Some lives are steeped in the consequences of substance use. Anyone with a substance use disorder can probably tell you a story about a friend who injected a deadly mixture of something like heroin into their arm that made them stop breathing. It’s horrifying to imagine, and with over 30 out of every 100,000 people dying of overdose in Tampa in 2022, it is an unfortunate reality for many friends and families.
Thankfully, for all the heartbreaking stories, there are encouraging ones. Of the approximately 27.5 million people in the United States experiencing substance use disorders at some point in their lives, about 20.5 million of them are in recovery. Overdose is far from the inevitable ending of substance use. At Tranquil Shores, we are committed to our clients’ recovery. People with substance use disorders heal every day at our beachside facility, through a vast variety of in-depth therapies.
Heroin is one of the most well-known illicit substances on the market. If you ask the average person to name a “drug,” chances are, heroin will be one of the most commonly mentioned. This article will cover everything you need to know about heroin overdose in particular.
What Is a Heroin Overdose? How Does It Happen?
Heroin, an opioid, is among the substances responsible for the frequently mentioned opioid epidemic. Most of the time, though, it’s not just heroin that causes a heroin overdose, but a mix of factors and substances.
The reality is, many people who think they’re getting heroin aren’t getting heroin. Most of the time, that isn’t the fault of the person with intentions to use the substance. It’s usually the suppliers of the drugs mixing substances together to create a cocktail they call heroin, at a cheaper cost to them. In Florida, straight heroin is rare. These days, it’s fentanyl, an opioid even stronger and cheaper than heroin, that causes the euphoric feelings of heroin with a higher chance of overdose. Sometimes, fentanyl is mixed with xylazine, a horse tranquilizer that can be incredibly dangerous for humans to ingest.
Chances of overdose increase when the person using heroin is also using alcohol or benzodiazepines. It’s actually rare to overdose purely on heroin.
When someone overdoses on a substance, they take an amount that is toxic to their body. This amount depends on each person. It’s not just about that, though. It’s also about all opioids, such as heroin, attaching to opioid receptors in your brain that also relate to breathing. As such, respiratory depression after opioid use is common, and breathing can stop altogether, resulting in death by overdose.
Who Is at Risk of a Heroin Overdose?
Anyone using heroin is at risk of an overdose. There is ultimately no safe way to use heroin, especially considering heroin often contains fentanyl or other unknown, dangerous substances.
It’s also important to remember that mixing heroin with medications can be incredibly dangerous, too. If you take muscle relaxers, sleeping pills, or benzodiazepines, whether illicitly or otherwise, your chance of overdose is higher. Those with health conditions, especially related to breathing, are at risk, too.
Those with longer histories of heroin use are also at higher risk for heroin overdose, because they build up a tolerance to its effects. This causes them to use more heroin to try to get the same effect as before, and more heroin means more of a danger of overdosing.
Signs & Symptoms of a Heroin Overdose
The most common and recognizable symptoms of a heroin overdose are what medical professionals sometimes call “the opioid overdose triad.” The triad of symptoms is breathing complications, lower levels of consciousness, and tiny, pinpoint pupils. Other symptoms can come with a heroin overdose as well, most commonly including the following:
- Slowed heartbeat
- Limp body
- Lethargy
- Dry mouth
- Pale, clammy and/or bluish skin
- Ashen/gray skin in darker-skinned individuals
- Extreme confusion
- Choking or gurgling noises
- Low blood pressure
- Vomiting
- Trouble talking
- Difficulty walking
Dangers and Long-Term Effects of a Heroin Overdose
The most obvious and dire danger of heroin overdose is death. In addition, hypoxia, or deficiency of oxygen in the body’s tissues, is common in overdose deaths, as well as those that survive life-threatening overdoses. Hypoxia involves oxygen failing to reach the brain, and this can lead to brain injuries in overdose survivors. Brain injuries can make people more susceptible to other illnesses that impact the brain. Ultimately, however, more research needs to be done on the long-term effects of heroin overdose to know its true impact. With heroin, and what it’s cut with, evolving relatively quickly, and most heroin overdoses happening to those in the 18-25 age bracket, we’re lacking sufficient data on how nonfatal overdoses impact their futures.
The long-term side effects of heroin, even without overdose, change the brain. Heroin imbalances neuron and hormonal systems, creating new neural pathways in the brain that lead to addictive behaviors. White matter deteriorates, which can lead to problems making decisions and regulating behavior. The good news is, the brain can heal. It takes hard work, and avoiding substances, in order for the brain’s plasticity to change, but it’s certainly possible.
What Do I Do in the Event of a Heroin Overdose?
If you think you’re witnessing a heroin overdose, there are important steps you can take to help the person overdosing survive.
The first and most important step is calling 911 immediately. This may seem scary, given illicit activity is involved, but Florida’s Good Samaritan Law ensures you won’t face any criminal charges for seeking lifesaving care in the case of an overdose. While there are steps you can take to help the person overdosing, professional medical care is vital to their survival.
If you know anyone with a substance use disorder, or just want to be safe, it’s a good idea to have naloxone, under the brand name Narcan, on hand. In Florida, naloxone is available over the counter at most major retailers and pharmacies.
Narcan comes in a nasal spray form, and in order to administer it, you need to insert it into the overdosing person’s nostril and push the pump down. It’s a good idea to repeat this every three minutes, alternating nostrils, if the person is having significant trouble breathing. Once the person is breathing better, you’ll want to put them in the recovery position, on their side with their hand supporting their head, and their leg placed so they can’t roll over onto their stomach.
How to Prevent a Heroin Overdose
The most obvious answer is not to use heroin in the first place, but if you or someone you know has a substance use disorder, withdrawal symptoms can be incredibly painful and make quitting difficult.
If that’s the case, there are some options to lower the chance of a fatal overdose. Aside from having naloxone on hand, making sure you don’t use heroin alone will make sure someone can call for help in the case of an overdose. It’s hard to know how pure the heroin you’re getting will be, but many overdoses happen because the heroin is stronger than the person using it anticipated. In order to prevent this, trying a low dose of the heroin before using the rest will give an idea of how strong the heroin is.
Another important option, and one we highly suggest, is seeking heroin rehab.
What Are the Treatment Options for Heroin?
You’ll have many options for treatment, but if you’re in the Tampa area, consider Tranquil Shores. We offer inpatient and residential services in a high-quality, comfortable facility. We welcome everyone in need of help with substance use disorders, and are LGBTQ inclusive. We encourage you to take the first step toward recovery by calling us at 727-391-7001.
FAQs
When should you give someone Narcan?
If you suspect an overdose, administer Narcan as soon as possible.
How do you give someone Narcan?
Narcan is available over the counter in a nasal spray form. To administer Narcan, insert the tip of the spray bottle into the overdosing person’s nostril, and fully press down on the pump.
