What Is a Heroin Addict?

Signs, Symptoms, & Side Effects Heroin Addicts May Experience

The immediate sensation and intensity of the high are what leads to substances being highly addicting. With smoking, snorting, and injecting heroin, a person may experience an intense high within minutes or immediately. This is why all forms of heroin use are highly addictive and dangerous.

As mentioned, there are three main methods of using heroin. These methods include smoking, injecting, and snorting.

For snorting, it takes about 5 minutes to feel the effects of the high of heroin.

For smoking and injecting, a person will experience the high immediately.

Because it can take a few minutes for a person to experience a high with heroin, there is a significant risk of overdose when snorting heroin.

You may wonder, how long does a heroin high last? Heroin’s duration depends on the method of administration. Heroin use by injection produces a high within 20 seconds, peaks around 2 hours, and lasts up to 4 hours or longer. For people who snort or smoke heroin, the effects of heroin may peak within ten minutes, with the nodding effect lasting as long as 4-5 more hours.

Heroin withdrawal can occur within hours of someone’s last dose of heroin. Typically, heroin withdrawal starts around 8 to 24 hours after a person’s previous use. Heroin withdrawal can last anywhere from 3 to 10 days.

Short-term Signs & Symptoms of Heroin Withdrawal May Include:

• Fast pulse.
• Increased breathing rate.
• Increased blood pressure.
• Elevated body temperature.
• Sleep disturbances such as insomnia.
• Dilated pupils.
• Unusually heightened reflexes.
• Sweating.
• Goosebumps.
• Watery discharge from eyes and nose.
• Muscle spasms, cramps, and pain.
• Bone pain.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Diarrhea.

Signs of an Overdose

You may still have time if you catch the signs of a possible heroin overdose. Here is what to look for and what to do if you think someone may be overdosing from heroin.

Common Signs of Heroin Overdose: 

• Loss of consciousness.
• Limp body.
• Pale skin.
• Heartbeat is slow, weak, or erratic.
• Clammy skin.
• Bluish tones on fingertips, lips, and skin.
• Unresponsive.
• Choking or gurgling sounds.
• Vomiting.

If you find someone displaying these symptoms, whether or not you know if they’ve taken anything, call 911 immediately.

Co-occurring Disorders a Heroin Addict May Have

Unfortunately, mental illness and addiction have high comorbidities. Many people who have heroin use disorders also have mental health illnesses. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is also a common occurrence and the reason people may become dependent on drugs due to self-medicating mental health symptoms that are interfering with daily life.

In addition to mental illness, people who use drugs intravenously are at higher risk for diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Here are the following co-occurring disorders outlined by SAMHSA.

The Most Common Mental Disorders Seen in Substance Use Treatment:

• Anxiety and mood disorders.
• Schizophrenia.
• Bipolar disorder.
• Major depressive disorder.
• Conduct disorders.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Hepatitis, HIV, and other diseases can spread through the injection of heroin if people use needles, syringes, or other tools used by someone who has had one of these infections.

During the last decade, the United States has seen an increase in injection drug use, primarily the injection of opioids. Outbreaks of hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV infections coincide with increased injection use.

Most new hepatitis C diseases are due to injection drug use, and the country has seen hepatitis C increase 4.9 times from 2010 to 2019. New hepatitis C infections are increasing most often among young people, with the most significant occurrence among individuals aged 20-39.

Until recently, CDC had observed a decline since the mid-1990s in HIV diagnoses associated with injection drug use. However, new HIV infections among people who inject drugs increased by 12% from 2014 to 2019.

Risk Factors That Increase Chances of Addiction

People of all backgrounds can be impacted by addiction. It is unknown why some people are more prone to substance use and addiction than others. Here are some common factors that can raise your risk of becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs. Genetics, environment, medical history, and age play a role. Certain types of drugs, and methods of using them, are also more addictive than others.

Research indicates that intravenous drug users are more likely to be 35 years and older, unemployed, possess less than a high school education, and reside in rural areas. Additionally, people who used injection as a primary source of heroin exhibited higher abuse rates, a higher need for substance abuse treatment, and experienced higher rates of physical and psychological problems.

As research has indicated, the reason people may use heroin intravenously is that users may have a more serious addiction than people who use heroin in other ways. This may be because the high is more intense with an injection or because this may be the most easily accessible way of obtaining heroin in the region.

Addiction Treatment & Recovery Help for Heroin Addicts

At Guardian Recovery, we understand how difficult heroin withdrawal can be. Often, withdrawal symptoms are so severe that those struggling with heroin addiction return to using within 24 hours. The key to overcoming this obstacle is a medically supervised detox where withdrawal symptoms can be identified and treated immediately. Our team performs an in-depth initial evaluation and tailors a treatment plan unique to each client’s needs and recovery goals. We can provide 24-hour medical supervision and comfort care for our detox clients. Our medical and client support team’s goal is to ensure all clients have a safe and comfortable detox so they can begin the next phase in their recovery journey.