Opioids have been in the spotlight over the past several decades. Many people who get prescribed opioids continue to use them and become addicted. Others feel their prescription no longer works, causing them to begin using harder drugs like heroin. When that happens, a heroin addiction treatment center may be all that stands between you and disaster.

Heroin derives from morphine, a drug produced from poppy plants. Users sniff, inject, snort, or smoke it. Heroin addiction causes changes in brain activity. Learn more about this highly addictive drug and how to look for signs of heroin addiction. You need a heroin addiction treatment center to help you. At Bayview Recovery, we can help you take the first steps toward recovery with our heroin addiction treatment program.

Table of Contents

What Are the Signs of Heroin Addiction?

There are psychological and physical signs of heroin addiction, including common and severe symptoms. While everyone experiences different reactions to the drug, there are some common factors.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse includes the following signs in its list:

Nausea and vomiting
Feeling of euphoria
Severe itching
Flushed skin
Prolonged drowsiness
Slowed heart rate
Unclear thinking
Heaviness of the limbs

Severe Symptoms

If you use heroin for a long time or take a lot of it, severe symptoms may develop. Many of these signs of heroin addiction last at least a full day. Additionally, heroin distributors sometimes lace their supply with other chemicals to make it more profitable. These other ingredients may be harmless. However, that’s not the case at all. This, of course, is one of the scariest aspects of illegal drugs like heroin: you don’t know what’s in them at any given time.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention includes the following reactions to bad batches of the drug:

Palpitations
Anxiety
Headache
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Tremors

Bayview Recovery has a medication-assisted detox program that helps our clients get through these reactions and sets them on the road to recovery. This process can be challenging, even under the best conditions. That’s why it’s important to not undergo detox on your own. This difficult process needs to overseen by a knowledgeable professional who can make sure you remain safe the entire time.

Heroin Overdose Signs

Signs of heroin addiction during an overdose often lead to hospitalization or death. In addition, the purity of the heroin and what other chemicals are added determine the toxicity of a batch. Hopefully, you never have to experience an overdose or watch someone else go through it.

The following symptoms often occur during a heroin overdose:

Bluish tint to lips or nails
Shallow breathing
Disorientation
Delirium
Pinpoint pupils
Low blood pressure
Coma
Drowsiness
Weak pulse

To avoid the risk of an overdose, turn to the professional addiction staff at Bayview Recovery. In our heroin addiction rehab center, you can learn valuable skills that help you avoid relapse.

Withdrawal Symptoms

During withdrawal, signs of heroin addiction often begin within 6 to 12 hours after you stop using the drug. These symptoms typically peak within a day or two before subsiding over the course of a week. However, the experience is slightly different for each person.

Withdrawal symptoms often continue periodically throughout the recovery process and include the following:

Bad mood or dysphoria
Yawning
Insomnia
Drug cravings
Depression
Anxiety
Body aches
Irritability
Diarrhea
Runny nose
Nausea and vomiting
Restlessness

Holistic Therapies to Reduce Drug Cravings

During recovery, you may receive medication to help reduce the challenging symptoms of withdrawal. You can also learn to practice yoga therapy and mindfulness meditation therapy to redirect your thoughts and remain calm. These and other skills gained at Bayview Recovery can reduce drug cravings that threaten your ability to enjoy a successful recovery.

Addiction Treatment Center in Tacoma, Washington

If you notice the signs of heroin addiction in a loved one, suggest a reliable treatment center in Tacoma, WA. Bayview Recovery offers several heroin addiction rehab programs to help make a difference. Some of these programs include:

Intensive Outpatient Program,
Partial Hospitalization Program
Outpatient Treatment Programs
Holistic Drug Rehab Center

If you use heroin, the sooner you get help, the faster you can get back to a productive life full of promise. In addition, if you know a family member suffering from heroin addiction, get the help your loved one needs today. Contact us at 855.478.3650 for more information on how we can help you or your loved one break the cycle of addiction.