However, one of the drug’s long-term effects is disrupting the brain’s ability to produce the natural feel-good endorphins that help fight depression. If you’re looking for compassionate, effective heroin rehab in Portland, Maine, call Liberty Bay Recovery at (855) 607-8758 today.

Self-Medication with Heroin

The human body’s opioid system regulates pain responses. All opioid drugs, whether they are prescription medication or illegal heroin, produce pleasurable sensations and dull the body’s natural response to pain.

A person in physical or mental pain can get almost immediate relief from the tranquilizing effects of heroin. Unfortunately, long-term self-medication leads to two major problems – heroin use disorder and diminished brain function.

The Connection Between Heroin and Depression

Using heroin and other opioids can cause depression and worsen an existing depression disorder. Research shows that people seeking treatment for heroin use disorder are up to four times more likely than people in the general population to be suffering from a major depressive disorder. This statistic begs the question: can using heroin cause depression, or does depression make you vulnerable to opioid use? It turns out both statements are true.

Each time a person who uses heroin injects the drug, the chemical imbalance inside their brain becomes more destabilized. With prolonged heroin use, white matter in the brain regions that regulate stress and decision-making begins to erode.

The physical dependence on heroin can cause depression to become severe. Once the brain becomes dependent on synthetic opioids, it becomes less and less able to produce its own. Once this happens, the person facing heroin addiction becomes stuck in a pain/reward cycle. With their body unable to manage pain responses naturally, the individual’s depression and entwined dependency on heroin grow more intense.

Withdrawal from Heroin and Depression

When a person with heroin use disorder attempts to quit using the drug, depression can push them back into active addiction. Depression is one of the many side effects of heroin withdrawal. Other symptoms include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sleep disturbances
• Flu-like symptoms
• Intense cravings
• Sweating
• Muscle pain
• Involuntary leg movement

In severe cases, withdrawal can lead to seizures or psychotic episodes. If a person is also struggling with depression or other mental health disorders, facing withdrawal alone can seem impossible.

The Need for Dual-Diagnosis Treatment

A large percentage of people who seek addiction treatment have a comorbid mental health disorder. In fact, the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that as many as 53% of people with substance use disorder receive an additional mental health diagnosis when they enter treatment.

In many cases, a client’s mental health issues were not diagnosed or treated correctly in the past, leading them to engage in self-medication with drugs or alcohol.

Dual-diagnosis treatment includes simultaneous treatment for addiction disorders and other mental health disorders. Depressive disorders are among the most common co-occurring mental health disorders. Treating heroin addiction without addressing depression or other mental illness issues would be incomplete.

Dual-diagnosis treatment allows clients to learn how to manage their mental health safely and break free of the drug dependence cycle.

Find Relief from Heroin Use Disorder at Liberty Bay Recovery

Liberty Bay Recovery understands that seeking treatment for opioid use disorder can be frightening and emotionally overwhelming. Our understanding, evidence-based approach to rehab provides the medical, psychiatric, and emotional support you need to recover from heroin addiction and manage your mental health.

Call Liberty Bay Recovery today at (855) 607-8758 for more information on our heroin rehab in Portland, Maine.

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In the short term, heroin can cause physical dependence, infections and injuries, and overdose. That’s frightening enough, but understanding the long-term effects of heroin is important, as well. If you are concerned about your heroin use and would like help, please contact Liberty Bay Recovery at (855) 607-8758 for information on heroin addiction treatment.

The Long-Term Effects of Heroin on the Body

Over time, heroin use can have devastating impacts on physical health and well-being. These are just a few common heroin side effects:

Liver Ailments

Sadly, heroin users frequently engage in behaviors that put them at risk for hepatitis B and C. That includes having unprotected sex and sharing needles with other users. If these conditions are left untreated, they can lead to fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, even liver cancer.

Collapsed Veins

Frequent IV drug use can cause permanent damage to veins. People who inject into their legs or feet can also suffer from chronic venous disorders, leading to ulcers in the veins. Additionally, when someone has collapsed veins, it can be challenging to deliver life-saving intravenous medications in an emergency or treat illness.

Heart Damage

Street heroin often contains toxic materials that can clog blood vessels leading to the heart. Additionally, infections that may start at injection sites can travel through the body to the heart. That can lead to endocarditis, which is potentially lethal and often results in permanent cardiac damage.

