Heroin is an addictive drug that has both long-term and short-term adverse effects. There has been an increase in the number of heroin users due to the decreased availability of opioid painkillers. Unfortunately, an addiction to drugs such as heroin exposes one to the risk of overdosing, which may have fatal effects. Identifying heroin overdose symptoms can help a person seek medical attention and heroin addiction treatment at Wellness Counseling Vida Entera.
Heroin Overdose Symptoms
The symptoms of an overdose may vary depending on the purity and amount of heroin used. Moreover, taking other drugs alongside the substance may affect the nature and extent of overdose symptoms. Since heroin is a central nervous system depressant, it can slow down the functioning of the brain. The most common sign of an overdose is the cessation of breath or shallow breathing. A user may also visibly gasp for air, have pale skin, and change lip and fingertips color to blue.
Taking significant amounts of heroin will slow down the heart rate, leading to low blood pressure. Moreover, a person may feel tired, confused, and sometimes lose consciousness. In some cases, one may experience constipation, hallucinations, and inability to stay awake. An extreme dosage of heroin may also have severe effects such as coma and seizures. Other common heroin overdose symptoms constricted pupils, nausea, and a dry mouth.
How to Treat a Heroin Overdose
Overdosing on heroin can be fatal, but there are various treatment options to avert further damage. The most common treatment procedure is using a naloxone antidote. This drug functions as an opioid receptor blocker, by binding to the brain receptors that heroin affects. Hence, taking this antidote will displace any opioids such as heroin temporarily. This displacement will help prevent the effects of heroin on the brain and prevent an overdose.
You are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms after the administration of naloxone. Such may include headaches, irritability, diarrhea, fever, body pain, and vomiting. Moreover, the patient can continuously lose or gain consciousness within a minute of taking the antidote. The half-life of naloxone is shorter than that of most opioid drugs. So, it is only useful in preventing the effects of an overindulgence until a user acquires specialized treatment.
Heroin Addiction Treatment
A heroin overdose indicates an individual is struggling with addiction. Additionally, drug use may be a sign of a co-existing mental health issue such as depression or anxiety. Hence, one should seek treatment to cease using the substance and protect themselves from the risk of overdosing again. Addiction treatment centers offer programs that can help a person detox while controlling the withdrawal symptoms. Some of the most common programs are:
- Heroin detox program
- Men’s and women’s detox programs
- Residential addiction treatment
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Partial hospitalization program
In case you have a long-term addiction to heroin, you may receive a prescription to help cut off the substance. Some of the most commonly prescribed drugs are buprenorphine and methadone. One may need to use these drugs to replace heroin and gradually reduce the dosage as the body adjusts to the cessation.
You can also use antidepressants to ease the mental side effects of heroin withdrawal. Furthermore, one may undergo therapy to help them identify other aspects of the addiction and learn how to manage cravings. This process helps to ensure that a person does not relapse and seeks help if they detect any sign of a relapse.
Heroin overdose symptoms may imply that one cannot control their drug use, and there is a need for specialized treatment. At Wellness Counseling Vida Entera, we provide a variety of effective addiction treatment programs. Our heroin addiction treatment program entails medically assisted treatment and counseling to grant you a lifelong recovery. Contact us at 951.400.0082 to enroll for heroin addiction treatment.
