The rough Road of Quitting Heroin Addiction

May 14, 2015

The rough Road of Quitting Heroin Addiction: The Experiences of Heroin addicts when the quit cold turkey

The rough Road of Quitting Heroin Addiction begin with the victim acknowledging that there is a problem which needs to be fixed

We are at it again and I long for that day when we will in unison change to the tune of victory that we have both collectively and individually defeated the problems of drug addiction. Our sons and daughters, parents, relatives and friends are all suffering the scourge of this problem. This is one of the biggest reasons why doctor Dalal Akoury decided to form AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, a facility whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. It therefore means that when we acknowledge that we have a problem on our own will without any threats or undue influence, then and only then will start the rough road of quitting heroin addiction and other addictions as well. Remember that when you have made up your mind, you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury for professional help. Even as you consider doing that, it may interest you to know that doctor Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. I encourage you to make that lifesaving call today and escape the agony of addiction today.

The rough Road of Quitting Heroin Addiction: The agony of Heroin Addiction

The rough road of quitting heroin addiction is one that you need to take and do not be scare with the used adjectives. This is just to prepare your for the healing process because the truth is, it will not be an easy one. Let us listen to the story one former addict and her experiences with heroin addiction. She says that the last time she quit heroin, she went cold turkey on a friends couch. This was not really planned but all the same it happened something like this. At that time she was living with some junkie in her parent’s house. Her parents were both coke heads and they knew she was an addict to heroin. Her stay here did not last long since this family had a strong policy in their house that no needles’ shall be used in their home. What that meant is that her welcome was no longer needed there and she was requested politely to leave.

At this time I was again becoming homeless and with no money I had to do something she says. This is the rough road of quitting heroin addiction she wondered. In that state of confusion, she thought of an old friend and as fate will have it this friend agreed to accommodate her on her couch as long as she wanted. Immediately I bought a bus ticket headed to my friend’s place which was quite a distance of about 10 hours’ drive. To keep me going I chose to take with me some ten bags of dope and ten needles and by the time I got to my friend’s place only one dope and one needle was left, this was the beginning of my gradual reduction technique.

The rough Road of Quitting Heroin Addiction: Fighting Craving

It was the middle of the night at my friend’s house and I could not hold it no matter the efforts I made and as it is accustom, I took a small shot before going to bed. I finished it off the following morning in her bathroom and this time round committed to going cold turkey. The new environment was very hostile to me and since I knew nobody in the area there was very little I could do to get another shot no matter the intensity of craving. Things happened very first and this one thing I’ll never forget. The first morning, I was very nervous as I sat and waited for the unforeseeable. I and my friend we sat together chatting trying to catch up with the lost time and believe you me, I tried all I could not to let her notice my struggle but deep inside I was not myself.

As the hours went by, I kept running into her bathroom to do what the people I knew called “cotton shots” and “scrape bags” (keeping empty bags and used cottons to try to get a tiny bit of dope just to take the edge off). I thought doing this would help or delay the withdrawal or something (because this is what I had been brought up during my introduction moments into drugs). But in reality, it was just like a nervous tic. The demands of my body said something else and it kept pushing and reminding me that “it’s time for a shot” so I did whatever I could to comply. It will be my pleasure if my story can help you in this journey we are calling the rough road of quitting heroin addiction. Remember that it is not just about heroin addiction but this is applicable even to other substance abuse. But in the meantime the very first thing I noticed was that I was shaking violently as I tried to shoot up what was basically just dirty water. It was not a very good seen because I was struggling to locate the veins on my arms and in the process jabbing randomly and bleeding furiously everywhere. Besides that I was also sweating profusely. Or what some junkies may call the cold sweats because it was freezing cold and burning hot at the same time.

For a couple of days a week or more this was the order of the day and my friend’s bathroom was like my second home. While at the bathroom all I could do was to shooting up water, vomiting constantly in her toilet and soaking my achy body in a hot bath. Dear readers she posse, the pain of addiction is indescribable and to be honest I won’t even try to describe it. Suffice it to say that I hurt in places I didn’t know I had. Every inch and every cell of my very being screamed out in endless agony for days on end. And when I could not cope any longer it had to come out in the open and I begged my friend to help me find something just anything that could “get me through this.” Like a good friend she was she tried (or claimed to) but she didn’t have a clue. One day she came to me with some prescription strength ibuprofen and I almost strangled her. But after all she was letting me stay in her house and puke in her toilet so I couldn’t afford to be a bad house guest and the story continues in our next article … but in the meantime, from the narrations above, it is obvious that addiction harts and treatment also come with its own challenges. To help you overcome those challenges or at least reduce them, visiting AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center would be the starting point. At this facility, doctor Akoury and her team of experts will help you in the most professional way to get your life back because you deserve to live and enjoy life to the fullest.

