The amount of individuals who use heroin has drastically increased in the United States. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has noticed some interesting changes that have taken place among individuals who are heroin addicts. More and more groups of individuals in the past who were not associated with heroin use are now becoming addicted to the drug. This includes individuals who have higher education, higher income, and women. Not only is the increasing rate of heroin use of deep concern to law enforcement officials, health officials, and friends and family members of those who are addicted to heroin, but many heroin users are using the drug along with other dangerous substances. Heroin is being used with prescription drugs, cocaine, alcohol, and other substances. The amount of individuals who are dying from heroin overdose is continuing to rise, which underscores the importance of heroin addiction treatment.
Many professional as well as average individuals have discussed why it is becoming more and more common to see women and individuals with higher education and higher salaries using heroin. One of the things that has been seen by many medical professionals is that individuals who were given an opiate painkiller after surgery or in order to deal with some kind of health problem have a higher chance of turning to heroin. They started off using opiate painkillers for a legitimate reason, but then become addicted to the substance.
Is Heroin Really Dangerous?
It is extremely important for individuals to understand how dangerous heroine really is. First of all, it is highly addictive. This means that many individuals will stop at almost nothing in order to get more of the substance. Their brain is eventually rewired, and they have the sole goal of getting more of the drug.
The drug has serious effects on the body. When a person overdoses, their breathing slows down. This means that they can eventually fall into a coma. Sadly, this is when many people die from an overdose on heroin. When the drug is combined with other risky substances, like alcohol or cocaine, the likelihood that a person will die becomes even higher.
Health organizations have shown that when a person is addicted to other harmful substances, they are more likely to become addicted to heroin than individuals who do not use any other addictive substances. For example, it has been shown that people who abuse alcohol are more than two times as likely to become addicted to heroin. Individuals who smoke marijuana are three times as likely to become heroin addicts. When a person uses other illicit drugs or even prescription medication, their chances for becoming addicted to heroin skyrocket.
The Path to Recovery
The path to recovery is going to involve many aspects. First, it is important for the addict to take responsibility for their actions. They need to realize how dangerous heroine is and what a negative impact it has had on their life. Even though heroin has drastically affects their brain, taking responsibility for their actions is one of the keys to recovery.
It is also important to understand what triggers drug use. For many individuals, it is the feeling of sadness, loneliness, or symptoms of depression. For others, it is expecting too much of others or feeling self-pity. Many individuals turned to heroin and other drugs because they have not learned how to cope successfully with problems in their life. This underscores the importance of not only physically treating their addiction, but treating it psychologically as well.
The importance of peer support in recovery cannot be over emphasized. Helping friends, family members, employers, and other important individuals in an addict’s life to provide support is an essential part of the recovery process. They need to understand that the addiction is a true disease of the brain. They also have to understand that the addict is ready to change and get the help that is needed.
In the past, it was not uncommon to hear individuals refer to those who were addicted to heroin and other illegal substances as junkies or people who had no self-control. Now, the way that people perceive drug addicts is changing. It is more common for drug addicts to be viewed as victims or as individuals who are sick and need help. This change in perception is a good thing. It is helping more and more individuals to seek the treatment they need in order to recover from their heroin addiction.
Heroin addiction programs have helped individuals to treat the psychological and physical aspects of their addiction. The road to recovery is long, but is well worth all the effort that is made to travel on it.