Heroin’s immediate side effects include:
- Euphoria
- Dried mouth
- Flushed, warm skin
- Legs and arms feel heavy
- Stomach pain and vomiting
- Itching
- A cloudy mind
- Fluctuating between being awake and asleep which is also known as “on the nod”
Chronic heroin use can result in:
- Swollen veins
- Insomnia
- Infections of the heart’s valves and lining
- Abscesses and cellulitis are examples of skin infections
- A greater likelihood of contracting hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS
- Illness of the liver and kidneys
- Mental illnesses
- Respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia and TB
- Issues with menstruation and miscarriage
Addiction and Withdrawal from Heroin
Heroin is incredibly addicting. When taken, it frequently leads to usage disorders. This indicates that it results in health issues, disabilities, and issues at home, at work, or in school. When you take heroin frequently, your body becomes tolerant to it. Yet that does not guarantee that it won’t hurt you. In order to have the same high, you have to take more and more. You start to rely on it for your body. When you stop taking it, you may have withdrawal symptoms just like alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as:
- Jitters or chills
- Diarrhea and gagging
- Muscle and bone discomfort
- Difficulty sleeping
- Cold jolts
- You have no control over your leg motions.
Overdose on heroin
As soon as you suspect someone is abusing drugs, take action. They require medical attention right away. If administered quickly, a drug called naloxone can stop the consequences of a heroin overdose. Oftentimes, paramedics administer it as an injection. Nevertheless, it is also offered in calibrated doses as a nasal spray and an auto-pen. You can get Narcan without a prescription in some states. It is available from regional sources and national pharmacy chains. A person who is overdosing may require further naloxone doses or additional medical attention. After administering naloxone, you should immediately take them to the emergency room.
