The human body and the brain contain opioid receptors called endorphins, our own natural pain-killing substances produced whenever our body pass through emergency moments of shock or injury. Heroin binds rapidly with endorphin receptors, extending and magnifying their natural painkilling effect.

The result is a sensation of pleasurable, known as “high” “rush.” The user experiences a warm feeling and a sense of well-being. the difference between the natural endorphin and heroin is that the last one creates a feeling of euphoria, but is followed by alternate states of alertness and drowsiness.

In these states of drowsiness the users experience dry mouth, a heavy feeling in the extremities, and a warm skin flush. The euphoria effect is rapid and its length depend on method of ingestion. Intravenous injection provides the greatest intensity and the most rapid onset of euphoria, 7 to 8 seconds, intra-muscular injection produces a relatively slow onset, between 5 to 8 minutes, while sniffing or smoking usually provides peak effects within 10 to 15 minutes.

First-time or infrequent users often experience nausea and vomiting. Once the initial rush has passed, there can be a feeling of heaviness and of distance from events around you. Heroin sedates the central nervous system, clouding mental function and making you feel drowsy for several hours after a dose. You may appear to be asleep, but actually be awake.

Heroin addicts also experience decreased ability to cough, difficulty breathing, hypothermia, reduced anxiety and severe itching. The aesthetic physical effects can be extensive as well.

Other risks of using heroin are risk of contracting HIV or Hepatitis C from needle use, increased risk of miscarriage, increased tolerance over time where the addict must use more of the drug to achieve the same effect and, of course, heroin overdose and its consequences.

We strongly recommend to everyone reading this article to stay out of heroin’s use, however, if you or someone close to you have problems with heroin addiction, we suggest you to visit Drug Rehab Treatment in Canada.