Is Heroin the Strongest Opiate?

So many people are addicted to opiates these days, and heroin is always the most popular one. The question people often ask relates to the strength of heroin when compared to other opiate-based drugs. Heroin, also known as smack, China white or dope, is available as a white or brown powder or as a sticky, black substance (known as black tar). This highly addictive substance can be smoked, injected or snorted. Heroin is most commonly injected intravenously, giving the user an instant high.

Once you’ve graduated to "shooting" (injecting) heroin, it’s very difficult to stop the habit on your own. The major psychoactive ingredient in heroin is diacetylmorphine (also known as diamorphine). This is a very potent painkiller that gives heroin it’s addictive attributes and causes a physical dependence with painful withdrawal symptoms. The effects of heroin abuse show that the substance is more dangerous than other opiates. Completing a partial hospitalization drug rehab or intensive outpatient drug program is the best way to recover from heroin abuse.

Heroin Can Kill You

The risk of contracting blood-borne diseases (such as hepatitis and HIV) is increased through the use of heroin, especially when it’s injected. Long-term opioid use increases the risk of dangerous health problems, including kidney or liver disease, collapsed veins as well as heart infections. The risks can be worsened if heroin is taken with other substances like alcohol, which is called polysubstance abuse. In this case, your internal organs can decline in function, and there is always the risk of a fatal overdose.

Heroin is by far one of the most addicting drugs known to mankind. Results from many studies confirm the fact that a single dose of heroin can push an individual into addiction. About 25% of those that try heroin at a particular point in their life will become addicted to the substance. When the brain is continuously introduced to this opiate, the dopamine receptors within the nerve cells of the brain become exhausted as a result of overstimulation. Heroin is also 100 times stronger than morphine; this makes it one of the strongest opiates. Being a street drug, it is more prone to impurities than pharmaceutical opiates, adding another layer of danger and uncertainty for those addicted.

Facts About Heroin Addiction

The route through which heroin is administered also makes it more dangerous than other opiates. Addiction rates vary based on how heroin is consumed by the addict. Those that inject heroin are found to have higher dependence rates than those that smoke the substance (known as "chasing the dragon").

Heroin is a potent street drug that is derived from morphine obtained from the seed resin of the opium poppy. According to Live Science, heroin yields the fastest-acting high out of all opiates. The fact that it is less expensive than prescription opiates makes it very popular on the street. In recent years, fentanyl is being added to street heroin to make it even more powerful. Dealers usually ‘cut’ heroin with other drugs to make it stronger and increase the price. The introduction of different substances ‘cut’ with heroin into the body makes it difficult for doctors treating a typical heroin overdose to pinpoint the specific substances involved. This can lead to life-threatening complications, including death. A report obtained from the National Institute on Drug Abuse revealed that deaths caused by heroin overdose increased by six times between 2001 to 2014, and the numbers keep increasing.

Get Help Today

If you or a loved one are addicted to heroin, reach out for help right now. We are fully aware of the pain you are going through and our compassionate specialists are here to guide you to recovery. Get in touch with Recreate Life Counseling and achieve freedom from heroin addiction forever.