If you or a loved one is struggling with a heroin addiction, you may be unsure where to turn. At NP Addiction Clinic, we’re here to help. Addiction is treatable, and with our exceptional care and expert support, you can achieve long-term sobriety.
Your future is important to us. Our compassionate team will stay by your side every step of the way to help you overcome addictive behaviors, improve your mental health, and rebuild an exciting and fulfilling life free from addiction.
When consumed, heroin floods your body with chemicals like dopamine, endorphins, and dynorphins. These chemicals can cause experiences of euphoria, intense happiness, and pain relief.
Endorphins are opiates that are naturally present in our bodies. Our central nervous system and the pituitary gland release them when we participate in pleasurable activities, such as exercising, eating chocolate, or creating art.
Heroin works by binding to our natural opiate receptors. However, heroin causes sensations of overwhelming pleasure that are much more intense than those that result from natural endorphins.
The reward pathways in our brain connect this ‘reward’ with using heroin, making you want to use the drug again. These new connections produce physical changes in your brain cells, giving way to strong urges to take heroin that are difficult to resist.
The first step to recovery is recognizing that you may need help. If you notice any of these signs of heroin addiction, get in touch with our center today. Our expert team of medical experts is available twenty-four hours a day to offer compassionate advice and guide you through the next steps.
Behavioral signs and symptoms:
Physical signs and symptoms:
Physical dependence develops when you take heroin repeatedly over time. Your body adjusts to the presence of the substance and, in turn, decreases its production of natural opiates. Gradually, you build a tolerance to the drug and begin to depend on it to feel normal.
Addiction refers specifically to the compulsively seeking or using of a substance, despite any negative consequences. While physical dependence often leads to addiction, it is possible to become dependent on heroin but not exhibit addictive behaviors.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, repeatedly using heroin causes physical changes in the brain. It may lead to long-lasting imbalances in brain signaling and chemical systems that are difficult to reverse. It can also cause a deterioration of the brain’s white matter, which may impact decision-making, behavior regulation, and stress response.
Injecting heroin with shared needles also puts you at risk of contracting blood-transmitted diseases like HIV and hepatitis B. The injection itself can also harm the body over time.
If you become addicted to heroin, you will also have developed a physical dependence on the drug. When you try to stop, you may experience a series of uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous withdrawal symptoms. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommends that you detox from heroin under twenty-four-hour medical supervision to help manage severe symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms usually present within a few hours of the last time you took heroin. They include muscle and bone pain, diarrhea, vomiting, restlessness, insomnia, and leg movements. Significant withdrawal symptoms tend to last around a week, but some people experience the effects of withdrawal for many months.
Heroin addiction also increases the chance of an overdose. Overdosing happens when you take more heroin than your body can metabolize at any given time. Opioids are central nervous system (CNS) depressants that reduce your breathing and heart rate. When you overdose, it can slow down so much that oxygen cannot reach your brain. As overdosing on heroin can be fatal, you should seek immediate medical attention if you suspect someone may have overdosed.
Heroin addiction can have devastating consequences, but there is a way out. At NP Addiction, our expert team is on hand to guide you through detox and addiction treatment so that you can overcome your addiction, rebuild yourself, and lay the foundations for a new, sober future. Your recovery is important to us, and we offer you the very best support to help you get there.
Your recovery journey usually begins with detox, the process of removing all traces of heroin and its toxins from your body. Without medical supervision, opioid withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable and even dangerous.
At NP addiction, we ensure you are in safe hands. Our professional team of licensed medics remains by your side at all times to monitor your health and prescribe you medication that helps your body cope with the detoxification process.
We make detox as easy as possible to ensure you are in the right mindset to engage in the rest of your recovery program.
Overcoming addiction involves more than just detoxification. It requires identifying the underlying causes of addictive behavior and developing coping mechanisms to overcome them. It requires holistic healing and personal growth to help you recover from mental health disorders that may be driving your addiction and give you the confidence and self-worth to overcome any challenges ahead.
At NP Addiction, we understand that every client is different. We will design an individualized treatment program to suit your needs and give you the best chance of reaching your recovery goals. We focus on holistic personal growth through 12-steps groups and artistic therapies to help you reconnect with your body and mind as you journey to lifelong sobriety.
Our evidence-based treatment approaches include:
Recovering from heroin addiction isn’t easy, but remember, you are not alone in your struggles. People recover from addiction every day; many of our staff members are in recovery themselves.
With our expert support, exceptional care, unconditional compassion, and respect, you can break free from addiction. Please contact us today to take the first steps.
