You’re concerned about a friend or family member whose personality has changed drastically over the past few months. They have suddenly changed their lifestyle and seem almost disconnected.
What are the signs to look for if one suspects heroin use, or addiction?
Changes in Behavior
A child, or even adult, may change friend groups very quickly, drastically alter their lifestyle, and regular activities, and show a decline in school or job performance.
Physical Changes
Runny noses, and eyes, and constricted pupils are signs of possible heroin use. The user may begin to spend excessive periods of time sleeping or appear totally indifferent and lethargic. Regular heroin users may exhibit an unkempt appearance and lower their standards of hygiene as a result of the lethargy caused by the drug, coupled with the depression that normally comes with drug addiction.
Unusual Objects
You may begin to see or find strange unusual items inside and around the users’ home including capsules, small plastic bags, syringes, needles, and abnormal residue in the coffee-bean grinder. Coffee-grinders can be used to prepare heroin for smoking on injecting. As money is often a cause of concern for a drug addict you may find a pattern of stealing has emerged, or that there is a constantly changing number of seemingly random possessions in the house. Burnt or bent spoons, or pieces of tinfoil, lighters, razor blades, and empty toilet rolls can be signs that the person is smoking heroin.
Track Marks
This refers to the markings left by needles on the arms, legs and other parts of the user. People struggling with heroin addiction may wear long sleeves in extremely hot weather in order to hide these markings, which can turn to puss-filled boils and, if infected, can lead to the limb needing to be amputated. They also resort to injecting in places non-users are not likely to even consider such as beneath the fingernails, and into the groin.
