Heroin Rehab in Washington State

Heroin is a powerful, illicit opioid drug. As an opioid, heroin causes pain reduction, euphoria, and many other effects that can be deadly in too large a dose. As a central nervous system depressant, opioids depress breathing and ultimately kill by suffocation. The relatively low cost and potency of heroin make it one of the most commonly abused illicit opioids in the US.

Heroin can vary widely in appearance but is commonly either a whitish powder or a dark brown, tar-like material. But heroin may also take on other forms depending upon the manufacturing process and any additives used. It may even resemble gunpowder or come pressed into pills. Depending on the region, different areas may have various forms of heroin. For example, heroin in the northeastern US has traditionally been a whitish powder, whereas, on the West Coast, black tar heroin has been the predominant form for many years.

Heroin can be detected in the urine for up to three days after use. However, if the drug is used infrequently and in small amounts, it may only be detectable for one or two days. But because of heroin’s highly addictive properties, infrequent use is uncommon. Other factors like the person’s physiology and health habits can impact how quickly heroin leaves the system.

Heroin is so addictive because of the strong physical dependence it causes. After only a few days of regular use, a dependence develops. Dependence is a condition where the body has become accustomed to the effects of the drug and now needs it to function normally. Without it, the person will suffer uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings for more opioids. So, after only a few uses, a person may become physically addicted to heroin. When this physical component is combined with the mental aspects of opioid addiction, it illustrates why opioids have caused such a scourge across America.

Heroin is most commonly used by intravenous injection. That’s because when heroin is consumed this way, it produces a fast and powerful “rush” of intoxicating effects. These effects are all produced by other methods of consumption, but with injection, the rapid accumulation of the substance in the bloodstream can become an addiction in itself. IV drug users generally do not return to other methods of ingestion once they begin shooting up. However, when someone begins experimenting with heroin, they may smoke or snort the drug. Snorting it is much more common when the heroin is in a powdered form, as opposed to the tacky composition of black tar heroin, which is more easily smoked. Heroin may also be consumed orally, but this approach is far less common and mainly occurs when the heroin is pressed into a pill.

The questions from Addicted.org’s “Ask a Professional” are answered by Michael Leach, CCMA. If you need further clarification on any of the questions above or have any other questions you can contact him directly at [email protected].