Heroin addiction is a cunning and baffling disease, and most people don’t understand why anyone would ever try this dangerous drug. From a young age, people are taught that heroin is not only one of the most addictive drugs available but also one of the most deadly. Each year in the United States, thousands of people die from fatal heroin overdoses. It’s hard to understand how someone could develop a heroin addiction as a young adult when the horrible facts about heroin are so well known. Unfortunately, it happens all too often, and the reality of young people developing a heroin addiction in college or during their twenties is very real. There are a few ways that it happens, so it’s important to understand the risk factors, the predispositions of those already suffering from the disease of addiction, and what to do if you or a loved one is struggling with a heroin addiction.

Pain Medications Progressing into a Heroin Addiction

Addiction is a progressively dangerous illness. Legitimate use of prescription opioids can quickly develop into an addiction if their use is not carefully monitored. Doctors and other medical professionals do their best to monitor potential abuse, but there’s only so much that they can do. An all-too-common situation is a young adult being prescribed medications that may trigger an excess amount of pleasure in his or her brain, which is the direct result of opioid painkillers. The person soon begins taking more than the prescribed amount to subdue his or her symptoms of pain as the body develops a tolerance. Eventually, the young adult can develop a dependence and start to search for the medication in other ways, often illegally. At some point, the person is introduced to heroin as a much stronger opiate at a much lower cost than prescription pills. Unfortunately, heroin is one of the easier drugs to get. It’s even more common that the person will try heroin in order to avoid symptoms of withdrawal from prescribed pain medications.

Career-Ending Injuries and Stress

Another reason young adults may begin on the path of heroin addiction is that they have adopted this behavior as a means to deal with life’s daily stressors. Young adults are also more likely to suffer an injury that puts a halt to their ability to play sports. Many addicts start off by using some type of substance to deal with stress, anxiety or depression, and the disease of addiction progresses in the same way. As the person grows tolerant to the substance, they need to take more to satisfy the cravings. This can lead to a lasting addiction and increased likelihood to abuse more dangerous substances. Lakeview Health is here to help those who struggle with addiction. With treatment from an accredited program, heroin addiction can be overcome. Those struggling have a fighting chance of regaining control of their lives. Call Lakeview Health today at 866.704.7692 for more information. Don’t let heroin addiction claim another victim.