Heroin Addiction

Heroin addiction is a serious and life threatening problem. It can occur very quickly among abusers who use heroin on a regular basis. This is due to the fact that tolerance develops upon repeated use of the drug. Users suddenly find that they are using more and more heroin to achieve the same high that they originally felt. Heroin affects the user's brain in regions that produce euphoric sensations as well as physical dependence. This drug is notorious for its ability to produce both psychological and physical addiction that can be extremely difficult to overcome. Heroin Addiction causes the person to have no other goal in life other than to use more heroin. This obsession to getting more of the drug results in the heroin addict stealing from friends and family members, neglecting their job or family, or even wandering off for days or weeks at a time on a 'binge'. The result of heroin addiction behavior is the loss of friends and family, leading to upset and anger for all involved. Heroin addiction also continues to destroy millions of lives not only by means of addiction, but overdose and death.

During 2000, there were approximately 146,000 new heroin users in the United States. The average age of those who first used heroin during the year was 22 years. According to the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, approximately 3.1 million (1.4 percent) Americans age 12 or older had tried heroin at least once in their lifetime, 456,000 (0.2 percent) used heroin in the past year, and 123,000 (0.1 percent) reported past month heroin use.

One of the main reasons heroin addiction is so difficult to overcome is because of the physical aspect of dependence and the withdrawal symptoms. Once addicted, the heroin user will experience severe physical withdrawal symptoms when he stops using the drug. The heroin addict will have severe drug cravings, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cold flashes, muscle pains, and overall flu-like symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms can begin within a few hours after the heroin addict’s last dose. At this point, the heroin addict will desperately seek his next high or "fix" to avoid these uncomfortable and painful symptoms of withdrawal.

The path to heroin addiction often starts with experimentation. The individual may first try heroin out of curiosity, because friends were doing it, or in an effort to avoid or erase another problem. At first, the heroin seems to solve the problem or make life better, so he continues to use heroin more and more.

But as the heroin addiction progresses, getting and using the heroin becomes more and more important and the ability to stop using is compromised. What begins as a voluntary choice turns into a physical and psychological need. The good news is that Heroin addiction is treatable. Like any other addiction, heroin addiction can be treated and with the proper care and a positive and determined attitude, sobriety can be achieved.

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