Drug Addiction: Heroin Drug Abuse and Heroin Addiction Signs

Many people often wonder if someone they love is using drugs. No one wants to believe that they might be using drugs. Lack of knowledge won’t solve the problem if one exist. Unless one can identify the signs of heroin drug abuse or heroin drug addiction, getting the help they need is impossible.

Mary Rieser, Executive Director for the Atlanta Recovery Center Drug Rehab, comments: "I recently interviewed a recovering heroin drug addict.  He freely spoke of his heroin addiction throughout his high school years into adulthood. His friends considered him one of the “lucky” ones.  His parents had been able to provide him with a good education give him a hefty allowance and a nice car.

“But they never dreamed that the car and the money made it possible for him to develop and maintain a heroin addiction - one that eventually took the place of school and he dropped out.  Finally it became unnecessary to drive the nice car to the ‘hood’ to buy his heroin.  Heroin business in his neighborhood was burgeoning and dealers started delivering as they still do today.

‘The final delivery is made through some local kids, so there is probably nothing really suspicious looking to the untrained eyes, abundant in this posh neighborhood.  In fact, as he explained, unsuspecting parents in his neighborhood are still buying heroin for their children.

“Research reveals that this neighborhood is not distinct with its unknowing support of drug traffic.   It is happening in other neighborhoods, ones that previously one would have put last on the list of possible drug havens.”

All parents (and anyone for that matter) must be alert to the tell tale signs of heroin abuse.  Heroin can affect behavior in different ways.

•    Some people get hyper while most get lethargic and nod or dope off.
•    A person on heroin (or any opiate drugs) will have constricted, pin point pupils.
•    They may be constantly scratching.
•     A heroin user may get pale, sweaty or thirsty.
•     If the user is injecting there will be needle marks on arms, behind knees or ankles.
•    Long sleeves (worn to cover needle marks) in summer should cause suspicion.

A parent searching their teen’s bedroom for heroin may find a white or brownish powder or a black sticky substance   This is heroin.

If you find it, call us right away.  We can help walk you through the steps to get your child to treatment or direct you to an interventionist if needed.

Ms. Rieser continues: “Whatever you do, DO SOMETHING.  Heroin is dangerous.  Heroin users don’t even know what they are getting as most street heroin is 'cut' with other drugs or substances such as sugar, starch, quinine, strychnine or fentanyl.   Because the user doesn’t know the actual strength or true contents of the drug they are at risk for overdose or death. And this risk presents itself day in and day out because the typical heroin addict will have to inject three to eight times a day, depending on their addiction.

"Long-term addiction is unhealthy and can be almost impossible to overcome without a workable program.   It is no secret that drug addicts are mal-nourished and open to disease. Drug addicts don’t eat well.  And drugs of abuse will deplete natural body chemicals.  Drug metabolites (the broken down form of the drug) store in various parts of the body, adding to the situation.   All of these factors make it difficult for addicts to stop using.  They try for a while to stop taking the drug, but become too uncomfortable.  The body is accustomed to having the drug and not being up to operating normally, demands the drug.  And the craving continues.  With no apparent end in sight to the suffering, most addicts will continue as long using as they are not stopped by some life disaster, prison or rehab."

The Atlanta Recovery Center Program can address these factors that make it nearly impossible for an addict to stop drug use.  Along with any necessary medical support, simple nutritional supplements can help the body adjust and heal.  And the New Life Detoxification Program can help clean out the metabolites which contribute to cravings.   Many former addicts report that the drugs are not longer “talking” to them – i.e. they are in control.