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Overdoses of heroin have been on the rise in the United States for some years. In the United States, nearly 13,000 people died from heroin overdoses in 2015.
Since heroin is sold illegally, there is no way of knowing how good or strong it is. It’s also been known to be compounded with other deadly drugs.
Most people who overdose have a history of addiction; however, some people overdose when they snort it for the first time.
Many heroin addicts also abuse prescription pain relievers and other narcotics. They might also be alcoholics. These chemicals, in combination, can be extremely harmful. Since 2007, the use of heroin in the United States has increased.
If you know someone who has been subjected to a heroin overdose, you may want to check the substance abuse treatment by Infinite Recovery.
What is heroin?
Heroin is a highly addictive and dangerous street narcotic made from opium.
The incidence of heroin addictions, overdoses, and deaths has risen dramatically in recent years as people who become hooked to prescription opioids such as oxycodone or hydrocodone cannot access opiate medicines and turn to heroin.
Signs And Symptoms
Could you notice the indicators of a heroin overdose as a spouse, family member, friend, or bystander? According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, your chances of dying from a drug overdose rise, especially as more Americans switch from misusing prescription opioids to heroin.
The following are the most prevalent signs and symptoms of a heroin overdose:
- Shallow breathing.
- Gasping.
- Light-colored skin.
- Lips and fingertips have a blue color.
- Dilated pupils.
- Discolored tongue.
- Weak pulse.
- Low blood pressure.
- Disorientation, delirium, or a changed mental state.
- Constipation.
- Spasms or seizures.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Coma.
- Extreme drowsiness or an inability to stay awake.
Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the number of drug overdose deaths has surged 137% since 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), with opioid substances leading the way. Because of the rise in opioid medicine and heroin addiction and misuse, there has been a 200% increase in overdose deaths.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 10,000 persons died from a heroin overdose in 2014. Non-Hispanic white adults between the ages of 18 and 44 had the highest overdose death rates related to heroin.
Historically, men have been the predominant victims of a heroin overdose; but, since 2011, the number of women consuming the drug and overdosing has significantly increased.
According to the World Health Organization, nonfatal heroin overdoses are more common than fatal overdoses. However, according to the international medical association, some categories of persons struggling with heroin addiction are at a higher risk of overdosing.
People who have mental health issues are also prone to heroin addiction, so if we want to cure their addiction, we must cure the roots of their problems.
Treatment For Heroin Overdose
Calling 911 is the most critical step in receiving care for someone overdosed on heroin. In addition, many states have Good Samaritan statutes that safeguard those who call for assistance from being arrested and prosecuted.
Emergency medical personnel will administer immediate care to the person who has overdosed on the site and then transport the person to an emergency room for more extensive treatment. After that, the person may spend a few days in the hospital recovering from the physical trauma.
Although naloxone has been around for a long time, many states have recently licensed it for use by emergency responders outside of the emergency room in case of a heroin overdose.
Individuals who care for persons addicted to heavy prescription medications like OxyContin may be instructed how to utilize naloxone.
Naloxone binds to the same opioid receptors as other opioids, temporarily displacing substances like heroin in the brain and preventing an overdose.
However, because naloxone has a shorter half-life than opioid substances like heroin, it will not stay in the person’s bloodstream for much longer and hence will not be able to reverse an overdose completely. Instead, it will bring the overdose to a halt long enough for the person to seek more professional medical help.
Treatment For Heroin Addiction
If a person is addicted to heroin or other opioid narcotics, they must get treatment before overdosing. However, a heroin overdose is the first clue that they have a severe problem and need help for many people.
There are a variety of treatment alternatives accessible to people who are struggling with heroin addiction and the mental health difficulties that often accompany it. These programs offer both medical and psychological assistance, including drugs to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and manage cravings, as well as individual and group psychotherapy.
A doctor may prescribe methadone or buprenorphine to taper the opiate use if a person has struggled with heroin addiction for a long period.
The doses of these drugs may be gradually reduced over time in order to wean the person off the drug. Mood stabilizers, such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs, may also be used in treatment to help with the psychological and emotional side effects of drug withdrawal and early recovery.
Clonidine, generally used to treat high blood pressure, is increasingly being administered off-label to help those going through heroin withdrawal with anxiety, muscle spasms, and physical restlessness. In addition, doctors may give drugs to relieve nausea, diarrhea, or a lack of appetite during rehabilitation.
Therapy can assist the client in determining why they began using heroin in the first place. The client and therapist will work together to identify factors that lead to drug use and develop strategies for dealing with these stressors.
Putting It All Together
In the end, we would like to conclude that the signs and symptoms of heroin addiction and heroin overdose are pretty apparent. They are unlike other drugs you may or may not consume every day.
Hence, if you have a heroin addiction, it’s only a matter of time before you fall victim to heroin overdose.
Stay away from addiction and seek professional help immediately.
You can also get in touch with us in the comment section if you need more details on the subject.