HIV and Aids

People who suffer from heroin use disorder are more likely to contract blood-borne illnesses such as HIV and AIDS.

Digestive Issues

One of the most common long-term effects of heroin on digestion is chronic constipation. Users may also suffer from intestinal bleeding and ongoing stomach pain.

Skin Infections And Scars

Often, those who suffer from heroin use disorder may use syringes that are old or unclean. They often use unsanitary water sources or other liquids for dissolving or “cooking” heroin for consumption. That often leads to skin infections. These can be pretty severe. Infections like these can travel to other organs and also lead to unsightly scars.

Social and Emotional Heroin Side Effects

It would be neglectful to talk about the long-term effects of heroin without addressing the psychosocial impacts of using this substance. Even if someone with substance use disorder manages to avoid any physical impacts, they are very likely to struggle with at least one of the following:

Trauma

Substance use disorder is a life-threatening, chronic illness. That alone is traumatic. In addition to that, those who use heroin are more likely to experience other traumas such as sexual assault, trafficking, arrest, incarceration, and abuse.

Shame

Shame is frequently felt by those who are actively using and who are in recovery. Many feel ashamed; they feel as if they have allowed themselves to become addicted. Others struggle with the shame of poor decisions and regrettable behaviors.

Poverty

The stress and trauma of poverty can increase the risk of substance use disorder. Sadly, once someone is amid this illness, they often suffer from devastating financial impacts. In many cases, they struggle to maintain employment, and the financial resources they do have are used to avoid withdrawal-related sickness.

All of this can lead to long-term poverty, which can be aggravated by the cost of medical treatments, legal issues, and employment difficulties. Consider the following addiction treatment programs if you are struggling with heroin addiction:

• Residential treatment
• Partial hospitalization
• Intensive outpatient

Heroin Addiction Treatment at Liberty Bay Recovery

Even if you are a long-term user, help is available to you. It is possible to recover and live a happy, healthy life. Call Liberty Bay Recovery at (855) 607-8758, and we can show you the way.

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Heroin overdose is a leading cause of death in America today. Due to the rapid increase of opioid use, the rate of deaths due to drug overdose has increased exponentially. Opioid medications have become easier to obtain over the years, and many patients who no longer need their medications turn to heroin to achieve similar effects.

Liberty Bay Recovery provides clients with a motivating, supportive community to help begin the recovery journey. If you or a loved one needs help for heroin overdose symptoms, learn more by calling one of our addiction specialists at (855) 607-8758.

What Are the Common Heroin Overdose Symptoms?

If you know someone who has struggled with heroin or opioid addiction or have experienced it yourself, you likely have an idea of what the typical signs of an overdose might look like. Most overdoses are nonfatal, which means that a full or at least partial recovery is almost always possible. However, fatal overdoses can also occur among opioid and heroin users, especially with a long history of addiction.

Though there are many distinctive symptoms to look out for to catch a heroin overdose early, one of the first things to check is the breathing status of the person who may be overdosing. If breathing has significantly reduced or stopped, an overdose is likely occurring. Aside from a clear lack of breathing, some of the early symptoms of affected breathing due to a heroin overdose include:

• Pale and cold skin
• Blue tinted fingertips or lips
• Shallow breathing or gasping for breath

Though the breathing patterns of the victim can be very telling in identifying an overdose, there are a few other specific symptoms to look out for that also point to an overdose. Some of these include:

• Vomiting or nausea
• Seizure
• Inability to remain awake
• Weakened pulse or lowered blood pressure
• Strange behavior or disorientation

It’s extremely important to note heroin overdose symptoms or any similar symptoms, as it could mean the difference between a fatal and nonfatal overdose. Generally, the effects of a heroin or opioid overdose will begin to show themselves as soon as 10 minutes after the victim has received the dose. 

Options for Heroin Addiction Treatment

If you think that you or someone you love may be experiencing an overdose, the first step to take is to call an ambulance and get help for the victim right away. Emergency care providers will administer life-saving tactics such as naloxone, IV fluids, or induced vomiting and then determine what extent of treatment is necessary moving forward. Plus, most states offer protection under the law to those that seek emergency medical help no matter the legality of the substance.