The rough Road of Quitting Heroin Addiction: The Experiences of Heroin addicts when the quit cold turkey

Heroin Withdrawal Effects and Coping modes

May 12, 2015

Heroin Withdrawal Effects and Coping modes: The Bad Effects to Health

Heroin Withdrawal Effects and Coping modes are only helpful when the individual patients are not in denial of their conditions

Heroin withdrawal effects and coping modes are some of the elements that most addicts are afraid of and this is really affecting their recovery process. With this attitude treatment becomes very difficult because one has to begin by first convincing the addicts to accept registering for the program. Some of the pertinent questions we should be asking ourselves now that we are aware that heroin withdrawal and coping modes are the problems include the following: what are the actual effects of these heroin withdrawal symptoms – and how do they impact the long-term health and well-being of the individual patients? As an institution (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of Doctor Dalal Akoury’s care) we are on top of things and our objective is to kick out all manner of addictions from our societies. That is why we only post worthy health articles tailored to helping our clients get the much needs health solutions. Therefore in this article, we have particularly designed it to convey health information in the simplest language to help in shedding some light on the impact of heroin withdrawal and also to help those who are going through the process en route to their recovery whether you are directly or indirectly affected.

Heroin Withdrawal Effects and Coping modes: Withdrawal from Heroin can lead to Discomfort

There are a number of uncomfortable side effects that accompany heroin withdrawal. These symptoms are not all that life threatening as is always the general rule, but all the same they are the leading reason why individuals relapse or add urgency to their search for that “next fix.” Some of the uncomfortable heroin withdrawal symptoms include:

Restlessness
Sleeplessness
Anxiety
Sweating
Chills
Fever
Twitching

Heroin Withdrawal Effects and Coping modes: The Effects of Heroin Withdrawals can lead to Emotional Issues

Besides the known physical discomfort that goes hand in hand with heroin withdrawal, doctor Akoury says that there are a number of mental health issues that the individual may experience as well, such may include the following:

Depression
Anxiety
Suicidal thoughts
Sudden mood swings
Irritability

Heroin Withdrawal Effects and Coping modes: Heroin Withdrawal can lead to relapse

Of course, the most serious effect of heroin withdrawal is relapse, since the individual addicts are not able to live with the discomfort of withdrawal. To escape from this discomforting experience in many instances they will turn to the only thing that they know best that can provide relief which is more heroin even though they are struggling to stop their addiction to the drug itself. This is the reason why most if not all heroin rehab programs insist that the individuals must first complete the heroin detox process before they can be allowed to moving on into the main population of the facility. The risk of relapse is simply too great without it.

Heroin Withdrawal Effects and Coping modes: How long do Heroin Withdrawal Effects last?

It may not be convenient to point out with confidences the time frame that one will last in heroin withdrawal. However the duration and intensity of heroin withdrawal effects will depend greatly on the individual addict and their particular situation. Those individuals who have been using heroin habitually for many years are likely to experience stronger withdrawal symptoms than those who have only been using it for a short period of time. As a general rule however, the individual who is engaged in natural heroin detox can expect their withdrawal symptoms to last anywhere from 2-3 days to 2-3 weeks depending on the severity of their heroin addiction.

Heroin Withdrawal Effects and Coping modes: Helping Cope with the Withdrawal Symptoms of Heroin

Individuals who are coping with heroin withdrawal can benefit greatly from the care of treatment workers and professionals. Whether at a heroin detox center or a drug rehab program, these heroin addiction treatment experts know how to provide comfort and medical care that ensures the individual stays safe while getting rid of this dangerous drug.

