Heroin abuse continues to cause pain and misery for thousands each year. This powerfully addictive drug can send your life into a tailspin, putting you at grave risk of death from overdose. Given the extent of the heroin epidemic in this country, gaining knowledge about heroin overdose symptoms is a wise move. Recognizing the symptoms can be more challenging than you think but can quickly become a matter of life or death. The sooner you summon medical help, the greater chance your loved one has of surviving. If a friend or family member is struggling with heroin abuse, you might be wondering about heroin overdose symptoms and how a drug detox center like Atlanta Detox Center can help.

At Atlanta Detox Center, our heroin addiction treatment program provides the foundation for genuine, long-lasting recovery. When your loved one is ready to receive comprehensive care for heroin addiction, reach out to our team by calling 470-450-2355 or completing our convenient online form. Our outstanding team of professionals is standing by to provide more information about our heroin rehab program.

What Is Heroin?

Heroin is derived, as many pain medications are, from the poppy plant. It is synthesized specifically from morphine, which comes from the seed pod of certain plants. Heroin exists in the larger class of opiate medications, some legal, that serve to depress the central nervous system and provide relief from pain. Other examples of opiates include Vicodin and Percocet.

While those drugs can be obtained through a prescription from a doctor, heroin cannot. It is illegal because of its fearsomely addictive properties. The drug lures users into dependence by producing feelings of calm and euphoria. While doing so, though, the drug triggers biochemical changes in the brain. Those changes lead to an addiction that is extremely difficult to break, even with the help of a heroin detox center.

Heroin was initially commercially produced in the late 1800s as a medication that provides pain relief for people with cancer and other severe illnesses. Reports of severe addictions soon followed, and the drug became illegal.

Symptoms of Heroin Overdose

The tricky thing about heroin, as well as other drugs, is that you can cross the line into the danger zone without anyone noticing. The drug takes over. This is particularly perilous when it involves heroin, which is a depressant. 

So you need to look for the early signals that may precede heroin overdose symptoms. Someone who has taken too much heroin might start slurring their speech. The pupils of their eyes may contract to a pinpoint. They may scratch themselves raw.

As the situation progresses, keep a sharp eye out for symptoms of a heroin overdose, including:

  • Uneven breathing
  • Gurgling or choking
  • Vomiting
  • Unconsciousness
  • Alert and awake but unable to speak
  • The skin turns blue, purple, gray
  • Heart palpitations or undetectable pulse

Whether mild or severe, spotting symptoms of a heroin overdose is a call to action. You should contact authorities right away and seek help from a residential addiction treatment program. 

Getting Treatment for Heroin Abuse

Treatment approaches for heroin addiction continue to evolve. In recent years researchers have produced several types of medicines that counter the effects of heroin. In doing so, the medications help individuals gradually stop using the drug in a way that mitigates withdrawal symptoms.

You’ve probably heard of methadone. But other drugs, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, include buprenorphine and Naltrexone. Every individual case is different, so your clinical team will conduct a thorough medical evaluation to see which treatment, if any, is right for you. 

The other main aspect of treatment is psychological, with various forms of addiction treatment therapies administered by a licensed and experienced counselor. A cognitive-behavioral therapy program is commonly used in connection with substance abuse, but other forms of therapy have been successful as well. The goal of therapy is to help unravel the circumstances behind the abuse of heroin and to build coping skills. 

Explore the Heroin Rehab Program at Atlanta Detox Center

Witnessing someone exhibiting heroin overdose symptoms can be shocking. It’s also a cry for help. Atlanta Detox Center is on your side. Our heroin detox center is geared to help you or someone you care about through the pain and discomfort of withdrawal and help you move on to the next stage of your recovery. We offer a complete set of services, including gender-specific detox at our men’s detox center and women’s detox center. We also offer support for other substance abuse challenges, such as our alcohol addiction treatment program and drug addiction treatment program. Call us at 470-450-2355 to speak to a counselor today or reach out to us by filling out our online form. Today can be that healing from addiction begins. All it takes is reaching out to our Atlanta Detox Center team today.

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