Once the emergency has passed and the victim’s state has been determined as stable, you may want to consider heroin addiction treatment for yourself or your loved one. In many cases, completely dedicating your attention to recovering from addiction is the best way to ensure success and prevent relapse. Consider the following programs:

• Inpatient treatment
• Detox center
• Outpatient treatment

Residential Detox Treatment at Liberty Bay Recovery Center

You don’t have to face your heroin addiction alone. At Liberty Bay Recovery in Portland, Maine, you’ll have full access to various residential, partial hospitalization program, and outpatient programs to fit your exact needs. Learn more about heroin addiction treatment by calling (855) 607-8758 to speak to a Liberty Bay Recovery specialist or contact us using the online form.

The post Getting Help for Heroin Overdose Symptoms appeared first on Liberty Bay Recovery Center.

What Is Fentanyl?

Natural opiate drugs come from the poppy plant. Doctors use these drugs routinely to relieve pain and manage a number of medical conditions. Synthetic opioids produced in laboratories from chemicals mimic the effects of natural opioids. Synthetic drugs produce stronger effects than their natural counterparts. Like other opioid drugs, fentanyl contains addictive components that people abuse to get high. Addiction produces the need to use increasing amounts of the drug to achieve the same amount of high. Large amounts of these drugs can lead to respiratory suppression, unconsciousness and death. Substance abuse treatment stops the addiction and helps the individual learn new ways of coping with negative emotions and situations.

What Is Fentanyl Used For?

When produced legally, fentanyl effectively manages severe pain from cancer and other conditions. Doctors prescribe fentanyl as an injection, patch, or oral lozenge. Illegal producers of fentanyl make it into a powdered form that can be put on blotter paper. Sometimes, they put it into eyedroppers or nasal spray. They also form it into pills. Dealers may mix crushed fentanyl with heroin, methamphetamine and MDMA to increase the “high” they experience. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl side effects increase the risk of overdose. The answer to the question about what is fentanyl used for is to increase the chances of becoming addicted.

Side Effects of Fentanyl

Like other opioid drugs, fentanyl side effects from ingestion produce extreme happiness, sedation, confusion and drowsiness. Excessive amounts cause nausea, constipation, breathing problems and unconsciousness. Because of the pleasurable effects of fentanyl, people often become physically addicted to it. When individuals purchase opioid drugs on the street, they never know what strength of the drug they receive.

Treatment For Fentanyl Addiction

Effective treatment breaks the cycle of addiction so that individuals can regain their ability to conduct their lives normally. The programs used to treat other opioid drugs also help those addicted to fentanyl. First, the patient must detox, which eliminates the drug from the bloodstream. However, opioid addiction causes changes to the brain. These keep the person craving more of these drugs for a long time after detoxification. A variety of treatment methods re-train the brain to resist the effects of addiction. An effective treatment program uses management of existent mental health problems. It uses cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. It also employs 12-step meetings, individual counseling, group counseling, yoga, family therapy and motivational therapy. Aftercare improves the odds for a lasting recovery. It provides tools to manage the stresses of daily life after addiction, with practical techniques to prevent relapse.

Our addiction treatment specialists perform a thorough assessment. This determines mental health or other issues that contribute to substance abuse problems. They then design a treatment plan for your needs, to provide a workable pathway for sustainable recovery. Carefully designed programs help people return to productive careers and positive family lives. You or someone close to you may suffer from addiction to opioid drugs. This exposes them to the risk of fentanyl overdose. If so, call Liberty Bay Recovery, a Portland, Maine, synthetic drug rehab facility, today at (855) 607-8758. You can learn about treatment that brings sanity and safety back to life.

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#1: You’re Only an Addict if You Destroy Your Life

When people picture addiction, they tend to imagine a person destroying all their relationships, destroying their health, and eventually becoming homeless. However, functional addiction is actually quite common. These people may work, attend school, maintain relationships, and live what appears to be a perfectly normal life, but they feel like they need to take drugs or abuse alcohol on a daily basis to remain functional. This type of addiction might not seem like an issue, but over time, it can have very dangerous effects. Ignoring addictions that are not immediately life-shattering can end up making your addiction more entrenched.

#2: You Can Fight Addiction by “Quitting Cold Turkey” Alone

For most people, drug addiction treatment is not a one-time event. It is extremely common for people to think they have overcome their addiction and then end up relapsing and needing drug addiction treatment in Portland, ME. This should not be a cause for concern or shame. Instead, it is perfectly normal for recovery to be a multi-step process. In fact, trying to go cold turkey by yourself can be counterproductive. Some drug withdrawals are physically dangerous, and trying to just stop on your own prevents you from accessing helpful tools like therapy and medically managed withdrawal.

