Opiate Addiction

Heroin imitates endorphins, causing a feeling of euphoria. For this reason it is used as both a pain killer and as a recreational drug. However, frequent administration of the drug leads to a high potential for causing addiction. Withdrawal is also highly likely. If one uses heroin continuously for three days and then stops abruptly it is possible to have symptoms of withdrawal. This occurs much faster than with other pain killers like oxycodone and hydrocodone.
If one looks back historically, derivatives of the opium poppy have been used for centuries as it is a very effective analgesic. This is not to imply however, that use of the opium is safe or advisable in excess. Some of the side effects of opiates include:
•    Psychological and physical dependence
•    Body as a whole - muscle spasticity
•    Respiratory - difficulty berating, slow, shallow and labored breathing, stopped breathing (sometimes fatal within 2-4 hours)
•    Eyes, ears, nose and throat - pinpoint pupils
•    Gastrointestinal - constipation, spasms of the stomach and intestinal tract
•    Heart and blood vessels - low blood pressure
•    Nervous system - drowsiness, disorientation, coma