Understanding and Addressing Eating Disorders
Food addiction is a mental illness focused on feelings not food Eating disorders are a complex mental illness. It[...]
Heroin is an opiate, derived from the poppy seed. Other opiates include codeine and, in synthetic form methadone. Tramadol is a prescribed drug which is an opiate.
Heroin addiction – People try heroin and find that it makes them feel relaxed, even euphoric. It is a highly addictive drug and ultimately destructive.
If you are addicted to heroin you are probably experiencing at least some of the following symptoms – not every addict will experience every symptom. Physically you may:
You may feel:
If you are a family member or someone who cares about an addict there are many signs and symptoms to look out for. You do not have to find the physical evidence of syringes, needles, foil, a cooking spoon and other drugs paraphernalia or see the actual track marks on someone’s body (they will probably cover these up with clothing if they can – even in hot weather. Get suspicious if they refuse to reveal their arms and legs when it is exceptionally hot). If you are concerned that someone might be using heroin, you might also observe that the individual:
Once someone has tried heroin and decided they like the effect, it is extremely easy to become addicted to it. Very quickly they will need more to get the same effect. A desire will quickly become a habit and then a necessity until getting hold of the drug and using it will become the only thing that is important in their life. With that need, comes many if not all of the symptoms and behaviours listed above
Once the body and mind have developed a dependency, it is extremely hard to stop the addiction. You may have heard about going ‘cold turkey’ – this is what happens if the addict suddenly stops taking the drug. The body is ‘shocked’ not to receive its regular ‘fix’ and this results in extreme nausea, sweats, shakes, paralysing cramps etc.
It takes enormous amounts of willpower to go cold turkey and even then it is likely that the individual will need some form of psychological support e.g. from a local support group such as Narcotics Anonymous) if they are to have a chance of not only getting clean but staying clean. Just cutting down and gradually reducing until off the drug is unlikely to be successful – while still taking heroin the addict is going to want more than the reduced amount scheduled for that day.
The easiest and most successful way to overcome drug addiction is to get a medically prescribed detox in a treatment centre. A good treatment centre will not only provide a safe and comfortable detox but will also offer counselling support to establish the reasons for the addiction. It will also teach coping mechanisms and provide the tools for life, so that a fulfilled and happy life can be lived without the use of mood altering substances.