Every year sees an increase in the number of people dependent on heroin. A CDC report indicates that in 2013, 8200 American citizens died as a result of overdose of heroin. When compared to the figures for 2002, this was a 400 percent in increase. The most affected group of people are those between 18 and 25. Addicts are also commonly addicts of prescription opioid drugs.
As a result of the skyrocketing in the rate of addiction, several treatment centers have also been established. A visit to a heroin treatment center to seek help will usually result in the detoxification of the subject as the first step. Supervision is provided by a physician during the detoxification. Other strategies are used in addition to detoxification, which include changes in lifestyle, therapy, support groups, and medication.
Withdrawing from an addition is usually not a simple process, because it can be very painful and long. The withdrawal process can take weeks depending on factors such as the level of addiction and physical health. Medications are usually prescribed to minimize the discomfort that is associated with withdrawal. These medications help the body to adjust to functioning without the drugs.
Heroin is an opiate drug. That means that it works by suppressing some central nervous system functions such as temperature regulation, respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure. The substance increases the level of the chemical responsible for pleasure in the brain by binding to opioid receptors. This causes a rush of pleasure, while withdrawal causes the opposite.
How dependent the brain is to the drug dictates the difficulty of withdrawing. Since the drug also causes chemical change to the structure of the brain, difficulty of withdrawing also depends on how much change has been caused. Mild addiction causes symptoms like muscle aches, tearing, abdominal cramps, bone aches, sweats, excessive yawning, nausea, and chills. On the contrary, moderate addicts experience diarrhea, tremors, fatigue, goose bumps, restlessness, vomiting, lack of focus, and agitation as withdrawal symptoms.
Severe addiction causes severe symptoms when one is trying to withdraw. These symptoms include hypertension, depression, muscle spasms, insomnia, impaired respiration, anxiety, and drug cravings. The process of withdrawing is not considered to be life-threatening. However, psychological and medical symptoms associated with the process may be life-threatening. People often commit suicide due to depression. Thus, it is not advisable to withdraw without the assistance of a doctor.
To help people with withdrawal from the substance, various medications have been invented. Among these medications are Methadone, Naltrexone, and Buprenorphine. Methadone is classified as a slow-acting opioid agonist. One has to take it orally and when taken, it dampens the pleasurable feeling of being high. At the same time, it prevents withdrawal symptoms. It is very efficient and has been used since the 60s. It works in cases where other medications fail.
Buprenorphine is one of the partial opioid agonists in use today. Its working mechanism entails relieving drug cravings besides lack of any serious side effects that are observed in other opioids. One can take it orally or sublingually.
As a result of the skyrocketing in the rate of addiction, several treatment centers have also been established. A visit to a heroin treatment center to seek help will usually result in the detoxification of the subject as the first step. Supervision is provided by a physician during the detoxification. Other strategies are used in addition to detoxification, which include changes in lifestyle, therapy, support groups, and medication.
Withdrawing from an addition is usually not a simple process, because it can be very painful and long. The withdrawal process can take weeks depending on factors such as the level of addiction and physical health. Medications are usually prescribed to minimize the discomfort that is associated with withdrawal. These medications help the body to adjust to functioning without the drugs.
Heroin is an opiate drug. That means that it works by suppressing some central nervous system functions such as temperature regulation, respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure. The substance increases the level of the chemical responsible for pleasure in the brain by binding to opioid receptors. This causes a rush of pleasure, while withdrawal causes the opposite.
How dependent the brain is to the drug dictates the difficulty of withdrawing. Since the drug also causes chemical change to the structure of the brain, difficulty of withdrawing also depends on how much change has been caused. Mild addiction causes symptoms like muscle aches, tearing, abdominal cramps, bone aches, sweats, excessive yawning, nausea, and chills. On the contrary, moderate addicts experience diarrhea, tremors, fatigue, goose bumps, restlessness, vomiting, lack of focus, and agitation as withdrawal symptoms.
Severe addiction causes severe symptoms when one is trying to withdraw. These symptoms include hypertension, depression, muscle spasms, insomnia, impaired respiration, anxiety, and drug cravings. The process of withdrawing is not considered to be life-threatening. However, psychological and medical symptoms associated with the process may be life-threatening. People often commit suicide due to depression. Thus, it is not advisable to withdraw without the assistance of a doctor.
To help people with withdrawal from the substance, various medications have been invented. Among these medications are Methadone, Naltrexone, and Buprenorphine. Methadone is classified as a slow-acting opioid agonist. One has to take it orally and when taken, it dampens the pleasurable feeling of being high. At the same time, it prevents withdrawal symptoms. It is very efficient and has been used since the 60s. It works in cases where other medications fail.
Buprenorphine is one of the partial opioid agonists in use today. Its working mechanism entails relieving drug cravings besides lack of any serious side effects that are observed in other opioids. One can take it orally or sublingually.
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