How Does Heroin Use Change the Brain and Body?

Published On: October 21, 2020
Updated On: March 21, 2023

Heroin is one of the harshest drugs out there, and its negative effects on the brain and body can be significant. Many who are addicted may not care about or consider the short or long-term effects of heroin use.  After all, the pull of addiction can outweigh logic and rationale time and time again.

Still, it’s imperative to warn heroin users of the dangers of the drug. Heroin is a very deadly and addictive substance that many users become severely addicted to after experimenting with it.

Once you’ve become addicted to the substance, it can be challenging to stop using it alone. Thus, proper, thorough treatment may be necessary to help you overcome the addiction.

This blog will examine the following topics:

• What is the opioid crisis?
• Is there an opioid and heroin epidemic?
• What is heroin?
• How does heroin affect the brain?
• How does heroin affect the body?
• How does your appearance change from heroin use?
• What are the withdrawal symptoms of heroin use?

What is the Opioid Crisis?

The Centers for Disease Control reports 46,802 reported opioid overdose deaths in 2018. That’s about 128 people per day dying from using an opioid that ranges from prescription opioids like OxyContin to synthetic heroin opioids like fentanyl.

Is There an Opioid and Heroin Epidemic?

Heroin is one of the largest drug problems in the United States today. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in 2018, U.S. national overdose deaths associated with heroin were almost 15,000. That’s around 41 people per day.

In addition, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2016 in America, 948,000 people admitted to using heroin within the past year. This is considered epidemic levels. In fact, the epidemic is so commonplace that many new treatment centers have been opened across the United States, all sharing the same purpose – detox and treatment.

What Is Heroin?

Heroin is an opiate derivative of the poppy plant found in South America, different parts of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. It’s made into a powder that users typically melt into a liquid using a spoon and lighter. Then, they inject it into their bloodstream via a vein. However, the drug can also be smoked or snorted in powder form.

The immediate effects of heroin are extreme feelings of pleasure lasting maybe 10-20 minutes, followed by intense sick and lethargic feelings once the drug has worn off. The effects of repeated use include slowed heart rate, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes potentially fatal symptoms.

You can easily overdose on heroin due to its highly potent nature. The risks involved with its use are a huge gamble, thus rendering the urgent need for detox and rehabilitation treatment.

How Does Heroin Affect the Brain?

The brain has opioid receptors that help the body with pain. If you’ve ever been given a subscription for a pain reliever, then you understand how helpful opioid receptors can be.

Heroin use causes short and long-term effects on the brain. When heroin hits the brain, it binds and activates mu-opioid receptors (MORS). These receptors go into overdrive when heroin attaches, releasing large amounts of dopamine and triggering the reward system.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps you feel euphoria. Your body can produce some degree of dopamine naturally. However, when you introduce heroin to your system, it boosts the levels significantly. Your brain remembers this and will cause you to crave more and more of the drug to achieve the same “high.”

A heroin use disorder will affect the part of the brain that controls your respiratory system and heart rate. It can rapidly decrease your breathing and heart rate, putting you in danger of death.

Long-term effects of heroin on the brain include damage to parts of the brain and increased tolerance. Inhaling heroin smoke burned through a pipe is extremely dangerous to the brain. It can lead to brain damage and dementia.

Repetitive use of heroin can lead to an increased tolerance, where you need more of the drug to get the same euphoric effect. This is quite dangerous, as the more heroin you use, the more you’re susceptible to a fatal overdose.

How Does Heroin Affect the Body?

Short-Term Heroin Effects

The short-term effects of heroin occur quickly after the drug enters the body. Almost immediately, there will be a feeling of nausea for 10-20 seconds, followed by an intense rush of euphoria. 

A warm feeling may course throughout the body. However, this pleasurable feeling lasts only 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the tolerance level. Following this is the “crash” from heroin use, including:

• Drowsiness
• Slowed breathing
• Nausea and vomiting
• Itchiness
• Flu-like symptoms (runny nose, watery eyes)
• Body aches
• No appetite

Long-Term Mental Health Effects

• Decreased ability to think rationally and make wise choices (cognitive dysfunction)
• Feeling depressed
• Feeling anxious
• Feeling agitated
• Feeling confused

Long-Term Physical Effects

• Damage to the brain
• Increased risk of overdosing
• Respiratory/lung problems
• Abscessed skin
• Collapsed veins can cause blood clots and stroke
• Sleep difficulties
• Liver or kidney disease
• Weak immune system
• Increased risk of getting Hepatitis B or C through needle sharing
• Falling into a coma

How Does Your Appearance Change From Heroin Use?

It’s not just the inside of the body that can be negatively impacted by heroin abuse. Your physical appearance can change too, such as:

• Teeth rotting (for those that don’t practice oral care)
• The skin can abscess, causing red blotches (similar to a boil)
• The gums can swell
• You can experience extreme weight loss
• Your complexion can change
• You can experience facial pustules or fluid-filled bumps on the skin
• You may get pockmarks (indentations) on the skin

What Are the Withdrawal Symptoms of Heroin Use?

On top of cravings, those who develop a heroin dependence may be apprehensive about detoxing due to the withdrawal symptoms. Thankfully, proper rehab treatment will help patients manage any pain or discomfort as their body detoxes from the substance. Withdrawal symptoms from heroin use typically include the following:

• Muscle and bone pain
• Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
• Sweating and chills
• Fever
• Runny nose
• Restlessness
• Anxiety and irritability
• Depression
• Increased heart rate.

Soul Surgery Offers Treatment for Heroin Use

Various treatment options are available to treat heroin addiction. Soul Surgery offers individualized care based on the needs of the individual. Our programs help you detox safely from heroin while developing coping skills for stressful situations that can trigger a relapse.

We serve adults of all ages, from young adults to seniors. If you or someone you know is using heroin, contact Soul Surgery today. We can help you get free and create the kind of life you truly desire.