Heroin is a highly addictive opioid drug. In 2021, about 1.1 million people in the United States over the age of 12 reported using heroin in the previous 12 months, and opioid deaths have risen significantly over the past decade.[1] 

One of the reasons heroin is so addictive is that it has a relatively short half-life, which measures how long a substance stays in the body. Understanding how long heroin stays in your body, how this drug works, and how to recognize symptoms of addiction can help you seek treatment if you need it. 

Reach out to the Moving Mountains Recovery team to learn more about heroin use disorder or to explore our holistic substance abuse treatment programs. 

What is Heroin?

Heroin is an opioid drug derived from morphine, which is a natural byproduct of certain poppy plants. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classifies heroin as a Schedule I drug, meaning it has a high potential for addiction and no approved medical uses.[2] It can be a white or brownish powder or a black sticky substance called black tar heroin.

People ingest heroin by snorting, injecting, or smoking it. Some users combine crack cocaine and heroin, which is commonly known as “speedballing.” 

The Effects of Heroin

Heroin binds to receptors in areas of the brain involved in pain relief, pleasure, and many autonomic functions like breathing, heart rate, and sleeping. Users typically experience a rush of pleasure and euphoria, followed by sedation. 

In addition to these pleasant short-term effects, other short-term side effects of heroin include:

• Dry mouth
• Flushed, warm skin
• Heaviness in the limbs
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Itching
• Cloudy thinking
• Losing consciousness–” nodding off”

People who use heroin frequently over a long time may develop long-term side effects, including:

• Insomnia
• Infection in the heart valves or lining
• Abscesses
• Damaged facial tissues and sinuses
• Constipation
• Stomach cramps
• Liver damage
• Kidney disease
• Depression
• Sexual dysfunction (men)
• Irregular menstrual cycles (women)
• Collapsed veins from injecting heroin

Drug traffickers often add other substances to heroin to increase profits. They may add sugars, starch, powdered milk, and other powders that can damage blood vessels and organs. They may also add other drugs, such as fentanyl, which is a potent opioid that is lethal in tiny doses. 

Heroin overdoses occur when people use too much heroin, leading to depressed breathing and lack of oxygen. A heroin overdose is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention. If someone near you has a heroin overdose, call 911. Administer Naloxone if you have it, and wait with the person until EMS arrives. 

How Does the Body Metabolize Heroin?

Heroin, once it enters the body, undergoes a complex process of metabolism. Initially, heroin is converted into morphine in the liver through a process called deacetylation. This metabolite, morphine, is the primary active substance responsible for the drug’s effects on the body. 

Once morphine is formed, it binds to opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the central nervous system, resulting in the characteristic pain relief and euphoria associated with heroin use. 

The body then further metabolizes morphine, breaking it down into various inactive compounds, which are eventually excreted primarily through the kidneys via urine.

Understanding How Long Heroin Stays in Your Body

The question of how long heroin stays in your body depends on what information you need. There are two ways to think about how long heroin stays in your body: how long drug tests can detect it, and how long you may experience withdrawal once you stop using it. 

The half-life (meaning how long it takes to break down half of the substance) of heroin is about 30 minutes, so it is a fairly fast-acting substance. Genetics, weight, method of ingestion, and other factors can affect the intensity and duration of its effects. However, the amount of time it takes for your body to eliminate it entirely and for you to stop feeling its effects can vary quite a bit.

Drug testing

There are several methods of drug testing with different levels of sensitivity.[3] 

• Urine tests can detect heroin for up to 3 days
• Saliva tests can detect heroin for up to 24 hours
• Blood tests can detect heroin for up to 3 days
• Hair follicle tests can detect heroin for up to 90 days

Urine tests are the most popular type of drug test. They may be used in employment, education, legal, and medical settings. Blood tests are only used in medical settings, usually to confirm intoxication or test for recent drug use. Saliva and hair tests are rarely used to screen for heroin, but they can detect it in the body.

Heroin withdrawal

When someone who regularly uses heroin stops, they’re likely to experience a range of uncomfortable withdrawal side effects, including:

• Chills
• Sweating
• Tremors
• Body aches
• Bone pain
• Muscle aches
• Anxiety
• Nausea 
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Intense cravings

Withdrawal symptoms can begin just 4-6 hours after your last dose of heroin and may continue until your body adjusts to functioning without heroin. Withdrawal symptoms are at their most intense for the first three days and then slowly taper off. However, some symptoms, like depression, insomnia, and cravings, can linger for three months or longer. 

Heroin Addiction

One of the most significant factors affecting how long heroin stays in your body is how much you use. Heroin is highly addictive, and people often develop tolerance to it quickly–meaning they need to use it in higher doses or more frequently to get the desired effects. The more heroin you use and the more frequently you use it, the longer it will stay in your system.

People who use heroin regularly can quickly develop an addiction to it. Addiction is defined as the loss of control over your substance use. People with heroin addiction will continue to use heroin even if it costs them their health, relationships, jobs, and more. 

People with heroin addiction need comprehensive, compassionate treatment that includes behavioral therapy, medications, education, and ongoing support. Without treatment, heroin addiction is likely to worsen and may quickly become life-threatening. 

Find Help Now

If you or someone you love requires treatment for heroin abuse or addiction, contact the Moving Mountains Recovery team now. Our holistic treatment programs are designed to nurture your body, mind, and spirit as you work to recover from addiction. Don’t wait for the help you need and deserve. Call us today to get started toward a healthier future.