Heroin is a highly addictive narcotic drug derived from morphine, a natural substance taken from the seeds of the opium poppy plant. Users risk developing a severe craving for the drug because of heroin's powerful effects. Medication and behavioral therapies are available for addicts seeking treatment.
Brief Euphoria
The feelings a heroin user gets come from the drug's suppression of the central nervous system. Heroin goes into the brain and is converted to morphine that binds to opioid receptors that regulate perception of pain and reward, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). This causes the user to feel an initial rush of euphoria after an injection. There is also a warm flushing of the skin and impaired mental functioning. The feeling then alternates between wakeful and drowsy states, and there is reduced pain and anxiety. Effects may also include hypothermia, reduced respiration and breathing difficulties.
Addiction
Regular users build up a tolerance and more of the drug is needed to produce that earlier euphoric effect, according to University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials in Seattle. The drug becomes addictive and users begin to crave heroin within four to six hours following the last injection. An addict who quits can start feeling withdrawal symptoms in about eight to 12 hours after the last injection. Teary eyes, anxiety and irritability may follow. Other symptoms may include sweating, fever, stomach and muscle cramps and diarrhea. The symptoms can last from one to 10 days or may take longer. Heroin withdrawal may be less dangerous than withdrawal from alcohol and barbiturates, but sudden withdrawal by people in poor health can cause death, NIDA says.
Health Dangers
Heroin overdoses can suppress respiration, leading to shallow breathing, convulsions, coma and death. Many users are prone to getting infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis when injecting the drug, the NIDA notes. Heroin abusers may suffer from infection of the heart lining, pneumonia, liver disease or kidney disease. Users of street heroin may be getting a product with toxic contents that can cause permanent damage to the lungs, liver, kidneys or brain. Pregnant women who abuse heroin increase the risk of the infant being born physically dependent on the drug. These babies are also at risk for developmental problems. Many chronic users who quit can suffer from heroin cravings that last for years, the NIDA says. They must often stay on guard for triggers, including people or situations associated with heroin, which may bring them back to drug use.
