Heroin is a very strong opioid derived from the opium poppy. The sap of the poppy (opium) is collected and then synthesized into heroin. Originally designed to be a “less addictive” form of morphine, heroin has become a serious drug of abuse and is a huge part of the opioid epidemic in the United States. Heroin most often comes in the form of a sticky black or brown substance known as “black tar heroin”, but can also come in the form of brown or white powder.
Few things can be more devastating to a parent then the realization that your child is (or may be) struggling with heroin addiction or opioid abuse. It is vital that you recognize an important truth: people recover from heroin addictions every day, and long-term recovery is absolutely possible. In this page, we aim provide a basic overview of how to spot heroin addiction and its effects on the body. If you are a loved one is suffering from addiction, we hope that you can utilize this information to arm yourself with some basic facts that make it easier to decide on a course of action.
If you have further questions, contact our drug rehab center in Denver, Colorado or call us today at 303-690-0082 to schedule a no cost assessment to receive guidance on the best course of action for your situation.
Methods of Heroin Use
Heroin is most commonly associated with being injectable. However, just because a user isn’t injecting doesn’t mean they aren’t using heroin. The most common methods of heroin use are:
- Smoking – This is where most people who use heroin start. The user will place the heroin on a piece of tin foil and heat it from below using a lighter. The user will then inhale the vapor through a straw, pen body, or dollar bill. Commonly, the soot from the bottom of the tin foil will get on the user’s hands. If you notice mysterious “black smudges” around your door handles, bathrooms, etc., then there’s a chance your loved one is smoking heroin (or other pharmaceutical opiates / pills)
- Snorting – This is much less common these days, but it does occur. Heroin in power form can be snorted. Paraphernalia will include razor blades, credit cards, rolled up dollar bills, or small sections of straws.
- Intravenous – This is the method most commonly associated with heroin use. This method is usually only done by experienced heroin users and carries an extremely high risk of overdose, infection, disease transfer, collapsed veins, and abscess. Paraphernalia includes spoons, lighters, syringes, and tied off belts or shoe laces.
What to Look for – Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Use or Addiction
If you suspect that your child is using heroin or other opiates, there are numerous telltale signs you can watch for. One telltale sign is that ALL opiates create constricted pupils – if you notice your loved one has constricted pupils, they are on opiates. Signs to watch for:
- Constricted pupils
- Unusual irritability and anger
- Falling asleep at unusual times while sitting or standing (nodding off)
- Itchy skin and excessive scratching
- Shallow breathing (especially while sleeping)
- Injection marks on arms
- Mysterious black smudges on hands or clothes
- Poor hygiene
The Effects of Heroin Addiction on the Body
To help your child to overcome their struggle with heroin addiction it is vital to understand both the effect it has on the body and how one becomes addicted to it:
- When somebody snorts, smokes, or injects heroin or any opiate it enters the bloodstream and is converted into morphine once it reaches the brain. Opiates then bind to opioid receptors in the brain responsible for pain and pleasure. The user will feel a sense of calm and euphoria, and will appear drowsy and nod off repeatedly. This high will usually peak around 2 hours later and begin to fade after 4 hours or so.
- The physical symptoms of heroin addiction develop as repeated use of the drug causes the brain to gradually produce less of the pleasure causing chemicals known as endorphins. After a time, the brain’s production of neurotransmitters is so unbalanced that the user will “need” to use more opiates to feel normal.
- Once the user has arrived at a physical drug addiction, they will experience extremely unpleasant withdrawal symptoms without the presence of more opiates. Many users report that they continued to use the drug because they were afraid to experience the withdrawal symptoms. The good news is that heroin withdrawal is not life threatening.
Heroin Addiction Withdrawals, Heroin Overdose, Detoxification, and Recovery
Heroin overdose is extremely dangerous and is typically marked my loss of consciousness, unresponsiveness, inability to talk, or shallow breathing. Overdose will typically happen very quickly after injection.
Heroin withdrawal is extremely unpleasant for the user. As noted above, heroin withdrawal is not life threatening, but a serious heroin addiction will almost always require some type of medical detoxification services, because most users find it nearly impossible to make it through the acute withdrawal phase on their own.
Acute heroin withdrawal will typically begin around 6-12 hours after the last use, peak after 2-3 days, and subside after 5-7 days. Note that each opiate has a different timeline for withdrawal. For instance, if the heroin user is also using methadone, the withdrawal symptoms will last much longer. Symptoms of heroin withdrawal include:
- Nausea and vomiting (first 2-3 days)
- Inability to eat or keep food in the stomach
- Insomnia lasting 2-3 days, and gradually easing up after the first 5-7 days
- Generalized pain in the joints and skin
- Muscle spasms
- Sweating
- The feeling of being “cold” all the time
During your free evaluation with the Cornerstone Program, we can help you to determine if professional detoxification services are necessary for your child – it largely depends on the frequency and duration of use, and not everyone requires it.
Next Steps for Addressing Opiate or Heroin Addiction
The Cornerstone Program offers a comprehensive range of additional drug treatment services for teens and young adults who need to stop using heroin. After the treatment process, our weekly twelve step meetings and regular sober social activities, continue to provide accountability for young people through the early recovery phase and into long-term recovery.
If you believe your loved one may be using opiates or heroin, contact our Denver drug rehab center today or call us at (303) 690-0082.