Can Heroin Withdrawal Be Life Threatening? Brief Study On Opioid Use Withdrawal

Out of all the forms of Opioid-Use-Disorder, Heroin abuse is one of the deadliest forms of opioid addiction. Studies on substance abuse have claimed Heroin to be one of the most addictive drugs in the world. People become extremely dependent on the drug which is not just physical but psychological in nature. As they start tolerating the effects of the drug, one might feel uneasy when they are not taking the drug. This phenomenon is called withdrawal, which happens a lot in the case of Heroin. This blog will help you understand Heroin withdrawal and clear the confusion of many people: “can Heroin withdrawal be life-threatening?”

Effects of Heroin Use And Withdrawal On Our Lives

Defining Heroin

Heroin is an opioid agonist that is deemed illegal for commercial use in many countries. It is a semi-synthetic opiate derived naturally from opium poppy plants. Opium plants grow mostly in South America and Southeast Asia. It is sold illegally on the streets with no regulations. Sellers might even mix Heroin with Cocaine or other opioids and even sugar to increase profits. One can find Heroin with many other names like Horse, Smack, Black Tar, Big H or Callabo. In the United States it is not allowed to be possessed legally as the DEA has labelled it a Schedule I drug.

Mechanism Of Heroin

Heroin affects the brain instantly on its use. The moment the person uses the drug, which is either by snorting or injecting, it passes the blood-brain barrier within 20 seconds. Heroin then turns into morphine and starts its real mechanism. It binds to μ-opioid receptors to release the neurotransmitters of dopamine. Dopamine is a very important chemical in the brain that controls the reward system in our brain. It is often opposed by GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) inhibitory transmitters as it tries to limit dopamine levels in the brain. But Heroin inhibits these transmitters and allows dopamine to flow into the brain causing the relaxing and rewarding sensation.

Heroin Effects

Knowing what are the effects of heroin on the body and more importantly the brain becomes crucial. The only way Heroin is used medically is under the strict supervision of doctors for acute pain in the form of Diamorphine. Let’s take a look at the common side effects of Heroin.

• Dry mouth
• Drowsiness
• Stomach upset
• Slowed breathing
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Can Heroin Cause Withdrawals?

Heroin intake has dangerous consequences on our minds and bodies. Users realize it pretty quickly when the adverse effects of the drug show up. But because they are totally dependent on Heroin at this point, they consume the drug regularly. From here one might feel the side effects of Heroin when they do not use it for a day or two. This is called a withdrawal, where the user of the drug experiences the “rebound” of all the effects of the drug. According to a journal in Deutsches Arzteblatt, these effects can have much greater extent in the absence of the drug.

Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms

To understand the signs of Heroin withdrawal better, we will divide into three major categories. So, what are three symptoms of Heroin withdrawal?

Physical Symptoms

These are the first visible symptoms of Heroin that affect the individuals. These can include having a runny nose, dilated pupils, bad vision, excessive itching and even a significant weight loss.

Psychological Symptoms

Here, the effects of Heroin withdrawal mostly dealing with the mental effects of the person who has stopped taking Heroin. One can have mood swings, increased episodes of anxiety and depression and losing interest in daily life.

Behavioral Symptoms

Many kinds of behavior are also seen in people dealing with withdrawals from Heroin. These behaviors are not normal and need to be studied to understand how harmful the drug can be. These include not maintaining a healthy relationship with family members, having slurred speech, not taking up responsibilities and so on.

What Does Heroin Withdrawal Feel Like?

These are some of the most painful things one can go through. It happens because the nervous system tries to adjust to the change caused by the person losing their dependence on the drug. Here are some of the changes that occur during a withdrawal from Heroin.

• Intense temperature episodes
• Severe muscle aches
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Shivering, shaking and tremors in the body

Can Heroin Withdrawal Be Life-Threatening?

Cases of death by Heroin have been are not common. Heroin withdrawal might be dangerous yet labeling it as life-threatening can be a debate. But there are a few instances where Heroin withdrawal has been proved to be fatal. Yet these cases are very rare and one can deal with Heroin withdrawals by taking a strict medical assistance. But some people have their own way of dealing with the withdrawals. People start taking Heroin even further. But the good news is that one can avoid risking their lives by taking up a dedicated Heroin withdrawal treatment.

Treating Opioid Withdrawals

The treatment of Heroin addiction begins with treating its withdrawal. This involves the most important treatment in a medical detoxification of the drug. In this, doctors use two medications, Naltrexone and Suboxone as the primary drugs to counter the harmful substance. Other opioids are detoxified medically for addiction treatment. The next crucial step to prevent the return of withdrawal symptoms is the two very effective types of behavioral therapies: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This also helps in the long-term treatment of Heroin addiction.

Steps To Quit The Drug Safely

The majority of drug users want to quit their dependence and intake. Research done by the Society For The Study of Addiction concluded that clinically driven care is the most helpful in reducing dependence on psychoactive drugs like Heroin. But some behavioral steps will also pave the way to lead a sober life.

• One can avoid thinking about going back to Heroin use with a therapy like Relapse Prevention.
• Build a social circle with people actively involved in spreading awareness against Heroin addiction.
• Make exercise and walking a daily routine.
• Recognize your triggers to avoid them at any cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion 

I hope you understand “can Heroin withdrawal be life-threatening or not?” Well, Heroin is a dangerous psychoactive drug but not a silent killer. In very rare cases it is fatal, like when the user must be dealing with any underlying disease. Like any other opioid or illegal drug, Heroin is a highly potent and tolerable drug. This tolerance becomes the reason why one faces withdrawals when trying to stop the consumption of Heroin. To quit Heroin safely go for withdrawal treatments.