Heroin is a powerfully addictive illicit opiate. People who use heroin can quickly develop an addiction to it. It can be very challenging to overcome heroin addiction, but treatment and continuing support can help.

Heroin users are at significant risk of a life-threatening overdose. Over 7% of all opioid overdose deaths in 2022 involved heroin. It is essential to recognize the signs of an overdose and take action immediately. 

This article will explore how to recognize and treat a heroin overdose. You will learn:

• The effects and risks of heroin
• The signs of heroin overdose
• How to treat an overdose
• Where to find comprehensive treatment programs

If you or someone you love abuse heroin, you must seek treatment as quickly as possible. Reach out to the specialists at Moving Mountains Recovery to learn about our holistic addiction treatment programs. You may also contact us with questions or to find support at any stage of your recovery journey. 

Contact our intake team to learn about our programs, verify insurance, or schedule an appointment. 

What is Heroin?

Heroin is an illicit synthetic opioid. It is derived from morphine, which is a product of poppy plants. The most common form of heroin is a whitish or brownish powder. Dealers sometimes combine or “cut” heroin with other substances to bulk it up and make more money. They may add things like starch, powdered sugar, and other similar-looking substances. 

Heroin users may heat and inject heroin, smoke it, or snort it. Each method of using heroin has its own risks. People may quickly develop a dependence on heroin, no matter how they use it. 

The Effects and Risks of Heroin Abuse

Heroin is highly addictive. People may abuse heroin for a range of reasons. Some may begin using this drug after experimenting with others, or some may abuse heroin after developing an addiction to prescription opioids. 

Heroin enters the bloodstream and reaches the brain quickly. It binds to the brain’s opioid receptors, causing a flood of dopamine (a neurotransmitter involved in pleasure and reward). Users typically experience a rush of euphoria, warmth, sedation, and pain relief. 

These pleasurable effects can make people want to use heroin more. In a short period, people can develop tolerance, meaning they need to use larger or more frequent doses to get the desirable effects. 

Tolerance and dependence can occur very quickly. People may begin to use larger and larger doses, putting them at risk of an overdose. 

What is a Heroin Overdose?

An overdose of heroin can occur when someone takes a dose of heroin that overwhelms their system. This can lead to opioid toxicity, which can be fatal without immediate emergency medical treatment. 

An overdose of heroin impacts how the brain regulates breathing. It can lead to dangerous respiratory depression, which may result in a lack of oxygen in the brain. Without emergency treatment to reverse the effects of opioids, people can die.

Research shows that opioid overdose deaths decreased in the United States between 2019 and 2020. However, heroin is involved in a significant percentage of drug overdose deaths in the United States. 

Research from 2020 showed that heroin was a factor in nearly 1 in 5 drug overdose deaths involving opioids. The number of drug overdose deaths involving heroin was over 13,000.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), opioid-related deaths rose from 49,860 to 81,806 in 2022. Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are involved in many of these deaths.

People may develop an addiction to heroin after using opioid prescription drugs. People without a history of addiction or other risk factors can become addicted to their prescription drugs. Long-term opioid drug use is more likely to cause dependence, but people may develop addiction after using these drugs for even a short time.

It is crucial to understand the risk of opioid addiction and know the signs of an overdose. 

The Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Overdose

Medical professionals have determined some of the most common effects of a heroin overdose, which include:

• Decreased consciousness
• Constricted (pinpoint) pupils
• Respiratory depression (slow, shallow breathing)

People may also exhibit other symptoms, including:

• Choking or gurgling sounds
• Labored or shallow breathing
• Low blood pressure
• Stopped breathing
• Uncontrolled vomiting
• Limp body or limbs
• Slow pulse
• Pale, blue, or clammy skin
• Extreme drowsiness

Anyone who uses heroin is at risk of an overdose. There are some risk factors that can increase the likelihood someone will have an overdose. These include:

• People with severe mental health or medical conditions, including HIV, depression, and breathing issues
• People who use heroin after a period of sobriety
• Combining heroin and other substances
• People between the ages of 25 and 40
• Those with a history of drug overdose
• People who inject heroin

An opioid overdose is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate intervention. 

How to Treat a Heroin Overdose

Knowing the signs of an overdose can help you get life-saving emergency health care. Here are steps you can take if you believe someone near you is experiencing an overdose.

1. Call 911 immediately. 
2. Administer naloxone (Narcan). This nasal spray can block the effects of opioids. You may need to give the person more than one dose.
3. If the person is awake, talk to them to keep them awake.
4. If the person is unconscious, put the person into the recovery position, if possible. This will prevent them from choking if they vomit.
5. Wait with the person until EMS arrives. 

Treatment for an overdose may include breathing support, bloodwork, and other interventions. It is also important that people who have had an overdose get comprehensive addiction treatment. Treatment and ongoing support can help people maintain abstinence from heroin and other addictive substances. 

Find Treatment Now

If you or someone you love struggles with heroin abuse or addiction, you are not alone. Contact the intake team at Moving Mountains Recovery to learn about our programs or schedule an intake appointment.