It requires a great deal of courage and strength to face up to a drug abuse problem. While you cannot do all the hard work for a friend or loved one, you can be the catalyst for positive change and enable those you care about to find the right help at the right time.

If you are wondering how to help someone with a heroin addiction , or a person abusing other substances, your awareness and support is the most valuable thing you can offer. If you suspect that your friend or family member needs help, or are just wondering how you would know they had reached a dangerous point of substance abuse, these lists will guide you.

The fact that you are looking for answers shows your caring level of concern.

How Will You Know If a Friend Needs Help with Addiction?

Without a concerned support system many individuals struggle with detox symptoms on their own. Research indicates that for a single year studied, of an estimated 22.7 million people who needed help with addiction only 2.5 million received treatment in a specialized program. This means that 20.2 million went untreated. ¹

Is it time to intervene? How do you help someone struggling with addictive drugs? You can start by becoming aware of the physical, behavioral, and psychological signs of heroin abuse and other substance addiction.

Behavioral Signs

• Being evasive, secretive, and being caught in lies frequently. Hiding drug use and purchases requires the user to begin lying to those around them.

• Loses interest in hobbies, passions, or activities they once enjoyed. Addictive substances flatten out the emotional response to other experiences, also there may not be enough time to pursue both things.

• Drastically changes appearance and general attitude, or has severe mood swings. This may be due to new (drug-using) peer group, or the effects of short term withdrawal.

• Travels alone to unusual places at odd hours. They may offer evasive responses when asked where they are going or why, and they won’t want you to come along.

• Starts stealing from friends, family, or workplace to support their drug use. This behavior from a previously honest and trustworthy friend can be a shocking sign. The pain of un-medicated withdrawal causes this desperate behavior.

• Fails to meet commitments, which might be related to memory loss or blackouts. As addiction grows, not only does the drug eclipse the importance of other responsibilities, the user may lose time or not be able to remember where they were.

• Has unexplained changes in sleep or energy level. Might be hyperactive, talk too much, or fall asleep suddenly. As drug levels rise and fall, there may be manic bursts of energy and subsequent crashes.

Physical Signs

• Sudden weight changes can be caused by stimulants, or by not eating while under the influence of opiates. Inactivity while under the influence may also cause weight gain.

• Unexplained bruises or marks, needle marks on arms, legs or bottoms of the feet. Bruises may be caused by stumbling or falling. Needle marks tell their own tale.

• Glazed or red eyes, pupils larger or smaller than usual, or a persistent blank stare. Most addictive substances affect pupil size and the eyes give a good indication of awareness.

• Nausea, vomiting, or excessive sweating, cold, sweaty palms or shaking hands can be signs of opiate detox, withdrawal from alcohol, or any physically addictive substance.

• Puffy face, blushing or paleness. Changes in blood pressure cause these intermittent effects. In combination with other symptoms, these might be significant.

• Runny nose, hacking cough, unusual nose bleeds. Any substance that is sniffed or inhaled can cause these types of reactions.

• Unusual odors. You may not recognize what it is, but metabolism changes can cause noticeable changes in someone’s body odors. Also, the fumes of other substances may cling to clothes or skin.

Consequence Signs

• Develops a visible tolerance or increases dosages. You may notice this in prescription drug addiction if you have visibility to pill bottles. It can be very difficult to reverse this trend and return to normal dosages.

• Becomes preoccupied with maintaining a steady supply, or becomes angry or violent when the supply runs out or they miss a dose. This reaction makes clear that the drug is taking over their normal personality.

• Sells personal property or has items repossessed. Pawns or sells things of personal value to catch up on bills or to buy drugs. Their home may become noticeably empty, or they may part with collections or family heirlooms.

• Legal problems arise in the form of a DUI, possession arrest, or they might be caught stealing. They may be required to seek treatment as a result, or offered the option.

• Job loss occurs due to poor performance, being late, etc. They may change jobs frequently because it is too difficult to keep to a schedule consistently.

