Heroin: Effects, Dangers, and Addiction Treatment

Author: Rachael Nayder, RN

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Heroin is an opioid drug derived from poppy plants found in parts of Asia, Mexico, and Columbia.¹ It comes in various forms, such as a white or brown powder and a black substance known as black tar heroin. Heroin also goes by other names such as smack, H, horse and junk.²  The immediate and long-term heroin effects range from pain relief and euphoria to mood disorders, liver and kidney damage and potential overdose.

In This Article:

• Heroin Effects On the Opioid Crisis
• Heroin Side Effects and Dangers
• Heroin Addiction, Withdrawal, and Overdose
• Treatment for Heroin Misuse and Addiction

Heroin Effects On the Opioid Crisis

People who misuse heroin are often lethargic and feel a loss of purpose in life.

While heroin continues to contribute to the number of overdose deaths annually, in 2024, provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control found that heroin related overdose deaths dropped by 33.3% in 2023. Many people who become addicted to opioid medications such as OxyContin and Vicodin will eventually use heroin when they can no longer obtain these drugs from a doctor or other sources.³ Prescription opioid use is the leading cause of eventual addiction to heroin.^1,3

Heroin is used in several different ways.  Pure heroin, which originates from South America and Southeast Asia, is snorted or smoked.⁴ Black tar heroin, produced mainly in Mexico, is usually dissolved and injected into veins or under the skin. ⁴ The dark color of this sticky substance is a result of impurities left behind by crude processing. Some people mix heroin with other drugs, such as cocaine, in a practice known as piggybacking or speed-balling.¹

The effects of opioid medications on the body are chemically similar to those of heroin.¹ Prescription opioids are never meant to be used longer than a few weeks to treat acute pain. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration classifies many prescription opioids as high-risk for misuse, which can lead to physical dependence and addiction.³ The risk of becoming addicted to opioid medications is almost identical to the risk of becoming addicted to heroin.²

Heroin is highly addictive because it rapidly enters the bloodstream, travels directly to the brain and attaches to opioid receptors. These opioid receptors regulate feelings of pain and pleasure, heart rate, respiration, digestion and sleep.

The effects of heroin include sudden euphoria, along with drowsiness, slowed heart rate and breathing.⁵ When the drug wears off, people experience a depressed mood and often feel an urge to use the drug again due to the “crash.” The “Crash” results from returning to normal brain chemistry levels after such unnaturally intense activation.⁵

Heroin Side Effects and Dangers

Short-term heroin side effects include:^1,4

• Dry mouth, known as cottonmouth
• Clouded mental functioning, known as heroin brain fog
• Going in and out of conscious awareness
• Heavy, weighted feelings in the arms and legs
• Warm flushing of the skin on the face and body
• Nausea and vomiting
• Feelings of extreme inescapable sadness
• Loss of purpose in life
• Loss of spiritual connection to one’s sense of self

Long-term effects and potential dangers of heroin use include:⁴

• Loss of the menstrual cycle in women
• Mental and mood disorders, such as depression
• Increased risk of contracting infectious diseases that can be transmitted through exposure to body fluids or use of nonsterile needles, such as HIV, hepatitis or tuberculosis
• Damaged tissues of the nose, arms and gums
• Bone and muscle pain
• Feelings of hopelessness or purposelessness
• Inability to fall asleep and stay asleep
• Infections of the heart and lungs
• Liver and kidney failure
• Secondary lung infections, such as pneumonia
• Sexual dysfunction in men

Heroin is especially damaging to the brain.  Long-term use can cause permanent damage to the brain’s white and grey matter, which can have lasting effects on mood, personality and quality of life.⁴ This change in the brain is also associated with poor decision-making, reduced ability to handle stress and reduced ability to regulate behavior and mood.⁴

Where Can I Get Treatment for Heroin Addiction?

While there are a few different options for heroin addiction treatment, inpatient care is often recommended due to the severity of this particular addiction and its withdrawal effects.

