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Why is heroin so addictive?

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The New York opioid crisis is a little confusing when you do not have an addiction to these drugs. You may wonder why someone would continue to use heroin or prescription opioids if they knew how dangerous they are. It may be hard to understand because you do not know how this type of drug affects the mind and body. The addiction component is real and it can cause a person to override the natural sense to protect oneself and to do these drugs that could lead to death.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioid drugs have a direct effect on the brain, adhering to receptors that affect pleasure sensations. To put it simply, when someone does heroin, he or she has an immediate sense of happiness and feels very good. This is a feeling that people chase and what leads many people to drugs.

In those who are not seeking the pleasure or escape the drugs give, the biggest reason for them to keep coming back is addiction. Many people who end up using heroin became addicted to opioids through prescription drugs, such as Vicodin. They build up a tolerance to the drug and need more of it each time they use it to soothe their body. If they do not get it, they face terrible withdraw symptoms. These may include pain, vomiting, restlessness, cold flashes, diarrhea and restless legs.

So, it may not be that they really want to take the drug but rather that they feel like they have to because it will stop the uncomfortable feelings they have when they do not have it in their system. This information is for education and is not legal advice.

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