• School or family are concerned about the possibility of child neglect. As a person is taken over by their addiction, they may not be able to properly care for children. If there is any concern about this, immediate help is needed.

Recognition Signs

• Indicates that they want to reduce or stop using drugs, but they do not make progress on their own. They may be struggling with withdrawal without medical help and guidance. Users in this stage can immediately benefit from a medication based detox program.

• Is aware of the negative impacts on their health and those around them, but continues to use the drug. If they are ready to discuss the negatives, they may be getting ready to begin recovery.

• Voluntarily discusses detox or rehab but does not follow up with any actions, or jokes about needing a program. They may be testing the waters to see if you agree they need help. They want to know you will be supportive and accepting. This is a great time to offer resources and information.

Why Is It so Difficult for Those We Love to Quit?

Continuous or repeated abuse of drugs causes changes in the brain. Self-control centers within the brain are inhibited or damaged, which shows up in brain scans of those in the grip of addiction. ² Wanting to change is essential to recovery, but it is usually not enough on it’s own.

Finding the right opiate detox center in Florida might require a little help from a friend. There are both inpatient and outpatient detox options to consider. Doing some research and being ready to offer information to your loved one is empowering for both of you.

If you get initial pushback, that’s okay. Continue to provide emotional support and information as your friend’s recognition of their problem grows.

Where to Find Help for Friends and Family

There are a number of detox centers in south Florida that provide different environments that support recovery. Outpatient options may be the right starting place, allowing your loved one to get the guidance and medical support needed to deal with heroin detox symptoms or other types of withdrawal, while still maintaining a normal life and keeping up with commitments.

At South Florida Detox Centers outpatient programs can be customized to fit the patient. Our team will meet with and assess your friend to develop the right combination of therapies and medications to alleviate symptoms. The detox certified physician will discuss the options of outpatient detox, opiate detox, and Suboxone™ treatment. This custom treatment plan will ease the detoxification process and control withdrawal symptoms.

With you by their side and willing to help them recognize their needs and pursue treatment, your friend or loved one can win the battle against addiction, find new hope, and create a healthy life. If these symptoms are taking over the personality of someone you care about, c ontact us . Recovery is within reach, with devoted friends like you and expert outpatient detox treatment nearby.

Sources:

1. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-SR200-RecoveryMonth-2014/NSDUH-SR200-RecoveryMonth-2014.htm

2. https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/treatment/what-to-do-if-your-adult-friend-or-loved-one-has-problem-drugs

Research data collected from recently published reports by the CDC (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute on Drug Abuse demonstrate heroin usage has increased significantly over the past decade. According to CBS News report from June 23, 2016, then-President Obama asked Congress for $1.1 billion in funding to address the epidemic. ¹

Part of the problem for the heroin epidemic, which is supported by the collected data, is that prescription painkiller drug use has also increased. Prescription pain medications, such as Vicodin® and OxyContin®, mimic the effects of heroin. It is not uncommon for someone to become addicted to prescription painkillers first, and then transition to heroin later.

In fact, according to the NIH, close to 80% of heroin addicts in the United States, including those currently seeking treatment, have reported to first using and abusing prescription painkillers. ² This is a change in previous trends from several decades ago. During that time, it was more common for people to use and abuse heroin first, and then move on to prescription painkillers.

The reason things have changed can be contributed to the ease of access to prescription opioids in the 1990s and early 2000s. At that time, there was no centralized tracking of prescription data. It was easy for a person to see multiple physicians and obtain multiple prescriptions for painkillers. For heroin addicts, it was easier to get a neverending supply of opioid drugs than to find a reliable source of heroin to support their habit.

However, with changes in regulations and stricter controls on the dispensing of prescription opioids, this is no longer the case. As it has become more difficult to obtain regular supplies of prescription painkillers, addicts have now turned to heroin use to fuel their addictions.

Why Is Heroin So Addictive?

