Hope for Tomorrow Warns of Heroin Side Effects

Beckley, WV – “West Virginia had the highest drug overdose mortality rate in the entire country in 2021,” local addiction recovery center, Hope for Tomorrow, opens in their recent blog, “Heroin Side Effects: Physical, Behavioral, and More.” They highlight the importance of education on heroin – specifically its side effects – and then launch into the rest of the article.

The first topic Hope for Tomorrow covers closely is the science behind withdrawal. According to the blog, heroin triggers the release of a “feel-good” neurotransmitter known as dopamine to induce a feeling of euphoria. That’s a problem, though, because the brain gets used to that synthetic dopamine and produces less natural dopamine, the blog says. This causes a person’s brain to react less to natural events that would usually cause pleasure, leaving the person who took heroin feeling worse than before, the article explains.

“Some neurons in your brain also grow more active to try and offset the depressant effects of heroin and other opioids. When heroin isn’t in your system, this neuron activity remains heightened, which causes many withdrawal symptoms,” the blog further informs the reader. It then lists some of those withdrawal symptoms: diarrhea and vomiting, muscle aches, insomnia, mood swings, anxiety, and cravings, among others. Hope for Tomorrow says the withdrawal experience differs for each person based on their heroin habits and overall health, but symptoms tend to be at their worst 24-48 hours after the last dose and subside after about ten days.

Hope for Tomorrow emphasizes that experiencing withdrawal is a sign of a heroin use disorder. They list other signs, too. Some include taking more heroin than intended, unsuccessful attempts to quit heroin, a lot of time dedicated to heroin, continuing heroin despite consequences in their life, and cravings.

The article then turns its attention to heroin overdose. “​​If you put more heroin into your system than your body can handle, it will start shutting down body processes, with breathing being one of the first. Extremely low body temperature, slowed or no breathing, blue lips, fingernails and skin, clammy skin, convulsions, and coma are all indications of a heroin overdose,” the blog shares. Most of these overdoses occur due to heroin in combination with another substance, and not heroin alone, Hope for Tomorrow says.

Hope for Tomorrow urges anyone who witnesses what they think is a heroin overdose to get help right away. They touch on Good Samaritan Laws, which protect people helping with a potential overdose from legal repercussions. “If you’re able to, administer naloxone,” the article instructs. It shares that naloxone, a nasal spray with the ability to temporarily reverse opioid overdose, is available over-the-counter at most pharmacies. It still stresses to the reader that naloxone alone isn’t enough, and anyone overdosing will still need medical attention.

“If you’ve gotten this far and relate to everything you’ve read, we encourage you to seek heroin addiction treatment,” Hope for Tomorrow says in the end. They briefly explain how a medical detox program works, and true to their name, inspire hope that recovery is possible for anyone reading.

Hope for Tomorrow is an addiction recovery center with locations in both Beckley and Point Pleasant, West Virginia. They offer dual-diagnosis treatment to address substance use disorders and the mental health conditions that often come with them simultaneously. Their staff is passionate and proud to welcome everyone who walks through their doors, including veterans, pregnant women, people with additional medical conditions, and couples searching for treatment together. For more information on Hope for Tomorrow, visit their website, or call them at 877-679-8162.