Are Heroin Side Effects Conspicuous?

Heroin is one of the most potent and addictive illicit drugs. Individuals who use heroin routinely become addicted only after one use. However, the signs of heroin addiction and symptoms of heroin withdrawal can be hidden. The signs of use can be covered up, and heroin withdrawal often looks like a severe cold or flu. Yet by learning more about the drug and how it is abused, individuals can educate themselves to recognize the signs of drug abuse. Doing so allows you to help friends, family, or loved ones get the addiction treatment they need to heal. If you are wondering if someone you love has a heroin problem, there are signs you can look for to confirm your suspicions. Heroin side effects are easy to see if you know those signs. Then, if your loved one is abusing heroin, you can help them get the treatment they need.

At Beaches Recovery, we offer comprehensive and customized heroin addiction treatment. We can help those struggling with addiction and those also affected by it, like friends and family, learn to cope with and overcome the disease of addiction.

Conspicuous Heroin Side Effects

One of the clearest heroin side effects is the relaxation the user feels after injecting, snorting, or smoking the drug. Heroin use is usually immediately followed by a droopy, heavy look to the person’s body. Their eyelids become heavy and their gaze unfocused with tiny pupils.

You may also notice other side effects such as shortness of breath, dry mouth, disorientation, and sudden behavioral changes. Hyperactivity often follows the droopy body and eyes, then cycling back to droopiness.

Some of the most obvious signs of heroin abuse are the tools used to prepare, snort, inject, or smoke the drug. Some of those items include syringes, burned silver spoons, burned foil or gum wrappers, burned straws, pipes, and tiny plastic baggies that package the white powder.

As they progress through their drug abuse, there are other physical effects you can see. These physical changes include:

• Weight loss
• A runny nose without illness
• Visible needle tracks on arms or other body parts
• Injection site infections
• Scabs, bruises, and cuts on the skin from picking

Behavioral Heroin Side Effects

There are obvious behavioral signs indicating heroin use. Over time, the person you love will focus more and more on the drug, less on the rest of their daily life. You will soon not recognize the person you used to know. These behavioral signs of heroin use include:

• Dishonesty
• Avoiding eye contact
• Sleeping too much
• Slurring speech
• Poor personal hygiene and appearance
• Lost motivation
• Broken relationships
• New, questionable friendships

Your loved one may stop playing favorite sports, pursuing hobbies, or doing other things they once really enjoyed. Stealing and other criminal behaviors are common, as obtaining heroin is the main focus. You will notice they have low self-esteem, hostility, unreliability, and low interest in daily life. These behavioral issues are best addressed through addiction therapy that deals with both addiction and any mental health issues.

Help Is Available for Heroin Addiction

It can be terrifying to hear that heroin use and addiction only lead to rehab, jail, or the grave. But when you know your loved one is abusing heroin, it is your chance to help them get the help they need before it is too late.

In Jacksonville, Florida, Beaches Recovery provides accredited heroin addiction rehab to help your family member, friend, or even yourself start a new life in recovery. Call Beaches Recovery now at 866.605.0532 for more information about available programs. You know that your loved one deserves a long, fulfilling life. So help them get the treatment they need at Beaches Recovery.