Heroin overdose is a life-threatening emergency that happens when the body cannot safely metabolize the amount of heroin ingested. Like all opioids, heroin can suppress the central nervous system (CNS) and lead to respiratory depression. However, the risk of heroin overdose is even higher than that of other opioids because this drug is illicit and, therefore, not regulated.
This article will explain what causes a heroin overdose, how to recognize it, and, most importantly, how to prevent it from happening in the first place.
What Is Heroin?
Heroin (diamorphine or diacetylmorphine) is a highly potent and addictive Schedule I opioid. Unlike many other opioids, this semi-synthetic morphine derivative hasn’t been FDA-approved for medical use and cannot be obtained legally. Any use of it, therefore, constitutes opioid abuse.
Also known as H, Brown Sugar, China White, and Dope, among other names, heroin is a street drug that can be smoked, snorted, or injected. It comes as a powder, tar-like substance, or granules, and its color ranges from off-white to dark brown.
Once consumed, heroin rapidly binds to the opioid receptors in the CNS and exerts intense but short-lasting euphoric and relaxing effects.
Injecting heroin is extremely dangerous because it makes users vulnerable to vein damage and bloodborne diseases like HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, it causes the drug to enter the bloodstream directly, leading to even more intense effects and increasing the risk of a potentially fatal heroin overdose.
Heroin Usage in the US
Here are some insightful statistics on heroin use and overdoses in the United States:
- Close to 80% of heroin users have previously engaged in non-medical prescription pain reliever use.
- Between 1999 and 2019, heroin overdose rates increased by more than 600%.
- The rates of heroin overdoses have been steadily decreasing since roughly 2021 as fentanyl overdoses continue to claim the lives of tens of thousands of Americans each year. Nonetheless, between 2014 and 2023 alone, over 116,000 Americans have lost the battle to a heroin overdose.
- In Maryland, 64% of overdose deaths between 2016 and 2018 involved fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, a perilous polysubstance cocktail.
Can You Overdose on Heroin?
You can overdose on heroin, even if you use it in small amounts. A potentially lethal heroin overdose is one of the main risks of using this drug.
The amount leading to a heroin overdose largely depends on your tolerance; people with no opioid tolerance overdose at lower doses than those with a high opioid tolerance.
Nonetheless, even those who have built up a tolerance to heroin risk overdosing on it each time they use it. As a street drug, heroin isn’t regulated; therefore, its purity and potency may vary widely, making it impossible to consume it safely.
To enhance potency and lower costs, it is often sold mixed with other substances, such as fentanyl, which you may not be aware of. It’s also not uncommon for people to deliberately use heroin with other drugs in an attempt to amplify or prolong its effects. For example, some people combine heroin with stimulants like cocaine, which is known as speedballing.
Mixing it with other substances, whether intentionally or not, elevates the risk of heroin overdose even more. Since heroin is highly addictive and any amount of it can be lethal, it’s best to avoid this dangerous drug altogether.
Heroin Overdose Signs and Symptoms
Here are the tell-tale signs and symptoms of a heroin overdose you shouldn’t ignore:
- Vomiting
- Limp body
- Pinpoint pupils
- Severe confusion
- Slowed heart rate
- Unresponsiveness
- Extreme drowsiness
- Slowed, shallow breathing
- Choking or gurgling sounds
- Cold, clammy, discolored skin
- Discolored lips and fingernails
- Fading in and out of consciousness or loss of consciousness
If you notice any possible signs of a heroin overdose, seek medical assistance immediately to reduce the risk of death; prompt medical intervention is key to surviving a heroin overdose. It also decreases the risk of lifelong complications, such as brain injury.
If someone around you seems to have fallen asleep but has trouble breathing or is making unusual sounds after using heroin, check up on them. If you suspect an overdose, call 911 immediately, even if you aren’t 100% sure. Since a heroin overdose can be fatal, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Risk Factors Leading to Heroin Overdose
The main risk factors leading to a heroin overdose include heroin use, relapse, and mixing heroin with other substances.
Let’s explore these factors in greater depth:
- Relapse. Re-initiating heroin use after a period of abstinence is extremely dangerous. In the case of relapse, your usual dose may be enough to reach the heroin overdose limit due to reduced tolerance.
- Heroin use. Heroin use, in general, exposes you to a very high overdose risk. While prescription opioids aren’t likely to cause an overdose at prescribed doses, any amount of heroin can be deadly, especially because it is often laced with other substances.
- Polydrug use. Mixing heroin with alcohol, benzodiazepines, stimulants, antidepressants, and other illicit and prescription drugs considerably amplifies the risk of heroin overdose.
Prescription opioid use can also be regarded as a risk factor for heroin overdose, given that most heroin users have a history of prescription opioid use and dependence.
On this note, let’s learn more about heroin addiction and dependence.
Heroin Addiction vs. Heroin Dependence
Heroin addiction and heroin dependence are among the greatest risks associated with the use of this illicit drug. Anyone who takes heroin can become physically dependent or addicted.
Many people start using heroin after becoming dependent on prescription opioids. All opioids, be they prescription or illicit, affect the brain in the same way. Over time, repeated opioid exposure leads to tolerance, which signifies opioid dependence. People dependent on opioids rely on them to prevent opioid withdrawal symptoms and function normally.
However, doctors will often refuse to refill opioid prescriptions, as these drugs have a high potential for abuse and addiction. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for people to turn to street drugs like heroin to curb cravings and other withdrawal symptoms once this happens.
