Heroin Use

Does Methadone Have Sexual Side Effects?

Methadone is a narcotic pain reliever used during detoxification and recovery from illicit drug use such as heroin. Using the drug reduces the amount of withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, insomnia, nausea and shaking that accompany...

Side Effects of a Heroin Addiction

Heroin is a powerful narcotic drug which is often abused because of its ability to cause euphoria. Heroin is a synthetic opioid so it is chemically similar to opium. Heroin can be ingested, inhaled through the nose, or injected intravenously. Over...

Signs & Symptoms of Heroin Addiction

Heroin abuse is a serious problem for the user and for those around him. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, heroin is classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning it is highly addictive and dangerous, even the first time a...

Side Effects of Heroin

Heroin (diacetylmorphine) is the most abused illegal drug in the United States. It is a very addictive drug and has the most rapid action of the opiates. It is made from morphine, which occurs naturally in some poppy plant seed pods. Because of...

Factors That Influence People to Take Heroin

Heroin is a wildly addictive opiate that processes similar to morphine and usually appears as a white or brown powder, or as a black, sticky compound, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Short-term effects of the drug include a...

Heroin Addiction and Its Effects

Heroin is a powerful drug that is physically and emotionally addictive. When someone becomes dependent on heroin, his body physically craves the drug and he goes through withdrawal symptoms, such as chills, excessive sweating, fever and diarrhea....

What Happens in the Brain That Causes Heroin Addiction?

Derived from the Asian opium poppy plant, heroin is an opiate. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that the National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows 213,000 people ages 12 and over in the United States have used heroin. When a person...

The Effects of Heroin Addiction on Families

Any type of drug addiction greatly impacts a person's family. However, the powerful addicting qualities of heroin have serious implications for every family impacted by its use. Due to the dangers that come along with heroin use, many families...

About Heroin Detox Diet

Heroin use compromises and can eventually destroy the liver, heart, lungs, kidneys and brain, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. A good detoxification diet will attend to these organs by supplying them with the nutrients needed...

Physical Signs of Heroin Addiction

Heroin (diacetylmorphine) is a very addictive opiate and is one of the most abused illegal drugs in the United States. Derived from morphine, which is made from poppy seeds, it is sold on the black market and may be weakened ("cut") with anything...

Teens and Heroin

Heroin and Teenagers As early as 1996, it was evident that heroin use was becoming increasingly popular among younger Americans. In fact, from 1991 to 1995, heroin use among the nation's young people roughly doubled, while the percentage of...

Heroin Effects to the Skin

Heroin, a dangerous opiate derived from the drug morphine, is a highly addictive drug. Used to achieve a euphoric feeling, heroin users also experience severe and potentially fatal reactions to the drug. A user's physical body is also adversely...

Signs of Smoking Heroin

Heroin is a highly addictive, semi-synthetic drug extracted from the opium poppy. Heroin quality and consistency varies, from the white powder commonly found on the East Coast of the United States to the thick, black tar heroin increasingly...

Possible Side Effects of Methadone

In 2008, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published findings from a national survey on drug use, which reported that 341,000 people had been medically treated for heroin use during that year. One treatment for heroin use is...

Signs of Intravenous Drug Abuse

The most commonly drug used intravenously is heroin; however, other drugs such as methamphetamines, cocaine, benzodiazepines and barbiturates can also be injected. When injecting a drug, the user usually feels the effects within 15 to 30 seconds...

Withdrawal Signs of Heroin

Heroin is a highly addictive illicit drug abused for its euphoric side effects. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, heroin's contents are taken from an Asian opium poppy plant. Heroin appears as a white, brown or black substance...

How to Get Help for Heroin Detox

Heroin is an opiate, which means that it chemically resembles opium. When opiates enter the brain, they produce an extreme feeling of pleasure (called euphoria) and also decrease the body's ability to feel pain. Heroin is an extremely addictive...

About Heroin Addiction

In 2008, approximately 3.8 million Americans aged 12 or older had admitted to using heroin at some point in their lives, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. This drug is highly addictive and using it can have serious...

How Is Heroin Withdrawal Treated?

Doctors have found that when treating heroin addicts it is often best to use medication along with support services. This is because the attachment to heroin is so strong it causes many relapses. The medication-and-support approach helps with the...

Effects of Methadone With Alcohol

According to the National Institute of Health, methadone was first used in the 1960's to treat addiction to heroin. Since heroin and methadone are both opiates, heroin addicts who replace their heroin use with methadone do not undergo withdrawal....

Side Effects of Methadone Usage

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that 341,000 people in the United States over the age of 12 received treatment for heroin use in 2008. According to MedlinePlus, methadone is a narcotic pain reliever used to treat opiate...

What Are the Causes of Heroin Addiction?

Intravenous administration of heroine, according to the text “Drugs and Human Behavior,” causes a “rush” of orgasmic pleasure that can last for five minutes or more, followed by a period of supreme tranquility. Heroin...

Addiction Recovery Supplements

When a person who is addicted to drugs or alcohol begins the long process of recovery, he needs more than just personal support. Vitamins and herbal supplements can help ease the physical and mental effects of addiction withdrawal and can also...

Types of Drugs Commonly Abused

All sorts of drugs can be abused. Illicit and prescription drugs exist that can become physically and psychologically addicting. Some drugs are abused for their side effects. For example, a certain drug may cause you to hallucinate and feel better...

Heroin Detox Process

Detox is the first step to getting treatment for addiction and substance abuse. To enter a treatment facility, addicts must clear their systems of all illicit substances. Even addicts using outpatient and group methods, such as Narcotics...

4 Ways to Get Over a Heroin Addiction

You've probably heard it said that the first step to getting help for a drug addiction is to admit you have a problem. It's true. You won't be able to get help until you've admitted to yourself that you need help. Until that point, you are living...

Opiate Abuse in Teenagers

While teens are using less heroin, they are using other opiates in increasing numbers. Especially alarming is teens' abuse of opiate painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin. While these drugs are medically beneficial when used as prescribed for...

Characteristics of Heroin Addicts

Heroin, one of the most addictive opiates, can cause a long-term and chronic disease of the drug addiction. Opiates.com reports heroin as one of the most addictive substances and rates it as the most influential in the "war on drugs."  The...

Effects of Alcohol and Drugs During Pregnancy

The use of drugs and/or alcohol during pregnancy is a serious problem with dangerous consequences.. The American Counsel for Drug Education explains that drug use while pregnant is doubly dangerous. Drugs may harm a woman's health and interfere...