Heroin Withdrawal Effects and Coping modes: Bad Heroin and Its Effects on Your Health

There is no doubt that there is no positive health effects derived from heroin use. In fact, heroin is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance and is not available by prescription or for medical use. Heroin is illegal, which means that heroin production and distribution is completely uncontrolled. Every bag you buy is completely different from the last because it is cut differently and has a different potency. This means that even the most seasoned heroin addicts end up in the hospital or dead due to heroin overdose. Doctor Akoury and her team of experts stands with the principle that heroin is bad from the beginning to end and that should also be your position.

Heroin Withdrawal Effects and Coping modes: Health Conditions Associated with Heroin

There are a number of bad health effects of heroin. Infectious, blood-borne diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C are especially common among those who are regularly injecting heroin using needles and share those needles with other users. Those who use needles intravenously also will experience collapsed veins and those who use intramuscularly are more likely to develop abscesses. Infections of the heart lining and valves is also a common issue among needle users, and even those who smoke or snort the drug open themselves up to kidney and liver failure and respiratory illnesses. The decreased defenses and overall health of a heroin addict means an increased rate of illnesses like pneumonia and permanent damage to vital organs.

Finally realizing that more deaths are being registered annually due to various kinds of addiction, Dr. Akoury made a decision to create a medical center whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. This is the place to be for the very best in your addiction recovery. Take that bold healthy step and schedule for that lifesaving appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today.

Heroin Withdrawal Effects and Coping modes: The Bad Effects to Health

Medications for Heroin and Pain Pill Addiction

May 5, 2015

Medications for Heroin and Pain Pill Addiction: Their Effectiveness and Side effects

Medications for Heroin and Pain Pill Addiction begins with detoxification.

The best way of handling substance abuse is primarily to prevent it from happening. Treatment cannot be an option if we all did the right things and prevented it from happening. But because of the short comings we have as a society, we have found ourselves with this problem and so we have to take the next appropriate cause of action. When one is already addicted to any drug, treatment must take place immediately. For this reason, we want to explore into this discussion some of the medications for heroin and pain pill addiction to help us restore our life back to normalcy. It is however important to note that when we are talking about treatment, everyone is involved. This is not something that is left to the medical professionals only. Family members, friends and relatives have a major role to play in the recovery process of their loved ones. Doctor Dalal Akoury is going to take us through some of the available medications for this purpose.

Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center a facility founded by doctor Akoury are in agreement that unlike in the past, today there are so many types of medications that are applicable to heroin addiction and other substance abuse. Such treatment options may including medications, behavioral therapies and support groups. We are privileged that there are very many health facilities across the globe that are professionally handling matters relating to addiction. However doctor Akoury says that when settling for one, you must seek for more information to establish whether your needs will be handled professionally and with great confidentiality.

Under normal circumstances treatment often begins with medically assisted detoxification, the reasons for this is to help patients withdraw from the drugs they are addicted to safely. Nonetheless it is important to note that detoxification alone is not enough treatment and has not been shown to be effective in preventing relapse. This is merely the starting point. Therefore after detoxification, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, marriage and family counseling or any other form of psychotherapy that fits the patient’s needs will follow. The next step would be procedures of reintegration into the society and most importantly is getting a lifestyle that is abstinent from heroin and any other drug for that matter says doctor Dalal Akoury.

Medications for Heroin and Pain Pill Addiction: Heroin Withdrawal

Ordinarily the withdrawal syndrome from heroin may begin within 6 to 24 hours of cessation of the drug; whereas this is the procedure, this time frame may fluctuate depending on the degree of tolerance and the quantity of the last dose of drugs consumed. This can be identified easily by the following symptoms: sweating, malaise, anxiety, depression, priapism, extra sensitivity of the genitals in females, general feeling of heaviness, cramp-like pains in the limbs, excessive yawning or sneezing, tears, sleep difficulties (insomnia), cold sweats, chills, severe muscle and bone aches, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, cramps and fever.

Besides those symptoms, many addicts also complain of a painful condition, commonly referred to as “itchy blood”, which often results in compulsive scratching that causes bruises and sometimes ruptures the skin, leaving scabs. Abrupt termination of heroin use often causes muscle spasms in the legs (restless leg syndrome). The intensity of the withdrawal syndrome is variable depending on the dosage of the drug used and the frequency of use. Very severe withdrawal can be precipitated by administering an opioid antagonist to a heroin addict.

