Heroin — a.k.a. “horse,” “H” and “smack” — comes from the opium poppy plant seeds. Often taking the form of white or brown powder, it can also be a tar-like substance called (appropriately enough), black tar heroin. Any form of heroin can be administered by smoking or injecting it. Others choose to mix heroin with crack cocaine, an especially hazardous activity known as “speedballing.”
Natural substances that derive from the poppy plant, like heroin and morphine, are known as opiates. Prescription medicines such as OxyContin and Vicodin, on the other hand, are known as opioids. Both opiates and opioids share similar molecular structures and effects.
As heroin remained a popular street drug for decades; however, its use has grown as a part of the opioid crisis. Many people started using prescription opioids like Oxycontin, then when those substances became unavailable, turned to heroin. Others were drawn to heroin’s euphoric high in its own right.
Golden Peak Recovery addiction recovery center near Denver, Colorado regularly treats clients who suffer from addiction to heroin. While heroin is especially addictive, we often uncover in the course of treatment certain co-occurring mental health conditions or past traumas that contribute to the addictive behavior.
Heroin use comes with a strong possibility of overdose and death. It’s extremely difficult to know what goes into street drugs like heroin, and it can be very hard to decipher how potent they are, because they’re often “cut” with other substances. Fentanyl, for instance, is 20 to 50 times stronger than heroin. Someone might have no idea he or she is purchasing heroin that has been adulterated with fentanyl. The result can be an accidental overdose.
An overdose happens when breathing slows dramatically or even stops. This in turn drops the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain — leading to coma, brain damage, and possibly death.
Heroin’s high usually involves a profound but short-lived sense of euphoria. Other symptoms of heroin addiction include nausea, vomiting, itching, dry mouth, slowed heart rate and slipping in and out of consciousness.
Signs of heroin addiction you’ll want to watch for:
Absolutely! In fact, heroin addiction treatment has come a long way. Rehab centers like Golden Peak Recovery offer much more than just detox. We provide an array of treatment approaches that are proven to help with heroin and other addictions — including residential inpatient treatment (including standard and extended care), outpatient treatment options like our partial hospitalization program and intensive outpatient program, and aftercare.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) are especially useful tools for dealing with substance use disorders, including heroin addiction. You’ll learn how to address difficult emotions so they don’t control your behavior. You’ll also discover motivation, accountability, and other tools to strengthen you in early recovery.
Our holistic approach enhances physical, mental and spiritual wellness. Through programs like yoga and meditation, you can find healing and peace.
Heroin addiction can take everything from you. Reach out to Golden Peak Recovery today. Together, we’ll create an addiction treatment program that’s just right for you and your individual needs. So you never have to rely on heroin again.