Knowing what heroin addiction signs to look for is important to know if you suspect a friend or family member is abusing this dangerous and illegal substance. Heroin can cause a serious addiction that can cause permanent damage and serious medical conditions that can lead to death if not properly treated. For those who are struggling with heroin addiction, a heroin addiction treatment program can ease the withdrawal process and help patients reach their recovery goals.
At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, we support individuals who are ready to make a positive change in their lives and stop their heroin abuse. Our outpatient treatment programs are ideal for those who can abstain from taking more drugs with minimal supervision and can meet with therapists at regularly scheduled times. Patients will participate in group and private therapy sessions while receiving medication to minimize withdrawals and cravings. To learn more about our heroin addiction treatment program, reach out to our compassionate team today at 833.448.0127 to schedule an appointment.
Why Is Heroin Addiction so Dangerous?
Spotting heroin addiction signs in a friend or loved one can go a long way toward stopping their heroin use before it causes serious physical and mental harm. Heroin is a synthetic opioid made from the poppy plant Papaver somniferum. It is a fast-acting narcotic that causes a massive release of dopamine that your body can never produce on its own. With continued use, the body begins to crave more of the drug, which causes the natural production of dopamine to cease.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for making you feel happy. It also helps manage coordination, learning, emotional regulation, and other vital functions. After your last dose of heroin, it can take several weeks before your body returns to normal and starts producing dopamine again. During that time, you can experience painful withdrawal symptoms and strong cravings for more heroin.
At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, our team has experience treating heroin addiction and the underlying causes that are fueling it. Patients will participate in medication-assisted treatment to minimize withdrawals and cravings while talking with a therapist in private and group settings.
3 Heroin Addiction Signs That Point to a Growing Problem
Heroin addiction is a serious mental health illness that can kill if not properly treated. It creates personality and behavioral changes and can tear apart families, and make children more susceptible to addiction.
If you suspect a friend or loved one is struggling with heroin abuse, here are three signs of heroin addiction to look out for:
- Behavioral changes—Addiction causes self-destructive habits that make the person feel like the only solution to their problem is more heroin. This will cause behavioral changes such as becoming more argumentative or irritable, lying about where they’ve been or who they are with, stealing, and threatening violence. Their desire for more heroin will consume every aspect of their life until they take more.
- Physical changes—Depending on how they take heroin, some of the physical signs of heroin addiction include scabs or bruising on the skin, needle marks in between fingers and toes, and extreme weight loss. Other physical signs to look for include burnt spoons, discarded needles, and glass pipes or bongs around the house.
- Medical conditions—Heroin abuse can lead to serious medical conditions that include HIV, hepatitis B or C, chronic pneumonia, stroke, heart attack, Septicemia, seizures, and respiratory depression.
Recognizing what heroin addiction signs look like is very important to know if you suspect someone is abusing heroin or other dangerous drugs. Talking to them about their use can show them the harm they are causing to themselves and others and convince them to get help.
Begin to Heal with Heroin Addiction Treatment at Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery
At Colorado Medication Assisted Recovery, our addiction treatment facility welcomes all people who are struggling with an addiction to heroin, meth, alcohol, or other harmful substances. We create an atmosphere of trust and open communication with each patient, so they feel comfortable talking about the issues that led to the addiction and begin to heal. Patients will participate in a number of therapies, such as:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Family therapy
- Neurofeedback therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Medication-assisted treatment
If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin abuse, call 833.448.0127 or fill out our online contact form today to speak with our caring team about treating heroin addiction.