#3: There is One Perfect Way of Managing Addiction

When you have a substance abuse problem and you decide to get help, you may struggle with trying to find the perfect program. Some treatments like inpatient recovery may have higher success rates than outpatient addiction treatment programs. This just means, however, that the average person has a higher chance of success. You are a unique person with your own individualized circumstances, so you may find that you benefit from an uncommon treatment like trauma therapy. Do not be afraid to try different treatments. It is important to see what works for your own needs.

#4: You Only Need to Worry About Addiction With “Hard” Drugs

Many people think they do not have to worry about addiction as long as they are not dabbling with stereotypically dangerous drugs. Illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines are highly addictive, but they are not the only problem. In fact, the most common cause of addiction is alcohol, a drug that is legal in most countries. Prescription pills prescribed by doctors, medications like Adderall, and herbal substances can all lead to addiction too. So, it is actually very common to need things like marijuana addiction treatment.

#5: Addicts Are Just Too Weak to Stop Using Drugs

Many people are frustrated during recovery because common myths about drugs have them convinced they should simply fight off their addiction through willpower. The reality is that overcoming addiction is not as simple as just stopping drug use. When you use a highly addictive substance, your brain undergoes physical changes that make you crave the drug. Many people with addictions also struggle with mental health disorders that make it even harder to stop the drug abuse. These very real issues make addiction a disease, so one’s ability to quit using drugs says nothing about your personality, character, or moral strength.

Overcome Myths About Drugs

You’ve probably heard many drug misconceptions. However, you should not let these false ideas keep you from seeking help. At Liberty Bay Recovery, we provide our Portland, ME, patients with a variety of detox, withdrawal management, inpatient rehab, and outpatient rehab services that can help them break the cycle of addiction. Call (855) 607-8758 to start on the path to sobriety today.

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This is true whether you are a first-time heroin user or someone who has struggled with heroin addiction for a long time. People often feel that they can control their addiction by using their own “weights and measurements” for a drug and figuring how much it takes to get them high. Unfortunately, this does not hold true. Trying to judge how much heroin to put in your body can possibly end your life.

The Popular “Go-To” Drug

Heroin is the go-to drug for many people all over the world. A number of people find themselves turning to heroin after they have used prescription opioids and those opioids are no longer available or are not achieving the desired result. Pure heroin is usually not the culprit when it comes to an overdose. The culprit is usually what the heroin is mixed with to stretch the product. The question shouldn’t be how much heroin results in an overdose. The question should be: what is the heroin mixed with and how will it affect you?

Where Does Heroin Come From?

Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid drug made from morphine, which is a natural substance made from the seedpod of the opium poppy plant. Dealers receive a small amount of pure heroin and then mix or “cut” the product with whatever is available. Some of the additives to heroin can range anywhere from baby aspirin to fentanyl. Any time you ingest an unknown chemical substance, the health risk can be dire. Not only do you not know what your heroin is mixed with, but you also don’t know how much pure heroin you are getting. Also, there is no guarantee that the heroin isn’t mixed with something that you could be allergic to.

How Much Heroin Does It Take to Overdose?

Overdose can occur the first time you use heroin, or it can occur even if you are a seasoned user. There is no way of telling how your body will react. When people think of heroin overdose, they automatically think of death. That is not always true. What happens to your body when you overdose on heroin?

Any of the following symptoms can indicate an overdose:

• A slowed heart rate
• Slower breathing
• A slower pulse
• Muscle spasms
• Seizures
• Death

None of that sounds remotely appealing, does it? But when you are addicted, those thoughts become unimportant. How much does it take to overdose now becomes, how do I find help?

Finding the Help You Need

Finding a heroin addiction treatment center in Portland, Maine, that is ready to start the treatment journey with you shouldn’t be a humiliating experience. No matter what you have gone through or where you are in your struggle, you deserve to be treated with respect. When reaching out for help, you can count on us to treat you in a manner that boasts respect. If you or your loved one is ready to start the treatment journey, call Liberty Bay Recovery today at (855) 607-8758 to learn about our treatment options.

The post How Much Heroin Does It Take to Overdose? appeared first on Liberty Bay Recovery Center.

