Heroin is an illegal and highly addictive drug that has adverse effects on human body. Heroin is an opioid drug prepared from morphine obtained from the seed pod of opium poppy plants. Heroin can be black or white, depending on the manufacturing process and the ingredients used. People consume heroin in various ways, such as smoking, sniffing, and mixing with other drugs to feel its rapid effects. Incidences of overdose death from heroin consumption have been highly reported, with rates ranging from four deaths for every 100,000 persons in the United States (Moustafa et al., 2022). Heroin, identified as a powerful drug, makes changes in the brain. Heroin affects the brain receptors, which leads to drowsiness, euphoric high, and relaxation due to a slow respiration rate. Continued use of heroin slows down brain function, and they cannot perform any activity since the pleasure leads to idleness.
The effects of heroin on one’s body depend on the dose size and the mental wellness of a person and are determined by whether a person has taken other drugs or is on prescription. These effects include excess low body temperatures, vomiting, clammy skin, blue lips and fingernails, which may lead to hospitalization. A person using heroin can build a tolerance after a short period. This implies that a person will have to consume large doses in order to attain the same feeling as before. After that, their bodies will be dependent on heroin in order to feel normal. This affects their relationship, causes them to suffer financially, and leads to lack of basic needs such as food and shelter. Additionally, they crave heroin and live in fear of lacking the drug (Moustafa et al., 2022). The withdrawal symptoms of heroin occur once a person lacks a dose. These include seating, stomach cramps, joint and muscle pain, and mood swings. A drug interaction occurs when a person takes two or more drugs instantly. This may lead to decreased effectiveness, unexpected effects, and triggering the body’s reaction, which is harmful.
Reference
Moustafa, A. A., Tindle, R., Cashel, S., Parkes, D., Mohamed, E., & Abo Hamza, E. (2022). Bidirectional relationship between heroin addiction and depression: Behavioural and neural studies. Current Psychology, 41(8), 5195–5211.