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In 2022, heroin treatment options are no longer a choice, but a necessity. New research shows that using heroin not only leads to the risk of overdoses. Additionally, heroin use also leads to long-term heart damage and the risk of death by heart attack. Given the risks, heroin treatment options need to be a priority.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 902,000 people over the age of 12 reported using heroin in the past 12 months. Moreover, thousands died from overdoses where heroin was a main contributing factor. However, what many of these people do not know is the additional damage being done. According to the latest medical information, heroin use damages the heart and other organs in the human body over time.

2022 Heroin Treatment Options = A Necessity

As a central nervous system depressant, heroin binds to the opioid receptors in the brain. The opioid receptors control the release of endorphins, otherwise known as one of “the feel-good” chemicals in the brain. A product of the human nervous system, these chemicals help people cope with pain or stress. By producing pleasurable feelings, they reduce the pain or stress response in the human body.

People with opioid use disorder take heroin to ramp up the production of endorphins and enhance feelings of pleasure and escape. As a provider of integrated healthcare treatment for substance use disorders (SUD), Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) treats people suffering from opioid use disorder. Hence, we see the damage done by this illegal street drug firsthand and the power it has over users. Once heroin has a person in its grips, it is a hard drug to overcome on one’s own. Indeed, professional recovery services often are a necessity. Therefore, in 2022, heroin treatment options truly are a necessity for people in trouble.

Raising Awareness about Heart Damage and Opioid Use

One way to help people is to raise awareness about how heroin use damages the heart. Since heroin use affects the cardiovascular system, continued abuse of the drug often leads to an array of heart problems. Disrupting the normal rhythms of a person’s heartbeat, using heroin puts a person at higher risk of cardiac arrhythmia, heart block, and atrial fibrillation.

Moreover, heroin use commonly results in people experiencing Bradycardia. Although the term is unknown to most people, Bradycardia is a heart rate that falls below 60 beats per minute. A common symptom of chronic heroin use, Bradycardia greatly raises the risk of damaging heart events. With the slowing down of the heart rate, the heart becomes unable to function properly. Thus, when faced with a greater demand for action, the heart often fails to respond.

A research study in 2018 came up with the following conclusions: “Opium-consumers are at higher risk of supraventricular arrhythmias, sinus bradycardia, cardiac block, and atrial fibrillation.” It is like a menu of negative cardiac events. Although the study was focused on opium, the same conclusions are true for heroin and other opioids, including prescription painkillers. Given such risks, people need to know that heroin treatment options are available.

The Availability of Heroin Treatment Options

What Tarzana Treatment Centers wants to convey to people in trouble is that heroin treatment options are available. With a focus on helping underserved communities, TTC tries to provide heroin treatment options to as many people as possible. Given the risks, making the choice to reach out for help makes a lot of sense. If you need help, please contact us today.