While dependence is physical, heroin addiction is predominantly psychological, and it takes away people’s ability to control their opioid use. Those addicted to heroin continue using it, even when it leads to financial problems, job loss, relationship strain, and other negative consequences.
Some signs and symptoms of heroin addiction include:
- Decreasing interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Being preoccupied with obtaining and using heroin
- Neglecting personal and professional responsibilities
- Becoming secretive and isolated from friends and family
- Having a history of multiple failed attempts at quitting heroin
Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms
Heroin withdrawal symptoms refer to the mental, emotional, and physical discomfort heroin-dependent people experience after quitting it. Abrupt drug cessation tends to produce particularly intense effects and may extend the duration of heroin withdrawal, which is why it is never recommended.
Common psychological and physical heroin withdrawal symptoms include:
- Chills
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Agitation
- Insomnia
- Sweating
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Mood swings
- Dilated pupils
- Muscle aches
- Drug cravings
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal cramps
- Increased blood pressure
Heroin is a short-acting opioid with strong yet short-lasting effects. Most people experience the first heroin withdrawal symptoms within just 6–12 hours after last use. Although acute symptoms typically last around a week, some people develop post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).
PAWS can leave you suffering from heroin withdrawal symptoms for weeks and even years. This is very dangerous due to the high risk of relapse, which could tragically end in a heroin overdose.
Preventing Heroin Overdose
The key to preventing heroin overdose is not to use heroin in the first place. This is the only sure way to prevent it, as any use of this drug can be deadly. Since prescription opioid use increases the risk of heroin use, it’s in your best interest to avoid opioid pain medications. If this isn’t possible, carefully follow your doctor’s instructions.
If you do use heroin, please do so only with someone present. This increases your chances of survival in case of an overdose. If you’re alone, consider calling an overdose prevention lifeline like Never Use Alone.
Also, do not mix heroin with other substances, especially stimulants like cocaine, CNS depressants like alcohol, and other opioids. Combining several substances significantly increases the risk of heroin side effects, respiratory depression overdose, and death.
Finally, remember that it’s never too late to seek help for heroin dependence and addiction. Even if you feel like you’ve lost all hope, know that recovery is possible.
Reclaim Your Life With ANR Treatment for Heroin Dependence
Accelerated Neuro-Regulation (ANR) is an ultra-modern opioid dependence treatment that can help you safely and quickly recover from heroin dependence once and for all.
Developed by Dr. Andre Waismann, ANR addresses the root of opioid dependence instead of merely treating its symptoms. This treatment re-regulates the endorphin-receptor system while the patient is sedated, restoring the brain to its pre-dependence state. As a result, it enables patients to resume an opioid-free life within days.
Benefits of Undergoing ANR Treatment
Here are some of the key benefits of undergoing ANR treatment:
- Safety. ANR is scientifically proven to be safe. Due to a personalized approach, it can be safely performed even on those with co-occurring medical issues, such as liver disease. Furthermore, the ANR team consists of highly experienced board-certified medical professionals, including anesthesiologists. The treatment is carried out in an ICU setting of fully accredited state-of-the-art hospitals with the best medical equipment available today.
- Duration. With ANR treatment, you can achieve a lasting recovery from heroin dependence within a matter of days. The procedure takes around 4–6 hours, whereas the hospital stay for our patients lasts only 36 hours on average.
- Effectiveness. As the only treatment that addresses the root of opioid dependence, ANR has an unparalleled success rate. By reversing opioid-induced changes in the CNS, it eliminates cravings and other withdrawal symptoms, thereby negating the risk of relapse. This revolutionary treatment has aided nearly 25,000 people worldwide make a long-lasting recovery.
To learn more about ANR and how it can help you return to an opioid-free life, reach out to us now and book a free, 100% confidential consultation.
Key Takeaways
Now that we’ve covered the main things you should know about heroin overdose, let’s go over the key takeaway points:
- Heroin is an illicit morphine derivative that can quickly lead to opioid addiction and overdose.
- Anyone who uses heroin risks overdosing on it because it is highly potent and unregulated. If not treated promptly, a heroin overdose can result in death.
- Some common signs of a heroin overdose include pinpoint pupils, difficulty breathing, unresponsiveness, and vomiting.
- The main risk factors that increase the risk of heroin overdose include heroin use, polydrug abuse, and relapse.
- ANR is a groundbreaking opioid dependence treatment that can help you recover from heroin dependence safely and effectively by restoring normal brain function.
Heroin Overdose FAQ
An opioid overdose looks like a very intense high, but it also manifests in distinct physical symptoms like pale, blue-ish lips, skin, and fingernails. Someone overdosing on opioids may appear confused, drowsy, and unresponsive. They may struggle to breathe, speak, and stay awake. If you think someone is overdosing on opioids, seek medical assistance immediately.
People can survive an overdose if they receive medical assistance fast enough. Although opioid overdoses can be reversed with naloxone, an opioid antagonist medication, those who survive it may suffer from organ damage, brain injury, cognitive impairment, and other physical and mental health complications.
You can stop an overdose safely by calling 911 as soon as you notice its first signs. While waiting for help, follow the operator’s instructions (for example, they may instruct you to perform CPR) to increase the chances of survival.
Yes, heroin overdose can put you in a coma. Heroin can dangerously depress the CNS and breathing, leading to a slowed heart rate, oxygen deprivation, and loss of consciousness, which may lead to coma. If not treated on time, heroin overdoses can be fatal.
