and nausea. On the other hand, withdrawal symptoms for moderate-level addicts include diarrhea, tremors, restlessness, agitation, vomiting, fatigue, goose bumps, and lack of focus.
When one is addicted strongly, they also experience severe withdrawal symptoms. Severe addiction is associated with drug cravings, depression, muscle spasms, insomnia, hypertension, impaired respiration, and anxiety. Normally, withdrawing is not a life-threatening process, but the medical and psychological symptoms that follows may be a threat to life. Addicts commonly commit suicide, which makes it advisable to never try withdrawing without the assistance of a doctor.
Several medications have been invented to help addicts with withdrawal. Some of them include Methadone, Buprenorphine, and Naltrexone. Methadone is a slow-acting opioid agonist. It is usually taken orally so that it can dampen the pleasurable feeling of being high while preventing withdrawal symptoms. This medication has been in use since the 60s and is considered effective, especially in cases where other medications have failed to be effective.
Buprenorphine is one of the partial opioid agonists in use today. Its working mechanism entails relieving drug cravings besides lack of any serious side effects that are observed in other opioids. One can take it orally or sublingually.
As a result of the skyrocketing in the rate of addiction, several treatment centers have also been established. A visit to a heroin treatment center to seek help will usually result in the detoxification of the subject as the first step. Supervision is provided by a physician during the detoxification. Other strategies are used in addition to detoxification, which include changes in lifestyle, therapy, support groups, and medication.
Withdrawing from an addition is usually not a simple process, because it can be very painful and long. The withdrawal process can take weeks depending on factors such as the level of addiction and physical health. Medications are usually prescribed to minimize the discomfort that is associated with withdrawal. These medications help the body to adjust to functioning without the drugs.
Being an opiate drug, heroin functions in the body by suppressing some functions of the central nervous system, which include temperature regulation, blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate. The drug binds to opioid receptors, which leads to an increase in chemicals in the brain that cause feelings of pleasure. Thus, abusing the drug causes a rush of pleasure, and sudden withdrawal causes the exact opposite to occur.
The level of dependence of the brain to the substance determines how painful it is for one to withdraw from an addiction. Ease of withdrawal also depends on the level of chemical change that the addiction has caused to the brain. Withdrawal symptoms for people with mild addictions include abdominal cramps, bone aches, muscle aches, tearing, sweats, chills, excessive yawning, and nausea. On the other hand, withdrawal symptoms for moderate-level addicts include diarrhea, tremors, restlessness, agitation, vomiting, fatigue, goose bumps, and lack of focus.
When one is addicted strongly, they also experience severe withdrawal symptoms. Severe addiction is associated with drug cravings, depression, muscle spasms, insomnia, hypertension, impaired respiration, and anxiety. Normally, withdrawing is not a life-threatening process, but the medical and psychological symptoms that follows may be a threat to life. Addicts commonly commit suicide, which makes it advisable to never try withdrawing without the assistance of a doctor.
Several medications have been invented to help addicts with withdrawal. Some of them include Methadone, Buprenorphine, and Naltrexone. Methadone is a slow-acting opioid agonist. It is usually taken orally so that it can dampen the pleasurable feeling of being high while preventing withdrawal symptoms. This medication has been in use since the 60s and is considered effective, especially in cases where other medications have failed to be effective.
Buprenorphine is one of the partial opioid agonists in use today. Its working mechanism entails relieving drug cravings besides lack of any serious side effects that are observed in other opioids. One can take it orally or sublingually.
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