Medications for Heroin and Pain Pill Addiction: Physical Opioid withdrawal

Three general approaches are available to ease the physical part of opioid withdrawal and they include the following:

The first is to substitute a longer acting opioid such as methadone or buprenorphine for heroin or occasionally another short acting opioid and then slowly taper the dose.

In the second approach, benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium) may be recommended for opiate withdrawal especially if there is comorbid alcohol withdrawal. Benzodiazepines may temporarily ease the anxiety, muscle spasms, and insomnia associated with opioid withdrawal.

The use of benzodiazepines must be carefully monitored because these drugs have a high risk of physical dependence as well as abuse potential and have little or no cross tolerance with opiates and thus are not generally recommended as a first line treatment strategy. Although heroin withdrawal is very unpleasant, it is rarely fatal.

Medications for Heroin and Pain Pill Addiction: Medications to Assist in Heroin Detox and Help Prevent Relapse

Methadone – this has been used for more than 30 years to treat heroin addiction. It is a synthetic opiate medication that binds to the same receptors as heroin; however, when taken orally, it has a gradual onset of action and sustained effects, reducing the desire for other opioid drugs while preventing withdrawal symptoms. Properly prescribed methadone is not intoxicating or sedating, and its effects do not interfere with ordinary daily activities. At the present time, methadone is only available through specialized opiate treatment programs. And like any other medication, it also has some side effects including the following: Drowsiness, weakness, nausea, constipation, headache and loss of appetite.

Buprenorphine – this medication was recently approved to be one of the options for heroin treatment including other substances as well. The difference between this and methadone is that it has lesser risk factors for overdose and withdrawal effects and most importantly, it can be prescribed in the privacy of a doctor’s office. Its side effects may include; Headaches, flu-like symptoms, dizziness, constipation, upset stomach, sleep problems.

Naltrexone – even though naltrexone is recommended for treating heroin addiction, it has not been widely utilized because of compliance issues. It is an opioid receptor blocker which has been confirmed to be effective in highly motivated patients. It should only be administered to patients who have gone through detoxification in order to prevent severe withdrawal symptoms. Its side effects may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, headache, dizziness.

Naloxone – this is a shorter acting opioid receptor blocker used to treat cases of overdose.

Finally when you are opting to using any of these medications, it will be very important that you consult with your doctor from time to time. Remember that prevention is very key in sustaining good health. Therefore you can talk to doctor Akoury today for professional guidance in handling medications for heroin and pain pill addictions in your life.

Medications for Heroin and Pain Pill Addiction: Their Effectiveness and Side effects

Effects of Heroin Addiction and Treatment

April 24, 2015

Effects of Heroin Addiction and Treatment: The Disturbing realities of Heroin

Effects of Heroin Addiction and Treatment are just a drop of what you should know about heroin addiction. Seek for more information for you to be on top of this problem

While discussing the topic how well do you know heroin addiction in our previous article, we listed four questions of concern and were only able to discuss the first one. We want to take time and discuss the remaining three in this article to appreciate the effects of heroin addiction and treatment. Again we are going to be relying on the expert opinions from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury’s care. Dr. Akoury is also the founder of the facility and has been in the medical practice for well over two decades making her to be one of the most experienced medical doctors when it comes to drug addiction and other areas of concern.

How Do I Know if I Have a Heroin Problem?

What is Heroin and how is it Used?
Effects of Heroin Use
Treatment for Heroin and Opiate Addiction

Effects of Heroin Addiction and Treatment: What is Heroin and how is it Used?

Heroin is an illegal, semi-synthetic drug processed from morphine, a substance extracted from the opium poppy. It is used as a recreational drug for the intense feelings of relaxation and euphoria it induces. Heroin is typically sold as a white or brownish powder or as a black, sticky substance known as “black tar heroin.” Most street heroin is “cut” with other drugs or with substances such as sugar or starch. Heroin can also be cut with poisons like strychnine.

Heroin is usually dissolved and injected, or the powder is snorted or smoked. All forms of heroin are psychologically and physically addictive, and a tolerance to the drug builds quickly. IV or intramuscular heroin use poses special problems because of the potential for transmitting infectious diseases. Over the past decade, researchers have observed a shift in heroin use patterns, from injection to snorting and smoking. With this shift comes an even more diverse group of users.