Heroin is in a class of opioid drugs that are made from the seed pods found on opium poppy plants. For prescription drug abusers, taking heroin provides similar effects to opioid pain relievers. It is fast-acting, and it quickly binds to receptors in the brain and other areas of the body. It tends to reduce feelings of pain while enhancing feelings of pleasure.

The euphoric state one achieves from taking heroin is highly addictive. So much so, it only requires a person to try heroin once to be hooked on this drug. However, you need to realize that this euphoric state is just one possible outcome from using heroin. Not everyone has a pleasurable experience.

Some short-term side effects of using heroin could include: ²

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Drifting Between Conscious and Unconscious States
• Dry Mouth
• Itchy Skin
• Reduced Mental Functioning
• Heavy Feeling in the Arms and Legs
• Warm Sensations of the Skin

Long-term heroin use side effects not only include becoming addicted to the drug, but also: ²

• Sexual Dysfunction
• Kidney and Liver Disease
• Irregular Menstrual Cycles
• Insomnia
• Heart Lining and Heart Valve Infections
• Skin Abscesses
• Stomach Cramping
• Constipation
• Depression
• Antisocial Personality Disorder
• Tissue Damage
• Collapsed Veins
• Lung Infections
• Accidental Overdose
• Death

Facts and Statistics

According to the CDC, from 2002 through 2013, past year usage, past monthly usage, and addiction to heroin have increased the most in the 18-to-25-year-old age group. ³ In addition, out of all new users, 75% reported having previously abused prescription painkillers before switching to heroin.

Data collected by the CDC of those who previously abused prescription drugs or other substances is illustrated in the following chart:

It is clear to see, for the period from 2011 to 2013, the significant increase in prescription opioid abuse grew and has now become more prevalent than alcohol abuse, prior to abusing heroin. In some cases, addicts will continue to abuse the other substance along with using heroin. Data collected by the CDC about prior substance abuse shows: ⁴

• 56.8% of heroin users report past-month binge drinking.
• 97.4% of heroin users reported using other psychotherapeutic drugs for nonmedical purposes over the past year.
• 45.7% reported having used marijuana within the past year.
• 138.2% of new heroin users reported having taken and used prescription opioid pain relievers for nonmedical purposes over the past year.
• 87.1% reported having used cocaine during the past year.

According to the CDC, other facts and statistics collected include: ^3,4

• The rate of heroin-related overdoses resulting in deaths increased by a factor of 5 from 2010 to 2016.
• In 2016, more than 15,469 people died of heroin overdoses.
• The number of deaths increased the largest for synthetic opioids from 2015 to 2016.
• In 2016, 19,413 people died from synthetic opioids compared to 9,580 in 2015.
• Fentanyl is the top synthetic opioid.
• Fentanyl can be mixed with heroin or cocaine without the drug addict’s knowledge.
• Possible contributors to the heroin epidemic include improved purity, decreased prices, and increased access.
• There was a 108.6% increase in heroin usage from 2002 to 2013 in 18-to-25-year-olds.
• There was an increase of 114.3% for the non-Hispanic white (Caucasian) race segment.
• The biggest increase in abusers came from the middle-income class earning between $20,000 and $49,999 annually, with a 76.9% increase.
• Usage by females increased 100% from 2002 to 2013.
• Usage by males increased 50% from 2002 to 2013.
• Overall heroin usage rose from 2002 to 2013 by 62.5%.
• Overall heroin dependence and abuse rose from 2002 to 2013 by 90%.

The CDC also found that heroin usage is often part of a larger substance abuse and addiction problem. According to research data, people who are addicted to: ⁵

• Alcohol are two times more likely to become addicted to heroin.
• Marijuana are three times more likely to become addicted to heroin.
• Cocaine are fifteen times more likely to become addicted to heroin.
• Prescription opioid painkillers are forty times more likely to become addicted to heroin.

As evident from the research data, statistics, and facts about heroin usage, it is now a major epidemic in the United States that affects everyone, regardless of income and race.

How to Help Someone with a Heroin Addiction

It is important to remember that you cannot force someone with a heroin addiction to seek treatment. However, that does not mean you cannot help them. Often, friends and family members of a heroin addict do not fully understand the effects this drug has on the body and brain.

