Sunday, Apr 04, 2021 09:30 [IST]
Last Update: Sunday, Apr 04, 2021 03:48 [IST]
Things to know about BS withdrawal symptoms:
An adulterated form of heroin is called brown sugar (BS).
BS is also called smack, junk, skag, dope, and chaw, is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from the morphine extracted from the poppy plant . Pure heroin accounts for only 20% of the brown sugar drug; the remaining 80% comes in the form of chalk powder, zinc oxide, and even strychnine. These impurities make brown sugar much cheaper than the typical, more purified form of heroin; creating a substance more dangerous than heroin, as the user is unsure exactly how much heroin he is consuming. In Sikkim, Brown sugar is popularly called BS and matto available at Rs 4000- Rs 5000 per gram.
A first dose of BS/ heroin is sufficient to make an individual addicted for a lifetime.
Treatment of BS addiction is very challenging because BS damages brain cells hijacking functional neurocircuity completely with only once or twice use.
Whenever an individual attempt to quit BS after few days of use on his own, he / she develops painful withdrawal symptoms consisting of following signs & symptoms-
1. Excruciating Pain in muscles, joints and bones.
2. Difficulty in sleeping or insomnia
3. Nausea, vomiting
4. Running nose (symptoms like common cold)
5. Dry cough
6. Diarrhoea
7. Abdominal cramp
8. Goosebumps
9. Yawning
10. Mood swings, depression, anger episode, irritability
11. Increase body temperature, increase pulse rate
12. Suicidal behaviour
13. Intense craving
14. Dilated pupils mydriasis)
These withdrawal symptoms are excruciatingly painful and uncomfortable which triggers intense craving (uncontrollable desire) making it impossible to even think of quitting.
Things to know about BS withdrawal-
1. Though these withdrawal symptoms are painful but they are temporary and short- lived which will eventually subside by 10- 15 days.
2. The withdrawal symptoms may be experience as very painful and uncontrollable clouding your senses, but they are not life threatening.
3. Continue BS use will cause multiple harms physically, mentally, socially and economically. Quitting BS will prevent drug related harms improving your health, economy and overall wellbeing.
4. BS withdrawal can be easily manage by hospital based detoxification course within 2 weeks. You need to get admitted for 2 weeks course to quit BS.
5. Several medicines are available to help maintain abstinence after detoxification treatment at hospital. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist medicine which reduces craving for opioid drugs. Substitute medicine called buprenorphine helps to control withdrawal symptoms and craving of heroin/ BS available free of cost at OST Clinic. But individual should make informed choice to start OST after considering risk - benefits and need to continue long term treatment.
6. Enrolling oneself for long term Psychotherapy and counselling programme are vital to achieve abstinence.
7. Long term engagement with the service providers such as detoxification centers, drug deaddiction centers, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, clinic, counsellors, Psychiatrist & Addiction medicine specialist is highly recommended for 12 months. Regular follow up is the key.
8. Empathetic support from parents, spouse, and family members will increase chances of recovery. Family members should proactively participate in treatment process ensuring regular follow visit to counsellors and doctors for 12 months.
9. Lapse and relapse are integral part of addictive disorders. Educating oneself and primary caregivers on identifying early threatening signs of relapse, and resources available for seeking help at times of relapse are valuable tools to manage crisis.
10. Inpatient treatment by admitting your family members either at hospital and rehabilitation centers is the best treatment options. It's very difficult to control drug addiction on our own without help.