Effects of Heroin Addiction and Treatment: Effects of Heroin Use

Short-Term Effects: Soon after administration, heroin crosses the blood-brain barrier. Users report feelings a surge of intense pleasure (a “rush”). This is usually accompanied by a warm flushing of the skin, dry mouth, and a heavy feeling in the extremities. Nausea, vomiting, and severe itching may also occur. After the initial effects, the heroin user will typically be drowsy for several hours. Mental function is clouded by heroin’s effect on the central nervous system. Cardiac function slows. Breathing also slows sometimes to the point of death. The following are some of the short term heroin effects:

Euphoria
Depressed respiration
Flushed skin
Clouded mental functioning/sedation
Nausea and vomiting
Suppression of pain
Infectious diseases

Long-Term Effects: One of the most harmful long-term effects of heroin abuse is addiction itself. Addiction is a chronic disease, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite negative consequences, and by changes in the brain. Heroin also produces profound degrees of tolerance and physical dependence, which contributes heavily to abuse. Painful withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced abruptly. The following are some of the long term effects of heroin:

Addiction
Problems with the heart, liver and kidneys
Overdose Risk
Infectious diseases, for example, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis
Collapsed veins
Abscesses (at injection sites)
Arthritis and other rheumatological problems
Infection of heart lining and valves
Depressed lung function

Effects of Heroin Addiction and Treatment: Treatment for Heroin and Opiate Addiction

Detoxification/”Detox”: The primary objective of detoxification is to relieve withdrawal symptoms, stabilize participants and prepare them for longer-term treatment. Symptoms of withdrawal most of which peak between 24-48 hours after the last use include: restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps and uncontrollable leg movements. Medications like Subutex may be used to minimize withdrawal symptoms.

Residential Drug Rehab: this is a situation where residential treatment participants come to live in a safe, supervised setting for 30 days or more. Normally the intention of residential rehab is to create an environment where patients are able to remain focus to the assignment of recovering from their addiction. Some of the services offered may include drug education both individual and group counseling, family counseling and making referrals by way of making introduction to community-based self-help groups & referrals to community resources.

Therapeutic Communities: Research published by The National Institute On Drug Abuse states that one of the most effective drug-free treatments are the therapeutic community (TC) programs lasting 3 to 6 months. TC programs are residential, with participants and therapists living together. The program length gives participants the time they need to stabilize from their drug use and to develop new, healthy behaviors and support networks.

Outpatient Treatment: More intensive treatments may be followed by outpatient treatment regular structured therapeutic groups and individual counseling several days a week, usually for several months. Outpatient participants have stabilized in terms of their drug use, and are appropriate for a level of care that isn’t monitored or structured 24/7.

Community-Based Self-Help Groups: Group like Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous, along with non-12 step based programs, are designed to help addicts attain long-term abstinence. Group members gain new tools and support networks to deal with their addictions.

Maintenance Programs: Some heroin addicts do not find complete abstinence feasible. In these cases, a maintenance approach providing a small dose of medication so individuals can function without going into withdrawal is employed. The use of methadone, buprenorphine (Subutex) and levomethadyl has been found to most effective in the maintenance programs.

Finally the duty of managing heroin addiction must be done collectively and not to be left to the government authorities alone. All of us are affected and we all have a duty to perform. When doctor Akoury made the decision to form a medical center whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power, she was guided by this common fact of collective responsibility. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. This makes her one of the best professionals you can rely on with your addiction problem. You can reach her on call to schedule for an appointment with her for the commencement of your addiction treatment.

Effects of Heroin Addiction and Treatment: The Disturbing realities of Heroin

Heroin and Drug Abuse Management Options

April 23, 2015

Heroin and Drug Abuse Management Options: Why do people Abuse Drugs

Heroin and Drug Abuse Management Options goes beyond creating awareness. The rate of addiction and usage is escalating at an alarming rate

While addressing the importance of prevention of heroin overdose in the societies from our previous article which you can make reference to, we indicated that we will discuss with you some points you need to know about the impact of heroin overdose in our societies. This is what we want to focus on in this section primarily looking at the heroin and drug abuse management options available for us in the fight a against drug abuse. Doctor Dalal Akoury is going to educate us on what we need to know about this problem and the following are some of the points we want to discuss:

Majority of new users get to heroin as a result of addiction to prescription drugs.
Quitting heroin is the easy part the hard part is staying off.
The users trying to quit for good run the greatest risk of overdose.
We could stop people from dying of overdose, except we can’t find them.