While the idea of quitting heroin cold turkey may seem like a noble one, it can also be highly dangerous. For this reason, you should consider checking into a heroin detox center in Portland, Maine before you start your detox. If you have been on heroin for a long time, your body will go through some severe withdrawal symptoms that you may not be able to handle on your own. So, why can’t you quit heroin cold turkey?

What You Can Expect When You Quit Heroin Cold Turkey

When your body goes through detoxification, it is simultaneously readjusting to functioning without heroin and ridding itself of the toxins at the same time. This can create a series of psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms that take over your body.

Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include:

• Anxiety or feeling restless and agitated
• Flu or fever-like symptoms such as fatigue, headache, sweating or cold chills, nausea, and vomiting
• Runny nose, watery eyes, and feeling achy all over your body
• Drastic mood changes and delusion including severe depression
• Uncontrollable cravings that govern your thoughts and being

How long do these symptoms last? For most people, they last anywhere from two days to several weeks. How long your symptoms last depends on the severity of your addiction, how you consumed heroin, and how long you were on the drug. They also depend on if you were taking other drugs or drinking alcohol regularly. This usually leads to a need for a heroin addiction rehab center.

Here’s What to do if You Quit Cold Turkey

For medical reasons and your safety, you need to enter a heroin detox center under the supervision of treatment professionals if you are going to try to quit cold turkey. There are some symptoms or a combination of symptoms that can be life-threatening. A specialist can monitor your symptoms, offer medication, or other treatment to help you, and provide encouragement so that you keep going.

Plan to be in detox for several days as your body begins the slow process of healing itself. You need to know in advance that there is nothing easy about detox. However, once you get past this initial phase of recovery, then you are more likely to complete your treatment in rehab or aftercare. The good news is that you do not have to face this alone.

Start Your New Life Free from Heroin Addiction

If you are ready to take the first step toward recovery from heroin addiction, then Liberty Bay can help. We offer 24/7 detox monitoring, treatment, and support if you decide to quit heroin cold turkey. To find out more about our heroin addiction treatment services, call us today at (855) 607-8758. You can break the cycle of addiction with Liberty Bay.

The post Why You Can’t Quit Heroin Cold Turkey appeared first on Liberty Bay Recovery Center.

Opioid Epidemic Map

Many overdoses happen due to relapse after a period of sobriety that lowers tolerance levels.  It can also take place if it’s your very first time.  The mix of specific drugs can trigger a toxic reaction or the strength of the opiate in general.  Maybe the individual has cardiac issues they may not even be aware of. Whatever the case, it’s real and it’s frightening. These overdoses and death are not limited to heroin use. Other drugs, such a prescription medication can be just as lethal.

Opioid Epidemic Statistics

The upward trend in opiate addiction in the New England area is perpetuated by several contributing factors.  The most prevalent being its deliverance from New York along with the vast highway systems.  New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Maine are connected and intertwined with 3 highways.  Much distribution takes place in states like Massachusetts due to lower penalties for trafficking compared to more northern states.  Seaports are also used in the trafficking of illegal substances. If the drugs come into New York, they are distributed to rural areas of Massachusetts, and dealers from Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire make the drive to pick up what they want to distribute in their home states.

Although prescription opiate use has fallen while heroin use on the rise, national studies show that its use is a direct gateway to heroin. According to the American Society for Addiction Medicine, “four out of five new heroin users were first addicted to prescription opioids”.  The fact of the matter is heroin is cheaper and easier to obtain than prescription painkillers.

In 2017, West Virginia remained at the top of the list of opioid-involved overdose deaths, with 49.6 per every 100,000 persons. Out of the states that had data collected, Hawaii sits at the bottom with 3.4, possibly because it’s a hard state to supply to. Regardless, the data shows that the opioid epidemic has impacted virtually every state, with seven of the states having greater than 27.8 deaths per every 100,000 persons.

Free Yourself from the Opioid Heroin Epidemic

No matter with which opiate it starts, or how it continues, if are addicted to, or abuse opiates you are at risk.  It’s imperative that you seek help, by reaching out and getting opioid addiction treatment in Portland, Maine. Ultimately this can mean saving a life.

If you or a loved one is battling addiction and needs help, it’s only a phone call away. 

Please reach out with any questions: (855) 607-8758  A great resource for navigating the hows and whys of drug addiction treatment can be found here:  https://nida.nih.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/principles-effective-treatment

Chloe Arreola, Liberty Bay Staff

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