If you’re doing an internet search for “is heroin a depressant,” you or a friend or loved one is likely struggling with heroin use. Heroin is a fast-acting narcotic that is more potent than morphine. It’s highly addictive and can cause several serious health conditions, such as infections in the liver, kidney, and lungs, and can damage the brain.
The Ranch Tennessee welcomes Nashville residents who are abusing heroin and want help in breaking the addiction. Our heroin addiction treatment program is essential to a safe recovery with fewer risks of relapse. Each program is tailored to the individual and can include behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, and medication to ease any withdrawals, cravings, and other disruptive symptoms.
Is Heroin a Depressant?
Heroin is an opioid and a central nervous system depressant that interacts with neurotransmitters in the body to deliver a euphoric response, ease pain, and cause drowsiness and relaxation. It was originally used as a medication to treat pain and as a cough suppressant, but it came with a high rate of addiction and abuse.
Is heroin a depressant? The quick answer is yes. It’s classified as a depressant because it slows down neurotransmitters in the body and can cause relaxation, slowed breathing, and drowsiness. It can also cause:
- Intense euphoria
- Dry mouth
- Flushed skin
- Arms and legs feel heavy
- Nausea and vomiting
- Itchy skin
- Mental confusion
- Slowed heart rate
Depression is a common mental health condition that can be caused by certain medications and drug abuse. A common symptom of substance abuse is developing depression and anxiety. If the addiction is severe enough, it can cause a co-occurring disorder of substance abuse and depression.
Fortunately, there are several programs that can help ease symptoms of depression along with any heroin withdrawals and cravings. They use medication and behavioral therapy programs such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) in treating heroin addiction. They teach clients many healthy coping skills that will help keep them on their sober path for a long time.
Understanding How Heroin and the Brain Interact
Heroin has a significant impact on how the brain processes pain. It can affect how you perceive the pain and impact the pain/reward center of the brain, your breathing, and the area of the brain responsible for decision-making. Here is a breakdown of what areas of the brain that are affected by heroin abuse:
Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA)
The VTA produces dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for feeling happiness and pleasure. Heroin affects this part of the brain by creating intense euphoria that it can never produce on its own. Your body stops dopamine production, which can cause depression, and will not release any until you take more heroin.
Nucleus Accumbens (NAc)
This is what’s known as the reward center of the brain. It regulates motivation, emotions, learning, and memory. Heroin abuse can impact how you feel pleasure as it diminishes the reward response to the things you enjoy doing. For example, if you enjoy writing or singing you won’t feel any pleasure doing this activity while abusing heroin.
Prefrontal Cortex
This part of the brain is responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and rational thinking. Heroin impairs judgment and self-control, causing you to take more risks and have trouble thinking clearly.
Amygdala
The amygdala is the part of the brain that deals with emotions, stress, and fear. Heroin can alter your emotional responses, which can lead to developing depression and anxiety, especially when going through withdrawal.
Locus Coeruleus
This area regulates alertness and autonomic functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Heroin plays a critical role in this area of the brain and can lead to your heart rate and blood pressure lowering to unsafe levels.
Brainstem (Medulla)
The brainstem is responsible for essential functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. If you abuse heroin, it can impact your breathing and lead to overdose, coma, and death.
Hippocampus
This section of the brain is responsible for memory formation and turning short-term memory into long-term memory. Heroin affects this area of the brain and can cause impaired memory and learning disabilities, and make it very difficult to remember key events.
Spinal Cord
The spinal cord is attached directly to the brain and is impacted by abusing heroin. The spinal cord is responsible for sending messages up and down the spine and throughout the body. Heroin blocks pain receptors from sending pain messages to the body. This can lead to significant pain relief.
Join The Ranch TN Today for Our Complete Heroin Addiction Treatment Program
Is heroin a depressant, and is there a way to break the addiction safely? The Ranch Tennessee welcomes people from all walks of life who are struggling with heroin addiction and ready to stop. Our team has experience treating all types of addiction through cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and other types of therapy. You will participate in group and private therapy sessions while receiving medication to ease any heroin withdrawals and cravings.
Today is an excellent time to enroll in our heroin addiction treatment program. Use our online contact form or call 1.844.876.7680 today to schedule a consultation and take that first step toward recovery.