Drug and Alcohol Detox Center
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.
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.
What Does a Heroin Overdose Look Like?
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, and gray
- Heart palpitations or undetectable pulse
Whether mild or severe, spotting heroin overdose symptoms is a call to action. You should contact authorities right away and seek help from a residential addiction treatment program.
Responding to an Overdose on Heroin
When you come across someone having a heroin overdose, it is important to act quickly to avoid serious health problems or death. Common signs of a heroin overdose typically involve shallow respiration, lack of responsiveness, and bluish or grayish skin, especially around the lips and nails. Contact emergency services right away as the initial action, giving precise information regarding the situation. While you are waiting for assistance, make sure to assess the person’s breathing and pulse. Administering rescue breaths or performing CPR could save their life if they are not breathing. Position the individual on their side in the recovery position to avoid choking, especially if they begin to vomit.
If possible, give naloxone (Narcan), a medication that can quickly counteract the effects of heroin in opioid overdoses. Adhering to the guidelines in the naloxone kit and remaining with the individual until expert medical assistance is present is crucial. Despite seeming better after naloxone administration, individuals still need medical supervision since heroin overdose symptoms may return when the effects of the medication fade. Reacting promptly and correctly to an overdose boosts the likelihood of survival and highlights the significance of having access to naloxone for individuals vulnerable to opioid overdose.
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 case is different, so your clinical team will conduct a thorough medical evaluation to see which treatment is proper for you.
The other central 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 treatment is to help unravel the circumstances behind the abuse of heroin and to build coping skills.
Explore Our Heroin Detox in Atlanta
Witnessing someone experiencing heroin overdose symptoms can be shocking. It’s also a cry for help. Our Atlanta Drug Detox is on your side. Our heroin detox centers in Georgia are 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 and women’s detox centers. We also provide support for patients with our relapse prevention program.
