It is not uncommon for a heroin user to develop a physical dependency to the drug. A physical dependency occurs when the body becomes accustomed to having the drug present. Without the drug, it will start going into withdrawal until the drug is reintroduced into the body. This is where it is difficult for heroin users to kick the addiction. The withdrawal symptoms from heroin are pretty intense and when a user does not have proper medical and supportive care during the withdrawal stage, it is unfortunately too common for them to use again.
When a heroin user abruptly stops using, he or she will start feeling withdrawal symptom as soon as 3 hours after the last use. Think about that for a minute. If they begin to experience withdrawal symptoms as soon as three hours after the last use you can see why a heroin user would do whatever it took for them to stay “medicated.” The symptoms that begin to occur three hours after last use can include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps (“cold turkey”), and kicking movements (“kicking the habit”). The cold flashes with goose bumps is where the term “cold turkey” was derived from and the kicking movement is where the term “kicking the habit” was derived from.
The craving for the drug increases as time past with the peak of the major withdrawal symptoms occurring between 48 and 72 hours after the last administration of heroin. It takes a good week and sometimes more for the withdrawal symptoms to subside but a user can experience lingering persistent symptoms for up to a month after the last use.
On a better note, the withdrawal of heroin is considered less dangerous than alcohol or barbiturate withdrawal. However, for a heavy heroin user in poor health, withdrawal symptoms can be occasionally fatal.
The crave for heroin can persist years after drug cessation. This is why it is so important for a user to have a strong support system. Triggers such as stress, people and places the user once associated with the use of heroin, and things associated with the drug can bring on a more severe craving.
If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow today. We are here to help.
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Thanks for all the great articles. I know I can come here and find something new and interesting, even though it's sad and scary. I think every parent and teacher needs to do research into drugs and alcohol and the effects it has on the user.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article I can understand why people lie, steal, cheat and even murder in order to get their next fix. The withdrawal symptoms are fairly torturous in nature. It is a devastating problem.
ReplyDeleteI have to wonder if the people who use these drugs knew about the withdrawal symptoms before they used it the first time. Knowing what would happen might have discouraged a few from trying it the first time.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how the effects can last up to a month. I thought drugs, like food, passed through the body in a relatively short span of time. I guess I need to educate myself some more. Thank you for supplying this information.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering the same thing as John D. Maybe it could be incorporated in health. God knows, it needs to be part of early education. Sometimes by middle school or high school it's too late.
ReplyDeleteI think the answer lies in communication, at home as well as at school. Kids need to understand what's out there and how to say no when approached with any substance abuse. I've always encouraged my kids to ask questions about whatever it is they want to know. I may not give them an in depth answer, but I give them as much as I think they can handle. I know it's no guarantee that they won't try drugs, but I can hope and pray they won't.
ReplyDeleteSome people must be more prone to drug use than others. That's a good thing! It's something I've never been able to understand.
ReplyDeleteThe withdrawal symptoms would be enough to keep me from even trying this drug. Not that I would, or do, because I've never done drugs. I understand how someone can get hooked and once they are hooked that they will do anything not to have to face the reality of withdrawal. It's a shame.
ReplyDeleteSounds like they would need a fix every few hours. What a pathetic life that would be. It's understandable that they would have to turn to a life of crime to support such a habit. That has to be close to hell on earth.
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