As of 2016, 948,000 people in the US reported using heroin in the past year, and many of these were young adults aged 18-25, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Perhaps even more frightening is that the number of first-time users doubled between 2006 and 2016 for people (primarily males) in this age bracket. The American Society of Addiction Medicine reports that some 25% of those who use heroin regularly will get addicted to the substance.
But it’s not only this age group that we need to be worried about. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heroin use is on the rise across all demographics, especially for those who are already addicted to alcohol or other drugs.
What is Heroin?
Heroin, a derivative of morphine, is available on the street as a white or brown powder and sometimes comes in a crudely processed form called “black tar.”
According to the CDC heroin-related deaths in rose by 19% from 2015 to 2016, and many of these deaths are likely related to the fact that a deadly substance called fentanyl is being added to cut heroin.
How can you tell if someone has a problem? Keep reading for important information about this dangerous drug.
If the track marks are new, they’ll look like puncture wounds, whereas older ones will typically take the form of small scabs or scars. Most of the time the location of the scars will be in the forearm near the elbow crease, but sometimes people do inject in their hands or other parts of the body like the groin or feet.
If you notice that someone refuses to wear T-shirts even in hot weather, or is taking great lengths to cover another part of their body, this may be an indicator that something is seriously wrong.
Other physical signs that someone is using include cloudy functioning, dry mouth, small pupils, a runny nose, flushed face and a general impairment of movement and speech. Excessive weight loss, sleeping at odd hours, and sexual dysfunction may also indicate of heroin addiction.
Thus, most people notice that heavy users become less functional psychologically overall.
Lying and manipulation, along with any sort of self-destructive behavior, often occur alongside addiction.
They may steal money, frequently ask to borrow money, miss rent payments or even cash out lifetime savings accounts just to pay for the drugs.
Other medical conditions that can result from heroin use include bacterial infections, pneumonia, arthritis, liver and kidney disease, heart infections, and more
If You Suspect Addiction
We’ve all seen movies where people have a puff of marijuana and then in the next scene the drug user is selling their last possessions and desperate to find another “hit.” And while this does happen to some people, it’s important to note that people can appear functional for years while hiding their addictions, leaving little to no trace of their problem in plain sight.
Typically, the worse a habit gets, less capable a person will usually be of hiding it, though they may stay functional for years and the signs may be subtle or even inconsistent.
While conversations about the topic may be difficult to have, it’s important that you stay engaged with the person on a regular basis and stay cognizant of mood swings and behavior changes, as well as physical signs and symptoms.
Perhaps even more frightening is that the number of first-time users doubled between 2006 and 2016 for people (primarily males) in this age bracket. The American Society of Addiction Medicine reports that some 25% of those who use heroin regularly will get addicted to the substance.
But it’s not only this age group that we need to be worried about. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heroin use is on the rise across all demographics, especially for those who are already addicted to alcohol or other drugs.
What is Heroin?
Heroin, a derivative of morphine, is available on the street as a white or brown powder and sometimes comes in a crudely processed form called “black tar.”
According to the CDC heroin-related deaths in rose by 19% from 2015 to 2016, and many of these deaths are likely related to the fact that a deadly substance called fentanyl is being added to cut heroin.
How can you tell if someone has a problem? Keep reading for important information about this dangerous drug.
- Drug Paraphernalia
- Track Marks
If the track marks are new, they’ll look like puncture wounds, whereas older ones will typically take the form of small scabs or scars. Most of the time the location of the scars will be in the forearm near the elbow crease, but sometimes people do inject in their hands or other parts of the body like the groin or feet.
If you notice that someone refuses to wear T-shirts even in hot weather, or is taking great lengths to cover another part of their body, this may be an indicator that something is seriously wrong.
- External Physical Changes and Symptoms
Other physical signs that someone is using include cloudy functioning, dry mouth, small pupils, a runny nose, flushed face and a general impairment of movement and speech. Excessive weight loss, sleeping at odd hours, and sexual dysfunction may also indicate of heroin addiction.
- Psychological Changes
Thus, most people notice that heavy users become less functional psychologically overall.
- Antisocial / Self-Destructive Behavior
Lying and manipulation, along with any sort of self-destructive behavior, often occur alongside addiction.
- Financial Problems
They may steal money, frequently ask to borrow money, miss rent payments or even cash out lifetime savings accounts just to pay for the drugs.
- Serious Medical Problems
Other medical conditions that can result from heroin use include bacterial infections, pneumonia, arthritis, liver and kidney disease, heart infections, and more
If You Suspect Addiction
We’ve all seen movies where people have a puff of marijuana and then in the next scene the drug user is selling their last possessions and desperate to find another “hit.” And while this does happen to some people, it’s important to note that people can appear functional for years while hiding their addictions, leaving little to no trace of their problem in plain sight.
Typically, the worse a habit gets, less capable a person will usually be of hiding it, though they may stay functional for years and the signs may be subtle or even inconsistent.
While conversations about the topic may be difficult to have, it’s important that you stay engaged with the person on a regular basis and stay cognizant of mood swings and behavior changes, as well as physical signs and symptoms.
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