The death of Philip Seymour Hoffman was a tragic loss of a talented actor, friend, and father. Addiction affects those who use and those who eventually lose the loved ones in their life. Being there for those that have stopped during addiction recovery and then relapsed can make a difference between life and death. Learn about the signs of heroin use and addiction and its harmful effects.
What Heroin Does to the Body
Heroin is an opiate that has the strongest effect when injected through a syringe. Other methods dull the user’s experience of the drug. Once it enters the body, it becomes morphine and creates a relaxed and euphoric effect. The heart rate slows, blood pressure decreases, and many addicts fall asleep and never awaken, as the brain fails to send the necessary signals to continue beating and breathing. Heroin can be cut with fentanyl, seen on the East Coast, which makes it more potent and more difficult for users to judge the right amounts for their next high.
The Symptoms of Heroin Addiction
Heroin users and long-term users may show symptoms apparent to the observant eye.
Heroin users will display:
- Dry mouth
- Shortness of breath
- Constricted pupils
- Sudden alterations in behavior
- Confusion
- Hyper alertness followed by sleepiness
- Physical fatigue showing as a “droopy” appearance
- Lying and deception
- Avoiding eye contact
- Extensive time sleeping
- Incoherent speech
- Poor hygiene and little attention to appearance
- Little motivation towards other goals
- Withdrawal from close connections
- Stealing
- Hostility towards loved ones
- Wearing of long pants and sleeves to hide track marks from needles
Heroin use requires paraphernalia. Such items can include:
- Syringes and needles
- Burned silver spoons
- Aluminum foil
- Small plastic bags
- Water pipes
How Heroin Addiction Leads to Death
According to the Centers for Disease Control, heroin is one of the #1 killers of illegal drug users. Heroin addicts can use for a long time but with long term use become more susceptible to an “overdose.” Addicts die more often than new users. Their body craves more of the drug, but the physiological responses of the body cannot handle the effects of the drug and simply stop the automatic functions of breathing and regular heart beats. A heroin overdose can cause heart failure and infectious endocarditis, an infection of the heart. Those that have been off of the drug during addiction recovery and then return are more susceptible to an overdose, as they cannot judge the amount necessary for use and may have a drug that has been cut with other substances.
Keep an eye out for loved ones and recognize the signs. Your help can make the difference in 12-step recovery.
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