Side Effects of Heroin Addiction

Everyone’s road to addiction is unique, but no matter how you arrived in that dangerous place, heroin rehab can be the start of getting clean and regaining control over your life. A personal and customized heroin addiction treatment in a heroin rehab program at Midwest Recovery Services is how and where you can begin to overcome your addiction with professional help in a safe, secure environment. Contact us online or call us at [Direct] today to discover what your heroin recovery will look like.

What Is Heroin Addiction?

Heroin addiction is a chronic disease characterized by a persistent, all-encompassing urge to use more of the illicit drug. The results of long term heroin use are severe, including the following significant problems:

  • Long-term and often permanent damage to the brain
  • Financial peril
  • Fractured and failed relationships
  • Family issues
  • Career derailment

Heroin use significantly changes the way your brain functions, causes financial distress, and leads to relationship problems at home, work, and with your friends. To help a loved one overcome heroin addiction safely, heroin rehab is a critical step in their lifelong heroin recovery journey.

What Are The Side Effects of Heroin Addiction?

Heroin is a highly addictive, mind-altering illegal drug similar to morphine. When it reaches the brain, it attaches to opioid receptors located all over the brain and body, impacting the perception of pain and pleasure, as well as your breathing. The side effects of heroin addiction are many, but here are three to be on the lookout for. Spotting these effects could help usher yourself or a loved one into a much-needed heroin rehab program.

Physical Changes

The physical changes resulting from chronic heroin use occur quickly after being injected. The euphoric high will wash over the user within seconds, while the effects take longer if smoked or snorted. If you see your loved one experiencing an unusual euphoric episode, heroin rehab at Midwest Recovery may be necessary to break the cycle of their addiction. The physical changes from heroin use include:

  • Dry mouth and flushed skin
  • Constricted pupils
  • Slow breathing
  • Itching
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Constipation

Lifestyle Changes

Over time, heroin addiction causes people to abandon their previously held hobbies and passions and maybe even abandon school work and career goals to keep chasing the high and avoid heroin withdrawals. While these signs may be harder to spot, they are also key to helping your loved one get clean in a heroin rehab.

Because heroin injections leave needle marks, many addicts wear long-sleeve clothing to hide their scars, even in warm weather. Unusual clothing choices can be one sign your loved one is hiding their heroin use. If they are worried their addiction will be discovered, they may withdraw from friends and family, causing their work and personal relationships to suffer. Isolation is common among people with an addiction to heroin.

Heroin Paraphernalia

Heroin has very common devices used to inject or snort the drug. One of the side effects of heroin addiction is that the environment and accessories in a person’s life will look different. Items from hobbies and passions could be overtaken by paraphernalia used to take heroin. Knowing what the drug and the drug paraphernalia look like may help you identify heroin use in someone you love.

In most cases, a heroin user needs certain paraphernalia to get high. Heroin can be injected, snorted, or smoked. This means that you should be on the lookout for:

  • Needles
  • Pipes
  • Spoons
  • Lighters
  • Rubber tubing
  • Elastic bands

Learn More at Midwest Recovery

Learn how the heroin rehab program at Midwest Recovery can be the starting point for reshaping the rest of your life. Contact us using our secure online form or call us confidentially at [Direct] today.

*The stories shared in this blog are meant to illustrate personal experiences and offer hope. Unless otherwise stated, any first-person narratives are fictional or blended accounts of others’ personal experiences. Everyone’s journey is unique, and this post does not replace medical advice or guarantee outcomes. Please speak with a licensed provider for help.

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Call today for a free, confidential consultation with our caring admissions team — we’ll walk you through every step with compassion and clarity.

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Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
Our PHP offers a highly structured, supportive environment where you can focus on recovery during the day and return home at night. It’s an ideal step between inpatient and outpatient care, providing daily therapy, accountability, and a strong recovery routine.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Our IOP gives you the flexibility to continue work, school, or family life while receiving evidence-based treatment several days a week. You’ll participate in group and individual therapy focused on relapse prevention, coping skills, and long-term healing.

Outpatient Program (OP)
For those transitioning from a higher level of care or seeking ongoing support, our outpatient program offers continued therapy at a pace that fits your lifestyle. It’s a supportive bridge that helps you maintain recovery and stay connected to care.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
MAT combines FDA-approved medications with therapy and counseling to reduce cravings and support long-term recovery from opioid or alcohol addiction. Our team monitors each plan closely to ensure safety, comfort, and effectiveness.

Who are you seeking help for? *

We’re here to listen and help you find the right path forward. Please tell us who needs care so we can match you with the best program and support.

Myself

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💬 Your responses are 100% confidential and never shared outside our admissions team.

Recovery Shouldn’t Have to Wait — Begin Treatment Today.

At Midwest Recovery Center in Toledo, Ohio, we make it simple to take that first step toward healing. Our streamlined admissions process can often lead to same-day placement in treatment for substance use or co-occurring mental health disorders.

Call today for a free, confidential consultation with our caring admissions team — we’ll walk you through every step with compassion and clarity.

Check Your Insurance Coverage in Minutes

We’ll handle the insurance details — so you can focus on getting better.

At Midwest Recovery Center, we work with most major private insurance providers to make treatment affordable and accessible. Complete our quick, confidential form below, and we’ll let you know if your plan is in-network — without contacting your insurance company.

Commonly accepted providers include:
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) • Aetna • Cigna • UnitedHealthcare • Humana • Anthem • Tricare

What Happens Next

  • Fill out the short form below
  • Our team reviews your benefits
  • We’ll contact you with your coverage details

Getting help shouldn’t be stressful. Let’s find out what your insurance can cover today.