Addiction Drug Use Heroin Heroin's Long Term Effects on the Body By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial process Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on November 22, 2020 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on November 25, 2020 Print Doug Menuez / Getty Images The long-term and short-term effects of heroin use wreak havoc on your body. When a user does heroin repeatedly, it can cause actual changes in the physical structure and physiology of the brain which can create long-term imbalances in the neuronal and hormonal systems. These changes are difficult to reverse. Increased Tolerance The long-term effects of heroin use on your brain have major implications. When you do heroin, it bonds to your brain's opiate receptors. The opioid receptors in a frequent user's brain become less responsive to heroin. Now the user's tolerance increases and he must use ever-increasing amounts of heroin to get the desired effect. Like many illicit drugs, heroin use can produce profound levels of tolerance and physical dependence. Tolerance means the user requires more and more of the drug to feel the same effects and dependence means withdrawal symptoms will manifest if the user attempts to quit using abruptly. Dopamine Production In addition to tolerance, long-term heroin use affects dopamine production in your brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a large role in how your brain controls emotion, feelings of pleasure, reward, and movement. Heroin triggers dopamine release, along with other neurochemicals. However, the brain reduces production of dopamine as it starts relying on heroin use to trigger its release. Over time, this can significantly impact the brain's reward system. A shortage of dopamine is also linked to symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Withdrawal Symptoms When someone abruptly quits using heroin, withdrawal symptoms can begin within a few hours. Usually, the most severe withdrawal symptoms peak between 24 and 48 hours after the last dose and subside after about a week. However, some users experience persistent symptoms for many months. When an addict stops using heroin, they experience withdrawal symptoms if they don't get a fix. This is one reason why it's so difficult to kick a heroin habit. Symptoms of heroin withdrawal can include: Insomnia and restlessness Diarrhea and vomiting Muscle and bone pain Cold flashes with goosebumps Risks of Addiction Probably the most common long-term effect of heroin use is an addiction—described by the National Institute on Drug Abuse as "a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will." Heroin addiction causes the user to experience uncontrollable drug-seeking behavior regardless of the consequences. Heroin addiction is so profound that seeking and using the drug can become the primary purpose in the addict's life. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Heroin. Updated June 2018. Kosten TR, George TP. The neurobiology of opioid dependence: implications for treatment. Sci Pract Perspect. 2002;1(1):13–20. Deik A, Saunders-Pullman R, Luciano MS. Substance of abuse and movement disorders: complex interactions and comorbidities. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2012;5(3):243–253. doi:10.2174/1874473711205030243 WHO. Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Addiction Science. Updated June 2015.