Signs of Heroin Use
Heroin is an opioid drug that is derived from morphine and has continued to affect people in the United States who have used heroin. This heroin abuse is part of the ongoing opioid epidemic that has affected many people across the country and the world at large.
Heroin is a powerful drug that is highly addictive. Using it at least once may lead to a person developing an addiction.
The use of heroin can have devastating effects. However, it can be hard to identify if someone is abusing heroin. The signs of heroin use can be hard to spot for some people, but a developing addiction will always leave signs.
Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Addiction
There are a few signs that someone has become addicted to heroin. Common signs may include track marks on the arms from injecting heroin. A lot of people who use heroin may also struggle with constant itching and runny noses.
Many heroin users can lose a lot of weight in a short space of time. Dry mouth and impaired vision are also indicators of heroin abuse. Many people who take heroin will have an increased need for sleep. Some will display what is known as “the nods” among users, where they nod off to sleep uncontrollably. Despite this, many people who ingest heroin may have a notable lack of energy or motivation.
Cognitive Effects of Heroin Addiction
There are also cognitive symptoms that accompany heroin addiction. Heroin causes a person to have cognitive impairments such as having difficulties concentrating and controlling their impulses.
Some can suffer from hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions. The cognitive effects of heroin abuse include having difficulty making decisions and disorientation. In addition, garbled speech may occur when someone is in active use.
Mental Symptoms of Heroin Addiction
Heroin can affect a person’s mental health. People who use the drug may develop symptoms of disorders such as depression and anxiety. They may also have mood swings and lose interest in previously enjoyable things.
Social Indicators of Heroin Addiction
Heroin is a highly addictive drug, and it can affect a person’s behavior and social life as well as their health. The effects of addiction include the ways that it can affect a person’s social life as well.
Many people who become addicted prioritize heroin abuse over everything else in their lives. This can lead to them neglecting their friends and family, resulting in strained relationships.
This neglect extends to other aspects of an individual’s life. Many people will ignore work or school in favor of heroin. This can result in poor performance or job loss.
Another way that a person’s behavior may indicate heroin addiction is secrecy. A lot of people do not want their loved ones to know that they have become dependent on heroin so that they may become more furtive. Some may even withdraw to hide the extent of their addiction.
Many people who prioritize heroin over everything else in their lives may also have a disheveled appearance, as they may neglect personal care.
Many heroin users may also pick at their skin, which can lead to scabs and scars. This can lead to them wearing long sleeves even in warm weather.
Effects of Heroin Abuse
One of the most dangerous effects of being addicted to heroin is developing tolerance. This happens with long-term substance abuse. When a person becomes tolerant of a substance, its effects are dulled when they use it. This can lead to someone using more of it, which can increase the risk of a heroin overdose.
Another effect of developing a heroin addiction is dependence. When a person becomes dependent on a drug, they need to use it to function mentally and physically. If they are unable to engage in drug use, they may suffer unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
Many heroin users engage in their drug abuse through needles. However, this can increase their risk of becoming infected with HIV, hepatitis, or similar diseases, as many heroin users share needles.
Long-term heroin use can also lead to various problems, as it can damage the lining and valves of the heart. People may also have collapsed veins and abscesses at injection sites.
While some opioids have medical use, heroin is classified as a Schedule I Controlled Substance, which means that it has no accepted medical use. It’s illegal to possess, manufacture, and distribute. As such, a person may face legal consequences depending on the situation in which they find themselves.
Causes and Risk Factors for Heroin Addiction
The risk factors for heroin addiction can include chronic pain. Many people become addicted to opioids because they have pain that they need to manage. So, they are prescribed a legitimate opioid to manage that pain. But then they become dependent. So they turn to illicit opioids like heroin when they are unable to access prescription opioids.
A person’s genetics may also cause heroin addiction. Many people who have a family history of substance abuse are more susceptible to addictive behaviors, such as substance abuse.
Heroin Withdrawal Effects
Becoming dependent on heroin can cause a person to struggle with withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, and, in cases of going cold turkey, cold flashes. These withdrawal symptoms can be deeply distressing, so it’s best to detox in a treatment facility under a medical team’s supervision.
Treatment for Heroin Abuse and Addiction
Heroin addiction causes various problems in a person’s life. But it is a condition that can be treated. Treatment starts with detox, which flushes the heroin from someone’s system to help them get clean. Medication can be used to mitigate withdrawal symptoms.
Behavioral therapies can help them learn how to stay clean as it can help them challenge unhealthy thought patterns and manage strong emotions. Group and family therapy can help people find new relationships and fix one damaged by addiction.
Seek Treatment Now
Addiction can be devastating. But it’s not something that has to be permanent. At Twilight Recovery, we will help you or your loved one find a path to recovery and build a life free from addiction.