Common Signs of Heroin Abuse

In Colorado, only a small fraction of the population suffering from heroin abuse will seek help from a heroin rehab center. A large percentage of the population still views addiction as shameful and not as a treatable mental health illness. Signs of heroin abuse can be hard to spot if you do not know what to look for. Men and women who struggle with heroin addiction will hide their disease and lie about their abuse. You can help yourself or a friend break their heroin addiction by enrolling in heroin rehab in Colorado. 

Northpoint Colorado helps men and women struggling with heroin addiction and other forms of substance use disorder who are ready to make a positive change in their lives. We help patients through a combination of behavioral, medical, and holistic therapy to treat the whole person and not just the disease. Call 888.231.1281 today to learn more about the signs of heroin abuse at our heroin rehab center in Colorado. 

Why Is Heroin So Addictive?

Heroin is made from morphine, a naturally occurring substance from the poppy plant Papaver Somniferum. Natural and synthetic opioids offer excellent pain relief for people who suffer from chronic pain or after an accident or surgery. Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid that produces euphoria by binding with the opioid receptor in the body. It signals a massive release of dopamine and other endorphins that your body can not make without more heroin. 

The initial euphoria that heroin produces wears off after a few hours, leaving you feeling drowsy and mentally cloudy for several more hours. If someone takes more heroin to keep that euphoria going, they can quickly disrupt the natural production of dopamine and cause severe withdrawal symptoms. The more you use heroin, the more your body will crave it, creating powerful negative habits that promote drug abuse, even to the detriment of your own health. 

Heroin withdrawal symptoms may include:

• Strong cravings for heroin
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach cramping
• Shaking
• Sweating
• Agitation
• Depression
• Muscle spasms

At Northpoint Colorado, we can help reduce your cravings and painful withdrawal symptoms through medication-assisted therapy. Medical staff will administer FDA-approved medication and monitor your progress to ensure you are getting the maximum benefits with minimal risks.

Common Signs of Heroin Abuse

Heroin abuse can look different in men and women of all ages and races. Some can use heroin and not feel any cravings or withdrawal symptoms for months, while others can form a powerful addiction seemingly overnight. Typically if this happens, it points to an underlying mental health disorder that causes them to form a heavy dependence on the drug. 

If you suspect someone you care about is struggling with heroin addiction, look for these common signs of heroin abuse:

• Depression
• Mood swings
• Anxiety
• Lying about drug use
• Withdrawing from friends and family
• Periods of hyperactivity followed by exhaustion
• Scabbing or bruising along the arms and legs or in between fingers and toes

Find Heroin Rehab in Colorado at Northpoint Colorado

At Northpoint Colorado, we offer addiction treatment programs to help with heroin abuse and other forms of substance use disorders. We help patients and families better understand addiction and how it can hinder your mental health. Our addiction treatment programs include:

• Drug and alcohol detoxing
• Residential treatment program
• Partial hospitalization program
• Intensive outpatient program
• Dual diagnosis program
• Medication-assisted treatment

Our therapy programs give patients the mental tools they need to stop letting addiction rule their lives and maintain their sobriety for life. If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin abuse, call 888.231.1281 today to learn more about the signs of heroin abuse and how we can help with our heroin rehab in Colorado.