Why Is Heroin So Addictive?
We’ve been talking about the opioid epidemic for months now, and the reason for it is that the issue has yet to be resolved entirely with treatment centers. The correlation between heroin overdoses and prescription pain medication has continues to be a concern for many, and it leaves others confused. GateHouse Treatment strives to keep others informed of this crisis, and of all the questions asked to our IOP staff members in the New England area, one of the most common and most important is: why is heroin so addictive and how to get heroin addiction help.
For many, this is a logical question. Why would someone try heroin knowing the hazard it can cause to our mental and physical health? Though it seems black and white, there are many gray areas when it comes to understanding opioids, including where we can first get them; which is often medical professionals.
Heroin and prescription pain medication are both classified as an opioid. Opioids, to put simply, attach themselves to opioid receptors (found on nerve cells) in the body, which can decrease the pain a person is feeling. Because of this bodily reaction, these drugs can in-turn make someone feel happy or extremely relaxed. In case you were wondering why is heroin so addictive? This is why.
Prescribed painkillers can be extremely addictive as it slowly alters the chemicals within the brain. Though it is less likely for addiction to occur with short-term use, it isn’t uncommon for many to seek out narcotics after their pain subsides. Once a person begins using pain medicine for non-medical use, their chances of heroin use increases drastically. In fact, 1 in 15 people who use non-medical prescription pain medicine will try heroin within the next 10 years.
As the body becomes more accustomed to the current dose of their prescription, many users will seek other forms of drug use to combat their cravings. Heroin is often the perfect combination of potent as well as affordable. Heroin has become the drug of choice for many. So, the once absurd thought of trying heroin becomes a reality for some.
Due to the incline of prescriptions to pain medication in recent years, (in 2012, 259 million prescriptions were written in the US alone) the parallel use of heroin and other opioids follow because there are more people with access to these pain killers. With focus on prevention in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act signed in July, we hope to see changes in the regulation of pain medication being prescribed.
Luckily for those who suffer from addiction, there are IOPs near Massachusetts that exist solely to help you or your loved ones on their journey to heroin addiction help with our treatment centers. Our professionals work closely with our patients to ensure the most comprehensive services we can offer. With more questions, call our experts at GateHouse Treatment today at (855) 448-3588. We are available to you 24/7.
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