Side Effects of Heroin Abuse

One of the most damaging side effects of heroin abuse is becoming addicted to this drug. Heroin addiction is a serious crisis and is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use. The side effects of heroin abuse on a regular basis lead to a high tolerance for the drug as well as extreme physical dependence. As with abusers of any addictive drug, heroin addicts gradually spend more and more time and energy obtaining and using the drug. Once they are addicted, the heroin abusers' primary purpose in life becomes seeking and using heroin. The side effects of heroin abuse include neurochemical and molecular changes in the users' brain. This drug literally changes the user's brain!

 The short term side effects of heroin abuse include but are not limited to:

• Clouded mental functioning
• Depressed respiration
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rush
• Spontaneous abortion
• Suppression of pain

The long term side effects of heroin abuse include but are not limited to:

• Abscesses
• Addiction
• Arthritis and other rheumatologic problems
• Bacterial infections
• Collapsed veins
• Infection of heart lining and valves
• Infectious diseases, for example, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C

Side effects of heroin abuse on the user's body:
Heroin depresses, or slows down, the central nervous system. This can cause the heart rate to slow and blood pressure to drop. Respiratory functions can also be impaired. Prolonged use of heroin can lead to heart and or lung failure. Heroin creates conditions of bad health over all, making the body susceptible to illness. Liver disease and pneumonia are just a couple of the problems that can result from side effects of heroin abuse on the users lowered immune system.

Indirect side effects of heroin abuse:

• The repeated use of needles. Many people do not think about the side effects of heroin abuse regarding the repeated use of needles to inject the drug. However, these effects should not be discounted. Because the fastest way to experience a "rush" is to inject the heroin directly into the blood stream, needle use is very common amongst heroin users. Unfortunately, the repeated use of needles can have very negative consequences such as collapsed veins. Eventually, continually injecting heroin into the same spot can result in collapsed veins. This leads some heroin users to move on to another vein. Some heroin addicts have collapsed several veins as they move on to "usable" entrance points for needles.
• Infectious diseases. Many heroin users actually use the drug in groups, often even at the dealer's location. This results in shared needles. Meaning that it is possible to get diseases from infected users. Hepatitis and HIV/AIDS can be contracted this way. These are two diseases that, while they are often "managed", cannot be cured.
• Effects of additives to heroin. Sometimes heroin dealers mix the drug with other substances to stretch supply and make more money. This can be very dangerous. Some of the additives do not dissolve as well as heroin does, and this can lead to blood vessel clogging. This can lead to side effects of heroin abuse like heart, lung and kidney problems.

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