Heroin addiction represents one of the most pressing public health crises of our time, affecting individuals and communities across the globe with devastating consequences. As a highly potent and addictive substance, heroin has the power to capture its users in a relentless grip from which escape can seem imperative and yet impossibly out of reach. Once it has a hold, heroin addiction can have profound effects on physical and mental health, destroy relationships and put those ensnared in serious legal and financial jeopardy.
This blog will delve deep into the realities of heroin addiction, shedding light on the battles that sufferers face and the pathways through which they can embark on a journey toward healing.
The science of heroin addiction
The path to heroin addiction can start from the very first use. On a physical level, heroin is an incredibly powerful drug that produces an intense euphoric “high”. This euphoria is the result of the way heroin affects the brain. Heroin mimics the structure of natural neurotransmitters, chemicals that transmit signals in the brain. By binding to and activating opioid receptors, heroin significantly increases the levels of dopamine, in particular, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This flood of dopamine reinforces the act of taking the drug, making the user likely to repeat the behaviour.
Over time, however, the brain adapts to the drug’s presence, a process known as “tolerance”, which reduces the brain’s sensitivity to heroin. This compels increased dosage, which can quickly lead to a physical dependence where the brain has become so used to relying on heroin to balance its neurotransmitters that the person needs to keep taking it, or they suffer from heroin withdrawal.
Heroin withdrawal symptoms can be incredibly distressing and include intense cravings, increased heart rate, stomach, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, chills and hallucinations. These symptoms were most infamously portrayed in the film Trainspotting, and while the portrayal is somewhat sensationalised, the real-life experience can be extremely tough and often lead to relapse. Once a physical dependency has grown, certain risk factors such as mental health conditions, a difficult life situation and a genetic predisposition can all result in a full-blown heroin addiction where the person keeps using the drug compulsively even though they know it is harming them.
Click here to watch the famous heroin withdrawal scene from Trainspotting
The physical effects of heroin
Heroin addiction can cause a cascade of physical health issues that can be both profound and, in some cases, irreversible. These issues can affect nearly every system in the body and significantly increase the risk of severe health complications. Some of the most serious include:
Respiratory depression
One of the most immediate risks of heroin use is its capacity to depress breathing, leading to potentially fatal respiratory failure, especially in cases of heroin overdose. In the UK, there were 1,256 deaths due to heroin or morphine poisoning in 2022, many of them caused by respiratory failure.
Cardiovascular problems
Regular heroin use can lead to collapsed veins (due to injecting the drug), infections of the heart lining and valves and increased risk of stroke and heart attack due to its effects on the circulatory system.
Infectious diseases
The practice of sharing needles among heroin users significantly raises the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C and other blood-borne viruses. In the UK, the dangers of needle sharing first came to light in Edinburgh in 1986 when the first HIV tests found high rates of the disease among heroin users. This prompted a major response, including public education and needle exchange programmes, but while the majority of new HIV cases in the UK come through other forms of transmission, there are still new cases as the result of needle sharing.
Neurological impact
Heroin can cause serious long-term changes in the brain’s structure and physiology, leading to cognitive decline and diminished function. Chronic heroin users and those addicted to the drug often have trouble speaking, become easily confused and comfortable and find daily life increasingly difficult to navigate.
Mental health effects
The mental health ramifications of heroin addiction are equally devastating. The powerful hold of the drug on the brain’s reward system can lead to a prioritisation of drug use over all other activities, severely impacting mental health and quality of life. Just some of the many mental health effects include:
Psychological dependency
The mental obsession with obtaining and using heroin can become all-consuming, leading to social isolation, deterioration of relationships and a profound sense of hopelessness. This often fuels heroin use as those suffering use the drug as a temporary means of escape from their situation.
Depression and anxiety
The cycle of euphoria followed by withdrawal can exacerbate underlying mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, leading to a vicious cycle of use and mental health decline. These issues are further fuelled by the effects of heroin on relationships and personal well-being.
Dual diagnosis
Many individuals struggling with heroin addiction also suffer from co-occurring mental health disorders which have either been triggered by heroin use or exacerbated by addiction. This can make coping with more conditions more difficult and can also complicate treatment.
Heroin’s impact on relationships and society
The ramifications of heroin addiction extend well beyond the individual, casting long shadows over families, friendships, workplaces and the broader community.
Impact on relationships
Heroin addiction places immense strain on family relationships. Trust is often the first casualty, as addictive behaviours lead to lying, hiding substance use and serious financial instability. Parents, siblings and children may experience a range of emotions, from guilt and shame to anger and despair, as they grapple with the addiction of their loved one. Children can feel these effects most acutely and numerous studies have found that children whose parents are addicted to drugs like heroin are far more likely to abuse drugs themselves.
Social isolation
As heroin addiction deepens, individuals may withdraw from friends and social activities altogether, prioritising drug use over their loved ones or being cut off due to their behaviour. This isolation can lead to the loss of supportive relationships, further entrenching the addiction.
Workplace and legal issues
The impact of heroin addiction is also felt in the workplace, where individuals may struggle with absenteeism, poor productivity and the risk of unemployment, exacerbating financial difficulties and social isolation.
Legal issues
As well as hefty prison sentences for possession and supply, heroin addiction can also lead to massive increases in crime. Heroin is incredibly expensive and the financial strain of obtaining enough to satisfy an addiction sees many people turn to criminal activity. According to UK government figures, there are more than 300,000 people addicted to heroin and crack cocaine in England but these individuals are responsible for nearly half of all robberies and burglaries in the country.
Societal impact
The economic impact of heroin addiction is staggering, encompassing healthcare costs, law enforcement and criminal justice expenses and lost productivity. In the UK alone, illegal drugs cost the economy more than £20 billion a year, placing a significant burden on public resources and economic stability.
As explained above, heroin addiction also contributes to a range of public health issues, including the spread of infectious diseases, overdose deaths and mental health crises. In England in 2020, there were 99,782 hospital admissions for drug-related behavioural and mental disorders and 16,994 admissions for drug poisoning. Many of these were caused by heroin, with patients taking up valuable hospital beds in an already overrun NHS system.
Final thoughts
As can be seen, the battle against heroin addiction is a formidable one, but it is not insurmountable. Heroin rehab centres like UKAT provide comprehensive heroin addiction treatment, which can help break the chains of dependency and give those affected new hope.
However, true progress requires a societal shift towards understanding, compassion and action. The broader challenge lies in dismantling the stigma surrounding addiction, enhancing access to heroin detox and rehab and fostering environments that support long-term recovery and reintegration into society.
Perhaps most importantly, a shift in mindset is critical at both a public and governmental level, with a new recognition that heroin addiction is not merely a personal failing but a complex health issue. With concerted efforts from individuals, families, healthcare professionals and policymakers, it is possible to make meaningful strides in overcoming heroin addiction and helping those affected to build a brighter, healthier future.
If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin addiction, know that you are not alone. UKAT is here to offer a lifeline and help you begin the process of healing. Our comprehensive heroin addiction treatment programmes include heroin detox, heroin rehab therapy and ongoing support after you leave. We believe that this holistic approach will help you lay the strongest possible foundations for recovery and long-term sobriety. Contact UKAT today to find out more.