No drug has had a longer, sadder presence in modern life than heroin. Its imagery has inspired filmmakers, authors, and musicians – often while claiming their lives.
Derived from morphine, heroin is an extremely powerful opioid drug which produces intense feelings of euphoria. It’s smoked, snorted and most infamously, injected. The dangers of heroin use aren’t just restricted to addiction; there’s a constant risk of tainted drugs, diseases such as HIV from needle sharing, and overdose.
Heroin abuse is also somewhat difficult to treat. The drug’s withdrawal effects are intense and well known; muscle aches, diarrhea, fever, and cravings are just a few. Trying the “cold turkey” route often results in failure. Professional, medically supervised detox gives patients a far better chance of success in recovery.
