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What is withdrawal and how does it feel?
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If a heroin user decides to quit, their body tries to return to its original state. But because of the neuroadaptation that's taken place, they experience very unpleasant symptoms of withdrawal. These begin 8 to 12 hours after their last fix. They include sweating, anxiety, depression, cold sweats, chills, severe muscle and bone aches not caused by any physical trauma, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, gooseflesh and fever. Many addicts also complain of compulsive scratching that causes bruises and sometimes ruptures the skin. Withdrawal is very hard, and users often go back on heroin as a result. |
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