Health Care

Explain and discuss at least two separate reasons why using heroin once can be deadly, whether it is used alone or in combination with other substances.

ANSWER

Effects of Heroin Consumption

Heroin is an addictive substance extracted from morphine, psychoactive, and taken from the resin of the seed pod of the opium poppy plant. It falls under opioids, including prescription painkillers such as hydrocodone and codeine (Hurd et al., 2019). Heroin overdose and consumption have increased because of the growing number of individuals misusing prescription opioid pain killers. The drug is mixed with water and can be taken through injection, sniffing, or smoking.

One of the reasons a single consumption of heroin is more deadly is its aggression effect on the body. The drug users become violent towards strangers who might react to the violence fatally. This one-time use is also linked with fatal overdose. A large quantity of heroin depresses the heart rate so that a user cannot survive without medical help.

Another reason includes the rapid binding to opioid receptors where a user will feel a pleasurable sensation called rush (Compton, Jones & Baldwin, 2016). With heroin, the rush is normally linked with a warm flushing of the skin, heavy feeling of extremities, and dry mouth. After the first effect, consumers get drowsy for many hours with the mental functioning affected. The heart functions also slow down with breathing reduced, sometimes enough to be life-threatening. Slowed breathing can cause permanent brain damage or a coma.

These effects and addiction to heroin can be mitigated through diverse treatment options, including behavioural therapies and medications. Combining medication and other supportive services is the best strategy to curb heroin addiction. Behavioural treatments include outpatient and residential psychological care.

References

Compton, W. M., Jones, C. M., & Baldwin, G. T. (2016). Relationship between nonmedical prescription-opioid use and heroin use. New England Journal of Medicine, 374(2), 154-163.

Hurd, Y. L., Spriggs, S., Alishayev, J., Winkel, G., Gurgov, K., Kudrich, C., … & Salsitz, E. (2019). Cannabidiol for the reduction of cue-induced craving and anxiety in drug-abstinent individuals with heroin use disorder: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. American Journal of Psychiatry, 176(11), 911-922.