Heroin Addiction, Withdrawal, and Overdose

Heroin is a drug that comes with a high risk of addiction and overdose. People who use heroin can quickly develop tolerance, which means they need increasing amounts of the drug to achieve pleasurable effects. 

When a person who is physically dependent on heroin stops using it suddenly, they risk experiencing potentially dangerous heroin withdrawal symptoms. These include:⁵

• Overwhelming restlessness
• Muscle, joint, bone and ligament pain that does not respond to painkillers
• Insomnia
• Severe cravings for heroin
• Vomiting
• Night sweats
• Chills and flu-like symptoms
• Paranoia
• Uncontrollable bodily movements
• Seizure

Withdrawing from heroin use can be dangerous because a person’s tolerance to heroin becomes more sensitive when they stop using it.⁷ A person who experiences strong cravings during withdrawal and resumes using the drug can experience much stronger effects than they experienced previously. Overdose risk increases during this vulnerable time, which is why professional treatment and supervision are recommended for safe withdrawal from heroin. Medical detox can also manage potentially medically significant symptoms, like seizures.

Heroin overdose is most common among individuals who have been using the drug for 5-10 years. Other risk factors include using heroin with other drugs, especially alcohol, sedatives or other opioids. ⁷

Death from a heroin overdose occurs when too much heroin causes severe respiratory depression. Signs of a heroin overdose include slowed breathing, lips or nail beds that appear blue and an inability to wake the person.⁷

A heroin overdose can be treated with naloxone if it is administered soon after breathing stops.¹ Naloxone in the form of a nasal spray is available in some states without a prescription. Or you can ask your doctor for a prescription. If you obtain naloxone, have your pharmacist or doctor instruct you on how to use it.

It is important to administer naloxone as soon as you recognize any symptoms of an overdose.  However, naloxone will not treat an overdose caused by other substances, but it is important to still give it because more and more often illicit drugs are being mixed with substances such as fentanyl. 

Always call 911 if an overdose occurs. Even if a person has been treated with naloxone, remain with them until first responders arrive.

Treatment for Heroin Misuse and Addiction

Medication and behavioral therapy are the standard treatments for heroin addiction. While each can be effective on its own, research shows that a combination of medication and behavioral therapy provides the most positive recovery outcomes for many people.⁸

Medications used to treat heroin addiction start with lofexidine (Lucemyra), which is taken as tablets, to treat withdrawal symptoms. The following medications are used to reduce opioid cravings:⁴

• Methadone, taken in tablet or liquid form
• Buprenorphine (Belbuca, Probuphine, Buprenex), taken sublingually, as a 6-month implant, or through a monthly injection to ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings
• Naltrexone (Vivitrol, Revia), taken daily, three times a week, or once a month as a long-acting injectable called Vivitrol, to reduce cravings
• Suboxone, a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone

In addition to medication, behavioral therapy approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and contingency management have proven effective in treating heroin use disorder, especially when combined with medication.^1,4 Other treatments that can be extremely helpful for individuals with heroin addiction include meditation, yoga, hypnotherapy, physical therapy and participation in a 12-step or other peer recovery program.

If you or someone you love is struggling with heroin addiction, help is available. To learn about available treatment options, call 800-934-1582(Sponsored)

Rachael has been a registered nurse since 2010. Graduating from Ursuline College, she has completed a twelve-week-long intensive in mental health and how to care for the patient population. As part of this experience, she has gained knowledge surrounding issues related to substance abuse, how to recognize the presence of varying addictions and mental health patterns, and the emotional/spiritual help that can act as a guiding light to those seeking treatment. She recognizes that mental health touches every patient she cares for and has learned that knowledge in this area of care has helped her overall practice on a daily basis.

Resources

1. National Institute of Drug Abuse. (2021, June 1). Heroin DrugFacts.
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021, January 21). Overdose Death Rates.
3. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021). Heroin Research Report.
4. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021, July 16). Heroin.
5. New York State Department of Health. (2021). Facts about an Opioid Overdose.

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