12 Comments so far

1. conundrum_dragon Said:

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   Signs/Symptoms of Heroin Usage

   There are several signs and symptoms that should raise a red flag. Pupils of the eyes often are very small in in reduced lighting conditions when pupils normally dilate.

   Mainlining: When a user is the beginning stages of direct injection into a vein [mainlining], the most accessible veins are generally used – located in the inner portion of the arm near the elbow joint. This injection site is commonly called “the ditch” by users. If the person is mainlining, you may see scabs on the vein.

   In the beginning, the user typically will experiment just once or twice a week and in some cases less often . . . once a month or less. At the early stages, there may be few signs of symptoms. At this point you probably would notice the injection sites. As the user progresses from experimentation to addiction, they will eventually reach a point where they shoot up at least once a day. At this point, several injection sites become noticeable. For example, over a 6 month period, the user will have shot up at least 180 times. This is when the needle marks manifest themselves as “tracks”. Trails of tiny scabs may extend 1-3 inches or more down the arm or leg in a straight line right over top of the vein.

   If a person is right handed, he normally uses his right hand to inject himself in the left arm and left handed person normally injects into the right arm.

   As the tracks become progressively more visible, addicts will often wear long sleeves to hide the marks.

   Injecting repeatedly into the same vein over and over again will cause the vein to collapse or “blow out”. After a period of time, all veins in the arms may be blown out. At that point, the addict usually turns to veins located behind the knee or on the back of the hands.

   Physical and Mental Effects

   Heroin is a central nervous system depressant which also affects reflexes such as coughing, breathing, and heart rate. Heroin also causes blood vessels to dilate which gives a feeling of warm and can drop blood pressure.

   Heroin is used for its euphoric effect. At higher doses, sedation takes over and an overdose will result in unconsciousness, coma, and sometimes death from respiratory failure. The risk for overdose increases significantly if taken with other depressant drugs such as alcohol and tranquilizers.

   Opioids like heroin cause people to feel drowsy, warm, and content. The `drug also relieves stress and discomfort by inducing a relaxed detachment from pain and activities. This overall effect is perceived as positive pleasure. Users report a surge of pleasurable sensation or “rush”. However, once the user develops physical dependence and tolerance [needs progressively more drug to get the same effect], positive pleasure is replaced by relief at taking the drug to maintain a feeling of “normality”.

   Nausea and vomiting are a common side effect especially when first using the drug. Constipation is a common side effect that can be quite severe.

   An overdose may produce slow and shallow breathing, clammy skin, convulsions, coma, and death

   http://www.teennewhorizons.com/heroin.htm

2. solider.of.god Said:

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   Some physical signs of snorting heroin use are bloody nose, sniffling, and constant sneezing if he is not sick. If he checked into rehab you should be good.

3. mailjunkie123 Said:

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   Detecting is the sublte changes….

   For example, I knew a woman and when she was sober she was always so edgey…but when she got high…you can tell by the very small subtle’s…the way she would push back her hair…She wasn’t so jittery when she did it when she was high

4. WORLD FAMOUS Said:

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   Signs of Heroin Use – He may sniff a lot, dissapear for days at a time and return with the same clothes on. Have high standards of himself at times and low at others.

5. flawless_agony Said:

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   well if hes in rehab hes not getting high there, so when he gets done with rehab, look in his face and see his eyes, see if theyre baggy dark under neather, and glossy. thats a sign of use, also if he looks like skeletor from heman, like his skin becomes pale and his face is sunken in. over time weightless is a sign of drug use as well. if hes snorting it chances are he sounds like he has a cold, and is snorting his nose like its running. mood and behavoir is a good way to see as well, like if hes snappy all the time, throwing up and shaking, thats a sign hes withdrawling. you will be able to tell.

