While some habits take a certain amount of repetition before being formed, the habit of doing heroin can happen soon after the first time you try it.
That is how addictive this drug is, which is why it is crucial to steer clear of it in order to avoid developing a potentially deadly habit.
Though it is unlikely that you will develop a full-blown addiction after just one hit of heroin, you can definitely start down a very short path to addiction by trying it just once. That first hit will likely become the start of something much darker. In fact, almost one-quarter of people who try heroin become addicted, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). There is definitely a strong link between heroin and addiction.
What Makes Heroin So Addictive?
The reason why you can become addicted to heroin so quickly is because of the feelings of euphoria that are immediately felt after taking it. Such feelings leave users wanting more as the high eventually wears off. These intense feelings of need often lead to addiction.
Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid that generates similar effects as opium. When you take heroin – either by injecting, snorting, or smoking it – dopamine is released in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that creates feelings of pleasure, and once your brain gets used to that highly pleasurable feeling that rushes in after each hit of heroin, you will crave the drug more and more.
It does not take long to develop a psychological need for heroin that is much stronger than your ability to control your drug use. The idea that addicts simply have weak willpower is absolutely false. Heroin becomes the controller, not you.
Heroin addiction is much more than a behavioral issue that can be controlled by the user. Instead, addiction arises because of actual physiological changes that occur in the brain. Studies suggest that heroin affects important parts of the brain so strongly and intensely that addiction is almost inevitable after even just a few hits. Once you are hooked, your best chance of recovery is to seek treatment in Ohio drug rehab.
Where Can You Get Help For Heroin Addiction?
If you suffer from a heroin addiction, it is important to seek help in Ohio drug rehab as soon as possible. Every minute spent in addiction can make it harder to come out of this seemingly hopeless abyss. It is simply not enough to decide that you want to stop. The disease is bigger than you and is not something that you can make a conscious effort to control on your own.
Changes have been made in your brain after repetitive use of heroin, so it is nearly impossible to treat your addiction on your own. Even the strongest-minded people are often unable to kick the habit by themselves. What you need is specialized medical treatment led by doctors and addiction specialists who are experienced and trained in helping addicts to overcome their substance use disorders.
Medically-centered Ohio drug rehab programs can help you wean off of heroin and alleviate the negative symptoms associated with withdrawal. With proper medication and opioid replacement therapy, you can safely weaken your dependence on heroin and get started on a path to full recovery and optimal emotional and physical health.
Treatment is available, and it is accessible for you. Contact us today to learn more!
The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.