Heroin Addiction, and its impact on memory loss
It goes without saying that heroin is a very dangerous drug. Watching a loved one become addicted to heroin can be quite painful. Their reliance on the drug grows each day. They are becoming more withdrawn, and even belligerent at times. There are many things to look out for if you suspect a loved one has developed a heroin addiction. Some of these symptoms include: •
Track marks
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Nausea
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Small pupils
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Distancing themselves from friends and family
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Fragmented communication
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Disorientation
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Lack of hygiene
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No motivation
Individuals who use heroin for prolonged periods of time may develop a physical dependence on the drug. When they are unable to achieve their high, they increase their dosage. When they are able to achieve their high, they maintain the higher dosage and frequency until their body becomes tolerant of that dose. There are many complications to using heroin, memory loss being one of them. Heroin and the brain Memory processes takes up a large area in the hippocampus. When physical damage has been done to the hippocampus area, it can impair the individual's capability to make new memories and access old ones. The hippocampus also contains a large amount of opioid receptors, used in
regulating pain. Prolonged use of heroin has been shown to create physical damage to the hippocampus region. This damage may cause cells to die before their time. Heroin speeds up this process to a very destructive rate. Unfortunately, heroin also slows the creation of new cells in the hippocampus region. Studies have shown that even after an individual has done heroin, the memory problems still exist. Individuals may have a tougher time creating visual memories. These studies were published in a journal called Drug and Alcohol Dependence. It was also found that heroin addicts often drink alcohol in order to maintain their heroin high for a longer period of time. Sometimes this changes the way the high feels to the addict. Individuals may also incorporate Rohypnol, or another benzodiazepine, to magnify the high even more. Adding both the alcohol and the benzodiazepine can leave long gaps of time missing from the addict’s memory. These gaps may be difficult to impossible to retrieve, even with prompts from friends and/or loved ones. Thankfully, there is drug addiction help for individuals suffering from heroin addiction. Once an individual accepts help for their addiction, they will enter treatment. The first part of treatment is heroin addiction detox. Detoxing from heroin can be rather unpleasant. Medical staff are there to make the experience less taxing for the addict. They can provide medication to ease withdrawal symptoms, and ensure that your body is getting what it needs in order to become healthy again. Once detox is over, rehabilitation will begin. During rehab, addicts will learn various coping skills, and even learn how to improve memory skills. While some aspects of memory may be impossible to repair, with adequate rehab, you can improve many areas of your memory and lead a healthy and happy life. For more information visit: http://www.drugaddictsupport.com