Heroin is one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs a person can use. Getting lasting help for someone with a heroin addiction almost always requires the aid of behavioral health specialists at a heroin addiction treatment center. By knowing the signs of heroin addiction and knowing how to take action, you could save the life of someone you love. Contact Silicon Beach Treatment Center at [Direct] for more information on getting help for someone dealing with heroin addiction.
What Are the Signs of Heroin Addiction?
Prolonged heroin use is difficult to ignore. The signs of heroin addiction affect physical, mental, and emotional health. Pronounced changes in a user’s habits, relationships, and personality often accompany heroin use.
What are the signs of heroin addiction to look for in a loved one?
Physical Signs of Heroin Addiction
Common physical signs include:
- Needle marks or bruising on arms or veins
- Lethargic movements and speech
- Pinpoint pupils
- Frequent heavy sleep
- Weight loss
- Itchiness
- Withdrawal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and physical pain
Behavioral Signs of Heroin Addiction
Behavioral signs of heroin addiction often include:
- Isolation
- Personality changes
- Loss of interest in former hobbies and activities
- Withdrawal from relationships
- Unusual spending habits or missing money
- Secretive behavior or lying
Material Signs of Heroin Addiction
Other signs of heroin use include the presence of:
- Syringes
- Burnt spoons
- Aluminum foil or plastic with drug residue
- Glass or metal pipes
If you notice several of the above signs, there’s a good chance that the person you’re concerned about is struggling with addiction to heroin or another substance.
What to Do When Someone You Know Is Using Heroin
One of the most complex parts of helping someone with heroin addiction is getting them to admit there’s a problem. Heroin users often go to great lengths to conceal their drug use, and questions or accusations may be met with anger and denial.
Heroin takes over the body and mind of a user. They become physically dependent on the drug, needing it to perform basic functions. Psychologically, life becomes centered around a fixation on getting and using more of the drug.
You can’t force a person to admit to using, and you can’t force them into treatment. However, most individuals addicted to heroin know that it is destructive and want to live free from the addiction.
If you suspect that someone you know is using heroin, they need help. A heroin addiction treatment center can guide you when you are trying to get a loved one to consider treatment.
At-Home Detox Can Be a Fatal Mistake
Heroin’s effect on the body makes it one of the most difficult substances to stop using. Attempting to detox abruptly without medical supervision can have deadly consequences. Heroin addiction usually requires a drug-assisted medical detox for a user to safely and successfully quit.
Heroin detox attempted without medical intervention brings side effects, including acute physical pain, nausea, vomiting, and overwhelming cravings. Some individuals may be tempted to try to quit on their own, only to eventually be overwhelmed by the physical and psychological effects of cold-turkey detox.
A user’s tolerance can decrease quickly while attempting an at-home detox. When self-directed detox fails, they use heroin again to relieve the pain of detox, resulting in a fatal overdose.
Begin Treatment at Silicon Beach Treatment Center
Medically supervised detox is the safest and most successful way to ensure the detox process is completed, while medical professionals also manage pain and psychological effects. Silicon Beach Treatment Center provides heroin detox and addiction treatment programs.
A medically supervised heroin detox takes around five days to complete. However, detox is just the beginning of treating heroin addiction. Silicon Beach Tx offers both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs to help address the root causes of heroin addiction, providing clients with the tools to support long-term recovery. Contact Silicon Beach Treatment Center at [Direct] to speak with a behavioral health specialist about treatment options for heroin addiction.
