Identification

Heroin’s production of euphoria also means that once the drug has left the body, the withdrawal is excruciating. This makes it incredibly addictive, forcing individuals to chase the high simply to escape withdrawal, creating cyclical abuse, as stopping altogether leads to symptoms such as bone pain, stomach pain, nausea/vomiting, headaches, mood swings, and diarrhea. Withdrawals peak 24-48 hours after the last dose and subside after about a week, but the process is so horrible that many individuals require medically assisted detoxification in order to give up. Furthermore, the illegal nature of heroin means that there is no regulation for the production of heroin, leading to impure heroin that is life-threatening. Heroin toxicity symptoms include excessive drowsiness, constrict pupils, confusion, slurred speech, constipation, respiratory depression, track marks on skin or fresh puncture wounds, weight loss, mood swings, and frequent nose bleeds. Heroin overdose may require immediate medical attention, with symptoms such as bluish lips/nails, shallow breathing, weak pulse, extreme drowsiness, delirium or confusion, loss of consciousness, coma, dry mouth, constipation, low blood pressure.

Treatment

Heroin overdose is deadly, but there is an antidote, administered intranasally or injected, called naloxone. An opioid receptor blocker, it is used to prevent opioid overdose, preventing heroin from binding to the neurological receptors and causing immediate physical withdrawals. Use of naloxone can cause symptoms of opioid withdrawal. However, heroin can have long-lasting effects on body organs and the longer the abuse has gone on, the more complicated the effects.