Heroin and Drug Abuse Management Options: Majority of new users get to heroin as a result of addiction to prescription drugs

Heroin users like any other drug abuser are not really copying this practice from their favorite rock musicians. Currently the available statistics is estimating that about 80% of new heroin users are lured into the drug after becoming addicted to the prescription pain medication. Due to a new medical focus on treating pain alongside false advertising by pharmaceutical companies, opiate painkiller prescriptions exploded from 76 million in 1991 to 219 million in 2011. The translation of this is that almost one for every American adult. This necessitated the authorities to begin responding to the growing addiction and overdose by cracking down on prescription excess and fraudulent pill mills. With the intervention of the authorities, those patients who found themselves addicted when their prescriptions ran out of supply, resorted for the cheap accessible pills on the street. Many switched from $50 Oxycontin pills to $10 doses of heroin. That is why in my introduction I indicated that, it is essential that government agencies and medical professionals keep working together to reduce our reliance on opiate painkillers. Nevertheless since more opiate-addicted patients are cut off from their legal supply, many more will turn to heroin. It is time to address our society’s heroin problem.

Heroin and Drug Abuse Management Options: Quitting heroin is easy the hard part is staying off

A serious heroin user who misses a dose or two suffers the painful withdrawal like that of the story in our last article where the young boy had to be jailed. Worse than the physical symptoms are the debilitating depression and the knowledge that just one dose would make all the pains go away. In a few days, withdrawal ends but the cravings do not. Long-term heroin use causes users to hunger for heroin just in the same way we often hunger for food. Most users today have been through treatment multiple times, and only five to fifteen percent stay off for good. It is not a question of low self-control, cravings never ends, it may not show for a while but when triggered, it may not matter how long you have been off the drugs you are still able to relapse. Realistically people can relapse due to the loss of their jobs, problems with relationships. Besides these your success can also be a trigger for relapse. For instance if you have made great achievement in your business or profession, you may want to reward yourself with a single celebration that can lead to total relapse.

The society is not helping either. We often feel adamant in accepting the rehabilitated addicts or those who have served their jail terms. Take for example many organizations are not willing to absorb former convicts in job positions. Actually very few if will hire someone with a criminal record, especially for heroin. Just when users need help rebuilding a stable life, their criminal records cripple their job applications and bar them from college loans, assistance programs and professional licenses.

Heroin and Drug Abuse Management Options: The users trying to quit for good run the greatest risk of overdose.

Regular heroin users know how much of the drug their bodies can take. They increase their habit slowly, building up a high opiate tolerance. But when they quit, their bodies rapidly lose this tolerance. If they stay clean for a few weeks and then inject their usual dose, the dose may be fatal. If you followed the story of the young boy who only after two weeks of freedom from jail term, borrowing his friend’s car, his tolerance dropped enough that the usual dose killed him.

Others die from taking heroin with cocaine and alcohol, or from bad batches that the dealer mixed poorly or blended with toxic substances. Bad batches are par for the course, since the dealer’s only qualification as a pharmacist is his willingness to risk his life and the lives of others. But the most common reason for overdose is relapse use. In fact, studies show that people who die of heroin overdose actually have on average lower levels of heroin in their bodies than living users. This means that it is the people trying hardest to quit who are at the greatest risk of dying.

Heroin and Drug Abuse Management Options: We could stop people from dying of overdose, except we can’t find them

Many are surprised to learn that heroin overdose deaths are entirely preventable. Naloxone which is administered by injection or nasal spray reverses overdose within seconds by dislodging the drug from the brain’s opiate receptor sites. Naloxone is available in hospitals and carried by paramedics and some police officers. In a small number of cities, community-based overdose programs train users, family and friends to administer naloxone. Now the question that begs for an answer is “if we can stop heroin overdoses, why do they still claim the lives of our people daily?” this is possibly because users inject alone and in hiding. Any heroin user who attempted to ensure his or her safety by injecting in a hospital or near a policeman would be arrested. Even when users overdose around others, fellow users often hesitate to call 911. In 29 states, if a user calls 911 to save a friend from overdose, police can arrest those at the scene for drug possession. Naloxone has great potential to save lives, but the fear of arrest prevents it from realizing this potential.

Heroin and Drug Abuse Management Options: Why do people Abuse Drugs

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