Long-Term Effects of Heroin

The danger of heroin rests in its seductive nature. It produces an immediate sense of warmth and relaxation, taking away not only physical pains but mental anguish as well. But as that false sense of calm wears off, the troubles begin. Withdrawal symptoms are hard enough to deal with, but what about the long term effects of heroin? What does this powerful, addicting drug do to your health? By seeking treatment at a heroin addiction rehab center in Tacoma, WA, you can find the answers you’re looking for. The long term effects of heroin create many mental and physical problems, doing great damage to your health. It puts your life in danger in many ways – from a potential overdose to risky lifestyle choices. Educating ourselves and our families about the long term effects of heroin can help to begin to mitigate the epidemic’s tremendous toll. 

What is Heroin?

Heroin comes from the opium poppy plant and is one of several drugs classified as opioids. The drug is powerfully addictive and illegal in the United States and around the world.  It’s commonly found as a white or brown powder but can also look like black tar. When ingested, heroin targets the “pleasure centers” of the brain, producing sensations of warmth, relaxation and masking pain, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.  That sensation of pleasure is the drug’s most dangerous characteristic. As the effects wear off, heroin users begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms — vomiting, constipation, sweating, shaking, and more. Users then seek out more heroin to cope with the withdrawal symptoms, triggering a cycle of dependence and addiction. 

What are the Long Term Effects of Heroin?

Heroin use over an extended period raises significant health risks beyond the immediate impact of withdrawal symptoms, health officials say. Long term effects of heroin include:

• Pneumonia
• Tuberculosis
• Sexual problems
• Mental health issues such as depression
• Infections in and around the heart
• Arthritis or related conditions
• Infections of the skin, such as abscesses

 Heroin users face dangers from the act of ingesting the drug. The use of contaminated needles can lead to infections such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV.  

When to Seek Help

The sooner you get help in curbing your dependence or addiction, the faster you can begin to mitigate some of the long term effects of heroin. Treatment will take time and won’t be easy. Treatment plans will typically include both individual and group therapy and medication. Drugs such as methadone can help reduce the impact of heroin on the brain to allow users to begin to restore a sense of normalcy. But everyone is different. Your medical team will build a treatment plan that’s right for you.

Find the Program That’s Right for You

Abuse of heroin presents a tremendous challenge both for individuals and the people who love them. Our Addiction Treatment Center in Tacoma, WA offers you a way to end your addiction and begin to mitigate the long term effects of heroin.   At rehab, our caring staff will help you begin the difficult process of detox and coping with withdrawal. We recognize that one size does not fit all in rehab, which is why we also offer a men’s drug rehab program in Tacoma, WA.  Let us help you change course before you’re experiencing the long term effects of heroin.