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"The use of
morphine in the place of alcohol is but a choice of evils, and
by far the lesser." Cincinnati Lancet-Clinic.
1889
"Heroin will take
the place of morphine without its disagreeable qualities." New
York Medical Journal. 1901
"Some (heroin)
addicts readily admit that they prefer methadone as their drug
of abuse." International Journal of Pharmacology. 1975
"Clonodine has
recently gained prominence as chemotherapeutic agent for the
detoxification of individuals dependent upon...methadone." NIDA
Treatment Research Monograph. "Research on the Treatment of
Narcotic Addiction." 1983
Tolerance, Addiction, and
Withdrawal
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With regular heroin use, tolerance
develops. This means the abuser must use more heroin to
achieve the same intensity or effect. As higher doses
are used over time, physical dependence and addiction
develop. With physical dependence, the body has adapted
to the presence of the drug and withdrawal symptoms may
occur if use is reduced or stopped.
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| Withdrawal, which in regular
abusers may occur as early as a few hours after the last
administration, produces drug craving, restlessness,
muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea and vomiting,
cold sweats with goose bumps ("cold turkey"), kicking
movements ("kicking the habit"), and other symptoms.
Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 48 and 72 hours
after the last dose and subside after about a week.
Sudden withdrawal by heavily dependent users who are in
poor health is occasionally fatal, although heroin
withdrawal is considered much less dangerous than
alcohol or barbiturate
withdrawal. |
What are the symptoms of heroin
withdrawal?
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Regardless of dosage, these
reactions may appear
~Convulsions
~Increased heart rate
~Abnormal heartbeat
~Heart
attack
~Sudden, sharp blood
pressure
increase
~Stroke
~Extreme
depression
~Suicidal behavior |
As withdrawal progresses,
elevations in blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate
and temperature occur. Symptoms of overdose -- which may
result in death -- include shallow breathing, clammy
skin, convulsions and coma.
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Are there any other problems that can
occur from heroin addiction?
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Heroin can cause feelings of
depression, which may last for weeks. Attempts to stop
using heroin can fail simply because the withdrawal can
be overwhelming, causing the addict to use more heroin
in an attempt to overcome these symptoms. This
overpowering addiction can cause the addict to do
anything to get heroin.
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NARCONON and the Narconon logo are trademarks and service marks owned by
the Association for Better Living and Education International and are used
with its permission. |