Far too often, friends and family members will simply demand that the addict stops using heroin, yet taking this approach rarely delivers the desired results. Instead, addicts will respond by hiding their heroin abuse and/or starting to push those closest to them away. Essentially, heroin will become more important than the addict’s friends and family.

Rather, a better place to start is to take the time to educate oneself about heroin health effects on the body and brain . Taking this approach will be more beneficial for you and your family in the long run. In addition, if necessary, you can seek help for staging an intervention from heroin addiction experts like us at South Florida Detox Center or a qualified facility in your area.

The key objective of a staged invention overseen by a professional is to help guide the addict and their friends and family to address the problem. The goal is to bring to light the addiction and increase awareness about how it is affecting those around the addict. Ultimately, it is hopeful the intervention will get the addicts to admit they have a problem.

Once the addicts admit they have a problem, then they will be more receptive to coming to terms with the fact they need help. Again, it is important to stress for you to avoid pushing addicts into a treatment program. They must make a conscious decision themselves that they want to stop and are ready to take the first steps on the path to recovery.

If you want to learn more about the signs of heroin use and what you can do to help a loved one with a heroin or opioid drug addiction, or are a heroin or prescription drug addict ready to being rehab, please feel free to contact South Florida Detox Center at (772) 675-6350 today! We have detox centers located in Broward, Palm Beach, and the Treasure Coast.

Sources

1. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/heroin-use-in-u-s-reaches-alarming-20-year-high/
2. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/heroin
3. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html
4. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6426a3.htm?s_cid=mm6426a3_w
5. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/heroin.html

Chart Source:

1. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6426a3.htm?s_cid=mm6426a3_w

If you are worried that you may have an opiate addiction near West Palm Beach, it’s important to know the symptoms of this form of drug dependence . Opiates are a class of drug that are typically prescribed for pain relief. These medications give people a feeling of euphoria, which encourages the addiction.

Watch this video to understand more about opiate addiction. Over time, people develop a tolerance to the opiates and need to take more of them to continue experiencing the euphoric effect. Merely the threat of not being able to continue taking the drug can cause an addicted person to experience opiate withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, profound psychological distress, and anxiety.

If you are planning to begin drug detox near West Palm Beach, your recovery could depend on seeking the right help. It’s common for people dealing with a drug dependence or addiction to feel shame or a sense of responsibility that makes them want to recover on their own. Detoxing is not a simple process, and dealing with drug dependence alone is dangerous and often unsuccessful.

Alcohol Detox

Alcohol is considered to be the most dangerous drug to detox from. When heavy drinkers stop imbibing, they can experience a severe withdrawal symptom known as delirium tremens (DTS). DTS usually begins two to five days after an alcoholic’s last drink and can cause hallucinations, convulsions, confusion, and high blood pressure. For this reason, it’s vital that alcoholics seek professional help and never attempt to detox alone.

Meth Detox

Detoxing from meth doesn’t involve many physical withdrawal symptoms. However, self-detox from meth is still dangerous because of the psychological withdrawal symptoms which can include paranoia, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, aggression, and severe depression. It’s uncommon for meth addicts to self-detox successfully, and inpatient treatment is typically the best way for them to recover.

Heroin Detox

Heroin is one of the most popular substances that people abuse and become dependent on, and it’s also one of the most addictive drugs in the world. It is one of the most difficult drugs to detox from your system, and self-detox attempts usually end in failure. It’s also dangerous to suddenly stop using heroin, and the withdrawal symptoms can be both agonizing and unsafe. These symptoms typically begin twelve hours after the last time a person uses heroin and can include vomiting, nausea, insomnia, diarrhea, abdominal pain, chills, anxiety, and weakness.

Detox Tips

Most people will need to take medications for muscle pain, diarrhea, and vomiting when they begin to detox. Talk to your friends, family, or doctor about your addiction and attend formal detox and addiction treatment to increase your chances of a safe recovery.