What is Heroin?

Heroin is a highly addictive, illegal drug. Heroin (like opium and morphine) is made from the resin of poppy plants. Milky, sap-like opium is first removed from the pod of the poppy flower. This opium is refined to make morphine, then further refined into different forms of heroin.
Most heroin is injected, creating additional risks for the user, who faces the danger of AIDS or other infection on top of addiction.

 

Factors affecting heroin addiction

Myths propogated by society

Myth: No one overcomes heroin use

Truth: There are many people who have overcome use

 

False beliefs such as heroin gives happiness or increases the sex drive

Observing the lives of people who use heroin, it is evident they do not gain anything by using the drug.

 

Believing that quitting is temporary

Stopping heroin use for external reasons such as being caught to police or wife’s dislike can make quitting temporary. However, people who become free from use through understanding stay free from heroin all their life.

 

Believing that the body needs heroin

This is a false belief because when people are in situations where the law is tight on drug use such as in Saudi Arabia or if they are in prison they can live without the drug. However when people are in situations where the drug is easily accessible they think they body needs the drug.

 

Belief that society will not accept you despite quitting the drug

It may take some time for society to build trust once a person stops using heroin. Despite this people who really become free of use do not start using again.

Thinking an external person is essential to overcome the addiction

It is practical to obtain the help of an external person such as a doctor or a rehabilitation centre to become free from heroin use. However, it is essential that the person who is using wants to overcome his/her own use.

Attributing all physical and mental changes after stopping heroin use to lack of the drug

All physical and mental changes such as feeling aches and pains or lazy on and off is not because of stopping use of heroin. All people go through such changes in their day to day life.