It is quite scary to think your loved one can be struggling with heroin use – you get the feeling, you are unsure whether you are right or it is just an intuition, and you do not know where to turn. At Refine Recovery, we understand the toll this can take on you. In this article, we will explain how to tell if someone is high on heroin or using this opioid. If you notice these signs, consider calling us at (866) 890-9573 to get your loved one the care they need and deserve.
What Is Heroin?
Heroin is a powerful opioid, derived from morphine. It is ten times more potent than morphine. Heroin is a very addictive, lethal opioid, as it quickly changes the brain chemistry and makes a person feel like they need it to feel and function normally. It is also very dangerous because the lethal dose is only 5 times more than the dose needed to get high.
Heroin is available as a white or brown powder that is snorted, smoked, and injected via the vein. It is also available as a dark, sticky substance known as black tar heroin. Heroin is infamous because of its instantaneous high and pain-relieving effects.
Heroin was at the center of the second wave of the opioid crisis in the U.S., and was responsible for reported 3,984 overdose deaths in 2023 alone. It has been classified as a Schedule I substance in the U.S. – which means that it has no known medical uses but has a high potential for misuse.
While heroin use has decreased over the past few years, an estimated 1.1 million still struggle with heroin addiction in the U.S. If you suspect someone you care for is using heroin, then understanding the signs of heroin high and use can enable you to take the right steps toward their recovery.
How Can You Tell If Someone Is On Heroin?
Here are some signs you can observe to tell if someone you care for is using heroin:
Alternating Between Extreme Focus and Tiredness
Heroin use can lead to extreme focus and tiredness later. Extreme focus is also accompanied by fidgety behavior.
Deceptive, Troubling Behaviors
Many who use heroin become secretive and lie about their heroin use. They may also borrow money or steal. In fact, they often face financial troubles and legal entanglements.
Disheveled Appearance
As heroin use begins to take priority, you will find them neglecting basic hygiene and self-care. More often than not, they may sport a disheveled, neglected look.
Changes in the Social Circle
You will find that they are not hanging out with the same people they used to. They will have made new acquaintances and friends, who will also most likely be using heroin.
Social Withdrawal and Isolation
The person may withdraw from the activities they once enjoyed and isolate themselves from the rest of the world, as they begin to spend more time obtaining, using, and recovering from heroin.
Dwindling Education and Job Performance
You will find that they are struggling with poor attendance and grades at school or college. If they are employed, they may be taking leave very often, and their job performance also suffers.
Track Marks
If they are injecting heroin via the vein, they will be using a syringe. These typically will appear on their hands if you look for them. But more often than not, the person will go to extreme lengths to hide it.
Heroin-Related Paraphrenalia
Heroin-related paraphernalia will most likely be spoons, tin foils, wrappers with burn marks, pipes, and needles. As the person may once again go to extreme lengths to hide these paraphernalia, if you notice the other signs and symptoms, you can try to look for these items to confirm your suspicions.
Dr. Marisa Sisk, the Chief Clinical Officer at Refine Recovery, says, “One of the tell-tale signs of heroin use that you are likely to notice is skin abscesses and chronic wounds – mainly as a result of injecting it via the vein. But by the time they appear, most will have missed the first window of recovery. This is why it is important to look for psychological and behavioral symptoms to get your loved ones the early intervention and care they need.”
How to Tell If Someone Is High On Heroin?
Heroin is a fast-acting opioid that kicks in within a few seconds to a few minutes of consumption. If you want to know how to tell if someone is high on heroin, then these are the signs you need to look out for:
- Small pupils
- Brain fog
- In and out of wakefulness
- Slowed reaction times
- Slowed movement.
Heroin effects typically last for 3-5 hours, and they may struggle with withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, vomiting, diarrhea, shaking, and crying bouts later. Sometimes, these symptoms may even become serious, as they can lead to seizures and death.
If you notice these symptoms and suspect that someone you care for is on heroin, then get them medical attention immediately. If heroin use is diagnosed early, then early intervention can lead to better outcomes.
