The body requires more of the drug to achieve the same effect, and withdrawal symptoms occur if use is discontinued.
Peer support groups and long-term rehabilitation programs are often essential components of the recovery process.
A chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking.
Potential for collapsed veins, heart lining infections, and liver or kidney disease.
"Nodding out," or switching between conscious and semiconscious states.
Heroin overdose is a medical emergency characterized by slow and shallow breathing, blue fingernails or lips, and loss of consciousness.
Risks include contracting HIV or Hepatitis B and C through shared equipment.