Addiction Treatment
Dangers of Synthetic Heroin Abuse
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Heroin’s typically a drug that people make from morphine, which comes from the poppy plant. It’s a potentially deadly substance that quickly hooks its users. A new way of doing the drug is via synthetic heroin abuse. What is it, and how do you get help?
What is Synthetic Heroin?
Synthetic heroin is a type of synthetic opioid drug that imitates the effects of traditional heroin. A common synthetic heroin is fentanyl, or fentanyl analogs. This drug is highly potent making it much more dangerous than traditional heroin due to its strength and potential for overdose.
Illicit laboratories often produce synthetic heroin, which is sold on the black market as a cheaper and more potent alternative to heroin. Even small amounts of synthetic heroin can result in an overdose, which can be life-threatening due to its potency.
Similar to traditional heroin, synthetic heroin can cause feelings of euphoria, sedation, and pain relief. However, due to its potency, synthetic heroin can also lead to severe side effects such as respiratory depression, slowed heart rate, and loss of consciousness.
Understanding How Synthetic Heroin Abuse Happens
There’s no specific formula for the synthetic version of heroin. Rather, it refers to any mix of substances that combine with heroin to create the high. Because nobody knows what’s in any given combination, you have no way of gauging the drug’s effectiveness. Therefore, overdoses are a significant risk.
Case in point is the mix of heroin with fentanyl and carfentanil. On the street, this mix has received the moniker gray death. You don’t know its potency until its too late.
Similarly, there’s the problem of developing secondary dependencies. Depending on what’s in the heroin you’re abusing, you might form an addiction to other drugs, too. Examples include methadone and cocaine. If you fell victim to addiction, enrolling at a heroin addiction treatment center is your best option.
Recovering from Heroin Dependency
Synthetic heroin abuse leads to one of the most dangerous addictions. Even so, it’s possible to break the habit with help. Detoxification starts the process. You withdraw from the drug.
Because there are different chemicals you might be dealing with, medical detox is crucial for success. Therapists and doctors work with you to determine your withdrawal process. To ease pain and support overall wellbeing, you’ll typically undergo medication-assisted treatment. Furthermore, several modalities support physical comfort.
For example, massage therapy assists with relaxing your muscles that might cramp and, therefore, hurt. Acupuncture focuses your body’s energy on areas that require healing. Meditation encourages relaxation, which supports healthy sleep patterns. Besides that, you receive nutritional counseling to help your body heal through healthy food choices.
After detox, you focus on clinical care components. Examples include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy, which lets you undo dysfunctional coping strategies and replace them with healthy ones
- Dialectical behavior therapy as a way to regain control over emotions that derail your ability to think rationally
- Dual diagnosis treatment for underlying mood or personality disorders
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for individuals who need help dealing with traumatic memories
- Individual and group therapy sessions for healing, goal-setting, and life skills training
- Family therapy that emphasizes the importance of regaining trust, setting boundaries, and supporting your recovery
What Happens If You Don’t Get Treatment for Synthetic Heroin Addiction?
Putting off treatment is tempting. After all, right now, you’re feeling okay. You hope that maybe things will somehow get better. However, addiction to heroin doesn’t resolve itself.
It’s not a phase you outgrow at some point in your life. Instead, it’s a potentially deadly habit that could result in an overdose every time you use. Synthetic heroin abuse, in particular, exposes you to several toxic chemicals. Don’t take the risk; connect with The Last Resort Recovery today.