Heroin addiction is something that is on the rise in North America, each day a countless number of people use the drug and become instantly hooked. The world’s largest heroin producers are Pakistan, Columbia, Mexico, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand and Afghanistan. The drug is transported to locations all over the world and finds its way into the hands of millions of people, making the problem an epidemic.

The feeling a person experiences while under the influence of heroin is what makes the drug so enticing. However, the bliss is temporary and when withdrawal symptoms set in a person is driven to use heroin again to avoid the pain and discomfort. Heroin addiction is a serious problem and without treatment can lead to many complicated health issues and cause death in a person.

Despite the fact that heroin has been around for decades, today it is more potent, pure and easier to obtain. However, the drug still exacts a high price on addicts and those who love them. The risk of accidental overdose is extremely high because heroin is commonly used in combination with cocaine in the form of a “speed ball.” The duo is particularly dangerous because of the chances for cardiac arrest, respiratory depression and coma which can lead to death.

The world of heroin addiction causes many dangerous health complications such as hepatitis B, AIDS, secondary infections, collapsed veins, abscesses, arthritis and heart and mitral valve problems. Addiction to heroin also causes pain and undue hardship on those who love them. Drug addiction is devastating and the stakes are high.

In spite of the fact that an addiction to heroin causes so many health and family problems, the cravings and allure are too much and a person is unable to resist. Drug addicts must continue to use higher and higher doses of heroin to experience the same feelings and eventually using the drug turn into a genuine problem which takes over every area of life.

Treatment for heroin addiction can be facilitated in many forms, however to achieve the ultimate goal a person must stop using the drug completely. Quitting heroin is never an easy endeavor and experts agree it is one of the hardest forms of addiction to break. Most drug rehabilitation facilities treat the addiction and not the person, which is not effective for breaking the cycle. Anyone who has ever been addicted will agree, heroin is not a drug to play around with and requires professional intervention to be completely cured.

Heroin is considered by many experts to be the most dangerous drug to abuse. Unlike many other illicit drugs, a person only needs to use heroin once to become a full-fledged addict. Without using heroin, a person will experience painful withdrawal symptoms even after a short time of using, which makes the potential for abuse and addiction extremely high.

People use heroin for various reasons, but mostly because of the way it makes them feel. Users report experiencing feelings of euphoria, hallucinations and being an opioid drug, heroin also has pain-killing abilities. Heroin is a Schedule I and IV narcotic drug under the Controlled Substances Act and is illegal to manufacture, sell or possess in the U.S.

Heroin is a very catastrophic drug and can cause several unpleasant and painful side effects, such as:

Delirium
Disorientation
Central nervous system depression
Lowered heart and blood pressure rate
Hypoventilation
Shallow and labored breathing
Hypotension
Dry mouth
Pinpoint pupils
Analgesia
Nausea
Vomiting
Constipation

The addict will go to any length to use heroin which has the capacity to destroy life and kill people. Heroin addiction is nothing to play around with and can cause dangerous and negative consequences. Coming down from heroin is what causes many people to become addicted, in order to avoid the pain and side effects of the drug a person will take a second dose and the cycle of addiction begins.

A person abusing heroin is subjected to many health-related complications such as collapsed veins, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, liver disease, heart and heart valve infections, breathing difficulties, organ failure, overdose, coma and eventual death. As with any form of drug addiction, heroin abuse never leads to happiness or positivity in life, only pain and suffering.

Heroin abuse and addiction are treatable and one should never try to beat the illness alone. There are many reputable professional drug treatment programs around that can help. With time and therapy, addiction can be successfully overcome and substance abuse can be a thing of the past. Research shows that an addiction to heroin can be one of the most physically devastating and difficult forms of addiction to beat.

Knowing there is help available has shown many chronic heroin users there is a way to break the cycle and stop using. With the right rehab, intensive counseling and individual and group therapy a patient learns new and effective behavior patterns and how to avoid the triggers and temptations of heroin. There is hope and help for a better tomorrow when an addict admits the situation and asks for help.