What Are the Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Heroin Use?
Heroin use leads to both short-term and long-term effects. Initially, it feels pleasing. The person may experience:
- Euphoria – a rush of pleasurable sensations and feelings
- Pain-relieving effects.
However, these pleasing feelings pave the way for other unwanted effects, such as:
- Flushing of the skin
- Heavy feeling in the extremities
- Dry mouth
- Itching
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Drowsiness
- Mental fog.
Over a period of time, long-term heroin use can lead to:
- Heroin tolerance – needing more of the opioid to achieve the desired effect.
- Dependence – the physiological and psychological need to use heroin to function and feel normal.
- Chronic constipation
- Reduced immunity
- Impotence among men
- Fertility concerns among women
- Collapsed veins and skin abscesses
- Damage to the blood vessels
- Pneumonia and other lung problems.
With regular heroin use, tolerance builds up. As tolerance increases, so does the risk of a heroin overdose. The heroin overdose symptoms are as follows:
- Low body temperature
- Cold and clammy skin
- Bluish lips and fingernails
- Slowed breathing
- Convulsions
- Coma.
If you suspect a heroin overdose, call 9-1-1 immediately. In the meantime, you can also administer naloxone (Narcan), as it restores normal breathing within 2-3 minutes.
How Is Heroin Addiction Treated?
At Refine Recovery, we treat heroin addiction with holistic and personalized recovery options, which include:
- Medically Supervised Detoxification: Detox gradually tapers off heroin levels from the body to manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): MAT uses U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone to treat heroin cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
- Psychotherapy: Therapeutic modalities like motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and 12-Step facilitation models change the underlying patterns leading to heroin use and equip the person with healthy coping skills.
- Peer Support: Group therapy and other peer support options are provided to cultivate a strong sense of community that fosters healing and collective growth.
- Aftercare: Aftercare plans are personalized to a person’s needs and goals to sustain recovery. They typically include ongoing therapy/counseling, relapse prevention, medication management, peer support, and lifestyle modifications.
Dr. Sisk says, “More than 50% of our clients who struggle with heroin use also struggle with co-occurring mental health disorders. In fact, heroin use occurs at high prevalence with anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and schizophrenia.”
This is why we also offer comprehensive dual diagnosis options to treat substance use disorders and mental health conditions simultaneously. Our dual diagnosis treatment mainly involves cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, medication management, and peer support for a well-rounded recovery.
See Signs of Heroin Use? Connect With Refine Recovery Immediately
If you can see the signs of heroin use in a loved one or someone you care for, reach out to Refine Recovery now! Whether you are looking for practical direction or trying to get your loved one the care they need and deserve, we are here for you.
Please do not hesitate to call us at (866) 890-9573 to connect with our experts today!
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Tell Someone Is on Heroin
1. What is heroin?
Heroin is an addictive, lethal opioid that is derived from morphine.
2. How to tell if someone is using heroin?
If you want to know if someone is using heroin, look for signs such as:
- Deceptive behavior
- Disheveled appearance
- Changes in the social circle
Social withdrawal and isolation - Falling grades or poor job performance
- Track marks
- Heroin-related paraphernalia.
3. How to tell if someone is high on heroin?
You can tell that someone is high on heroin by looking for signs such as:
- Small pupils
- Brain fog
- In and out of wakefulness
- Slowed reaction times
- Slowed movement.
4. How to help someone struggling with heroin use?
If you suspect someone is struggling with heroin use:
- Speak to them when they are sober.
- Share your concerns, and ask open-ended questions.
- Create a safe environment for honest conversation, express care without pressure, and expect possible defensiveness.
- Encourage professional help, support them with practical resources, and stay involved in their recovery journey.
- Remember to prioritize your own safety and well-being.
5. How is heroin addiction treated?
Heroin addiction is treated with medical detox, medication-assisted treatment, psychotherapy, dual diagnosis, trauma-informed care, and aftercare.
