Heroin Rehab Center & Treatment Facility
What Are the Signs of Heroin Addiction?
There are many symptoms and warning signs common among those struggling from heroin abuse. If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the following, it may be necessary to seek treatment for heroin addiction:
- Neglecting responsibilities and personal hygiene
- Loss of appetite/refusal to eat
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tiny pupils, sleepy eyes, and flushed skin
- Slow breathing
- The tendency to fall asleep wherever and whenever
- Photophobia (pain or discomfort to the eyes caused by light exposure)
- Unnecessarily trying to conceal parts of the body which are usually exposed, such as arms or legs (trying to hide “track marks” caused from injecting heroin with a syringe)
- Drug paraphernalia, such as spoons with burnt edges, syringes and rubber tubes.
Heroin Epidemic
Over the course of a few years, heroin addiction in the United States has transformed from a concerning issue into a widespread epidemic. The extremely addictive and powerful drug has been on the rise and more people are using it than ever before. Heroin overdose death rates continue to climb, as thousands of people fall victim each year.
Heroin use has increased substantially over the last decade among most demographics throughout the United States. Demographic groups that have had historically low rates of heroin use, such as women, high income individuals and the privately insured, have seen significant spikes in usage rates. Young adults have especially fallen victim to the substance. Heroin use among 18-25 year old’s has more than doubled within the past decade.
Any stereotype you may have about the type of person that would use heroin: throw out the window. Heroin’s reach is becoming larger and larger each day, and you or a loved one could be next.
Heroin Drug Info & Facts
Heroin is a synthetic opioid drug made from morphine that produces euphoric effects. Common street names include dope, smack, H, and black tar. It comes as a white or brown powder or a sticky, black goo (black tar heroin). Heroin can be injected into the blood stream with a needle, snorted up the nose or smoked. All of these methods send it to the brain very quickly, making it very addictive.
People tend to use heroin along with other drugs or alcohol. One common mixture is heroin with crack cocaine, a practice referred to as speedballing. Doing heroin by itself is already quite dangerous, but mixing it with other substances is especially dangerous as it increases the risk of overdose or death.