How Alcohol Affects The Brain
WHO IS MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO ALCOHOL? Those with higher personality trait inhibitedness are most susceptible to alcoholism. The[...]
Continue Reading >
Drug and alcohol rehabilitation center at 546 Hamilton Street Costa Mesa California 92627
Itchiness is a subjective, irritating sensation arising from superficial layers of skin that provokes an urge to scratch. Scratching is simply a reflex response to an itch in order to relieve the itch.
The feeling of itchiness that occurs following heroin use comes directly from the spine. We know this because researchers recently discovered itch-specific opioid-receptors in a small area of the spine. Opioid specific itching typically occurs around the nose and upper part of the face, and it’s actually one of the most prevalent adverse effects of heroin use.
After heroin enters the bloodstream, it enters into the brain and spinal cord. There it attaches to proteins atop nerve cells called opioid receptors. The most common type of opioid receptor is the mu-opioid receptor (MOR). Each MOR has several variants, which are called isoforms. Isoforms are like your hands. Maybe you use your left hand to stir things and your right hand to open things. In this way, each hand or isoform does something different. There is one MOR isoform in particular, called the MOR1D, which is the hand that opens the door to itchiness.
When heroin bumps into and activates a MOR1D receptor, the neuron sends out messages, called neurotransmitters, out to other receptors atop other neurons. Some of those neurotransmitters bump into and activate GRPR receptors (Gastrin Releasing Peptide Receptor). Scientific research, led by Zhou-Feng Chen, Ph.D., has found that GRPR receptors are itch specific receptors. GRPR receptors are found in a very small population of spinal cord nerve cells.
When a person uses heroin, or any other opioid, it sets off a cascade of events. The first of which, is that heroin binds to and activates MOR1D receptors, which sends out neurotransmitters that activate GRPR receptors, and this results in an itch sensation, which leads to scratching.
WHO IS MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO ALCOHOL? Those with higher personality trait inhibitedness are most susceptible to alcoholism. The[...]
Continue Reading >
Alcohol Dangers: We know the subjective effects of alcohol appear to be greatest in men and women[...]
Continue Reading >
Alphabetical This is an alphabetical list of opiate terms and definitions. We compiled them here in one place[...]
Continue Reading >
What is Heroin? Heroin is a highly addictive derivative of opium, that produces intense feelings of euphoria, when[...]
Continue Reading >
INTRODUCTION Addiction is tenacious seeking and compulsive use of a chemical substance without regard for consequences. On the[...]
Continue Reading >
Addiction is a Family Problem Drug addiction has a negative impact on the family and just about everyone[...]
Continue Reading >
INTRODUCTION We get calls every day from disillusioned men and women who realize they cannot get off methadone.[...]
Continue Reading >
MEMORY IS A FUNCTION OF THE BRAIN Among heroin addicts there is an unofficial term used to describe[...]
Continue Reading >
How many heroin overdoses in 2016? In 2016 there were 63,632 drug overdose fatalities. Of those fatalities, 42,249[...]
Continue Reading >
DETOXIFICATION The purpose of drug detox is fourfold: (1) to manage withdrawal symptoms, (2) purge chemical substances, (3)[...]
Continue Reading >
How You Can Die From Heroin Withdrawal There are not many rules about what “not” to do when[...]
Continue Reading >
OPIOIDS and BENZOS No doubt about it, cold-turkey opioid-detox is a nightmare, but the most difficult detoxes are[...]
Continue Reading >
I’m having trouble peeing Urine retention is an inability to pee, and we get it, this is not an[...]
Continue Reading >
Why was heroin invented? At the time heroin was invented, the only effective medication for pain, diarrhea and[...]
Continue Reading >
Goals The goals of addiction treatment are to attain and sustain long-term abstinence. This outcome allows men and[...]
Continue Reading >
Androgens and Testosterone Androgens are sex hormones. They are made primarily in the male testes, female ovaries,[...]
Continue Reading >
Understanding Addiction Drug addiction is a neurobehavioral syndrome characterized by tenacious seeking, and compulsive using plus an inability[...]
Continue Reading >
Can heroin change your personality? There are three primary elements to heroin related personality change; (1) were either[...]
Continue Reading >
Tolerance to heroin Heroin tolerance is is a complex process of neuroadaptation. It is defined by reduced response[...]
Continue Reading >
Among heroin addicts there is an unofficial term used to describe heroin-related memory loss. That term is “CRS”[...]
Continue Reading >
Our small intimate setting provides you with a place of support, encouragement, and safety. You’ll receive a customized, one-on-one treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.