Heroin Addiction Research Paper

Words: 624
Pages: 3

When someone has an addiction, there are heroin addiction symptoms loved ones can spot. An addict will often try to hide their addiction at first. Over time, it becomes harder to deny the addiction. It affects all aspects of their health, personal and professional lives.

Heroin Addiction Symptoms

This drug is a fast-acting opiate. Users may inject, snort or smoke it. If it is injected, heroin causes an intense euphoria in just seconds. The individual may suffer from dry mouth or flushed skin. Their pupils become constricted. A sense of heaviness fills the body. Because of this, they may lose consciousness or nod off. Their breathing slows, and their thinking becomes unclear.

Often, the individual will black out or lose parts of their
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Because of this, the individual experiences less pain when they are using. In terms of health, heroin can damage the kidneys, mind and heart. It can cause lung damage. Over time, the individual is at risk of overdosing or suffering from kidney failure.

Discovering an Addiction

When someone has heroin addiction symptoms, they will not reach out to family and friends. The only way they will get help is through heroin addiction treatment programs. Loved ones have to act like detectives to discover the addiction.

One of the first things to look for is paraphernalia. This drug is smoked, injected or snorted. Loved ones may find glass pipes, syringes or dirty spoons lying around. If the individual injects the drug, they may need something to enlarge their veins. This could be a belt or rubber tubing.

Loved ones can look for paraphernalia like dark, sticky residue. The drug may look white or tan in color. The individual may have burnt spoons, rubber tubing, glass pipes or tiny baggies lying around.

In terms of appearance, the individual may have flushed skin or sleepy eyes. Their pupils constrict as their breathing starts to slow. They have a tendency to nod off and may have a runny nose. Loved ones can look for symptoms