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Heroin Addiction Research Paper

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Heroin Addiction Research Paper
The Ugly Truth Behind Heroin Addiction
Tiffany Lawrence
Liberty University

Abstract
This paper is to bring awareness to the addiction of heroin. It discusses the illegal, and highly addictive drug that is currently most abused most rapidly acting of the opiates. The immediate effects of heroin use, how rapid the dug enters the brain and binds to the opioid receptors will also be discussed. Heroin is very addictive because it enters the brain hastily. The abuser will show signs of drowsiness for several hours and their mental function is impaired due to heroin’s influence on the central nervous system. The most damaging long-term effect of heroin addiction is definitely the addiction itself. Heroin addiction is chronic, and …show more content…
Just like so many other drugs, there are signs when it comes to the use of heroin. Shortness of breath, dry mouth, constricted pupils, sudden changes in behavior or actions, disorientation, cycles of hyper alertness followed by suddenly nodding off and droopy appearance, as if extremities are heavy ("Heroin," 1995-2014). The signs of heroin addiction differ from heroin use. The possession of needles or syringes that are not being used for medical purposes, burned silver spoons, aluminum foil or gum wrappers with burn marks, missing shoelaces which are used to tie arm off for injection site, straws with burn marks, small plastic bags with white powdery residue or pipes ("Heroin," 1995-2014). There are also behavioral signs of heroin addiction such as deceptive behavior, distant field of vision, increase slurred or incoherent speech, declining performance in school or work, lack of interests in hobbies and favorite activities, hostile behaviors toward loved ones, constantly stealing or borrowing money from loved ones, withdrawal from friends and family, a tremendous increase in the time spent sleeping, and wearing clothes to cover needle marks despite the weather ("Heroin," …show more content…
“Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, and by neurochemical and molecular changes in the brain” ("Heroin," 1995-2014). Just like any other type of abuser, heroin abusers spend more and more of their time and energy into obtaining and using the drug (Doweiko, 2014). Once they are addicted, their whole purpose in life is finding a way to get their next “rush/high” and at this point it is by any means. At this stage with the amount of heroin usage and the frequency of use the brain is changing drastically. Other side effects based on long-term use of heroin are infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, bacterial infections, abscesses, infection of heart lining and valves, arthritis and even collapse veins ("Heroin,"
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