6. dragonlord_2812 Said:

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   SIGNS of HEROIN USE:
   Euphoria
   Drowsiness
   Impaired mental functioning
   Slowed down respiration
   Constricted pupils
   Nausea
   Cold Spells

7. igiveall2002 Said:

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   Heroin is a fat soluble drug… one of the most difficult to get off of. The reason is.. any time he starts to burn off fat cells, he will get a “taste” of it… and need a fix. If you’re in it for the long haul, you will need a support group HONESTLY!! Look for lethargic-type symptoms.. it’s a sedative-type pain killer (obviously highly addictive). Good luck… and God bless.

8. Lysergia Said:

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   If hes hanging out with his heroin using friends hes probably using still, but maybe not. Also look for the constricted pupils. They will be unnaturally tiny. You can find a symptoms list here: http://www.focusas.com/Heroin.html
   most of them apply to injection though. If he seems drowsy remember that it may be from medication hes being given and not heroin.

9. chola Said:

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   Oh I hope he has stopped. I to had a boyfriend on that crap!! U will be able to tell. He will be real lazy, tired, down, no pain U see heroin is a pain killer, a depressant not a upper. He also will after a while have no interest in sex, unlikley he will be able to perform. Since he snorts there r symptoms nose running, bleeding, he also will have a habit of putting his 2 fingers to his nose, pay close attention this habit is from snorting, he wont even know he is doing it. Another good sign money it will go with no explanation! Is he still with his drug buddies? If so not good he has to break away from them and the surroundings. He also isnt going to have much interest in much, he will be looking for his next fix, he will get edgy, and if he is on it and cant get it he will be very sick, vomiting, chills, shaking etc. I hope he is not using, if he is he must seek help for himself not you or anybody else, he has to want to stop, if he is serious about stopping be there when he needs to talk, needs support etc. U may just end up as friends or if he stays clean U may end up with a great relationship, having been thru so much. But please if he wont stop or keeps going back to heroin, leave him U deserve better, and believe me he will choose the heroin if hes hooked, and it usually will end up with him doing time in jail or prison, most users commit crimes in need of that extra money. I hope for the best for him, and pray U make the right decision for U! Hope I have helped. P.S. my boyfriend did not stop so I left him, this was years ago and he did end up in the penitentary for burglaries, seems I made the right choice! I have a great husband now.

10. dietcokeani Said:

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    You’ll feel a sinking sense in your gut that your mind will try to talk you out of, but in the end, all the facts in the world won’t compare to the feeling of separateness that you know is there when he’s using.
    You’re better off looking for signs of recovery, and if you don’t find those, be concerned.

    His rehab should have information for concerned others, and they often want to involve you in treatment. There is also Nar-Anon, the self help group for friends and family members of those suffering from addiction.

    Remember that even if he “just snorts”, he’s addicted. The method isn’t as important as the fact that he’s using something that everyone knows is dangerous.

    Those leaps of logic are killers for addicts, but really are the nature of addiction. He isn’t losing any IQ points going into or out of recovery….he just loses the use of his faculties when he’s in active addiction. He loses the ability to be honest. When that changes, you’ll feel it. If you don’t feel it, it might not be there.

    Those are better signs to look for.
    Good luck to you.

11. shellaroe Said:

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    My ex did heroin and crack and is now in prison. He snorted moreso than shot up. He was always passing out and burning himself and the couch with his cigarettes. He had extreme difficulty peeing and would pass out on the toilet. His back would itch so bad he would scratch himself itching (we used to fight about that until I found out). He also smelled of the opiate, a yellowish dust around nose, runny nose and would sometimes vomit. He craved sugar and would eat tons of chocolate. He was always broke and would disappear for lengths of time. I was with him for some time before I knew. I just thought he was always tired, until he got into trouble. You have my sympathy. My heart is broken by the signs of heroin use.

12. Tammie W Said:

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    I can feel for you. I suspect my boyfriend is using (snorting) herion. That is how I came across your question. He falls asleep at restaurants which is embarassing and hangs around strippers and escorts whom he says has problems. I am sad and scared and I pray I can get out of this relationship easily. I just found out I was pregnant with his child. I am sad and scared but the reality of it is right in front of me. I wish you the best of luck and I will pray for you.