Heroin is a lethal narcotic that is responsible for thousands of deaths in Florida every year. It is a fast-acting synthetic opioid that has a high rate of abuse and overdose risks. If you suspect a friend or loved one is abusing heroin, you should familiarize yourself with the heroin addiction symptoms so you can help them before it is too late. Long-term heroin abuse will lead to severe physical and psychological complications and a greater risk of death by intentional or accidental overdose.
7 Summit Pathways is a full-service addiction treatment center that offers residential and outpatient treatment programs for individuals who need help surviving their heroin addiction. When you first arrive at our family-like facility, we will run a full health assessment to create an effective treatment program. We use a combination of behavioral and medicinal therapies that have a proven track record for treating addiction and decreasing the risk of relapse. For more information about our heroin addiction treatment in Tampa, send us a message online or call 813.212.7149 today to speak with our team.
Understanding the Dangers of Heroin Addiction
Heroin is made from morphine, which is a natural opioid that comes from the plant Papaver somniferum. It is a highly addictive drug that is snorted, injected, or smoked for its euphoric effects that can last from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the size of the dose and what it is mixed with. Illegal drug manufacturers will try to increase the potency of their drugs by mixing heroin with other opioids. This makes it nearly impossible to determine their full potency.
Heroin addiction is treatable through a combination of behavioral and holistic therapies along with medication to ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Those who try to quit alone are more likely to relapse during peak withdrawal symptoms, which generally occur between 48-72 hours after their last dose. The overdose risks of relapse happen if you don’t take into account your lowered tolerance. Those who relapse and use the same amount as before will have a stronger reaction than what their body can tolerate and can lead to an overdose.
At 7 Summit Pathways, our heroin addiction treatment program is available for men and women who are ready to stop abusing heroin or other dangerous substances. We provide an all-encompassing treatment experience with inpatient and outpatient treatment programs that greatly reduce the risks of relapsing and promote long-lasting recovery.
3 Heroin Addiction Symptoms
Recognizing heroin addiction symptoms is easy to do if you know what to look for. People who abuse heroin will go to extremes to hide their abuse, but there are certain physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms that indicate a substance abuse disorder. Here are three common heroin addiction symptoms that you should be familiar with if you think someone you know is abusing heroin:
- Physical signs of heroin abuse – Some tell-tale signs of heroin abuse include skin abscesses and track marks on their arms and legs. To hide their abuse, some users will inject heroin between their fingers and toes. Other physical signs include a decline in personal hygiene, weight loss, dry mouth, constant itching, and finding burnt spoons, discarded needles, and glass bongs around the home.
- Psychological signs – A person abusing heroin will develop mental health complications that can include paranoia, depression, anxiety, and psychosis. They will also experience frequent mood swings and hallucinations and may become violent or aggressive when asked about their drug use.
- Behavioral symptoms of heroin abuse – People who abuse drugs or alcohol will experience behavioral changes and begin acting out of character. They may start pulling away from friends and family and stop participating in their favorite activities. They may lie about their actions and who they are with, and start wearing heavy clothes, even in warm weather, to hide the visible signs of heroin abuse.
Finding effective heroin addiction treatment is the best course of action to take to stop the abuse before causing permanent harm. It greatly reduces the risk of relapse and increases the patient’s desire to continue with therapy and get healthy.
7 Summit Pathways: Your Top Choice for Heroin Addiction Treatment in Tampa
At 7 Summit Pathways, we work with individuals and their families who are impacted by addiction and looking for a comprehensive heroin addiction treatment program. Our therapists have experience treating all types of addiction and finding ways for patients to break their addictive habits and lead productive lives. Patients participate in a number of beneficial therapies during their recovery that includes:
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Acceptance and commitment therapy
- Meditation and mindfulness therapy
- Equine-assisted therapy
- Family therapy/counseling
For help with heroin addiction for you or a loved one, reach out online or call 813.212.7149 today to speak with one of our caring team members about our comprehensive addiction treatment programs.