I remember when he was five and his biggest concern was getting the latest dinosaur toy. Now Josh is 15, and he’s just so different lately.

I don’t expect him to be five anymore, but the changes I’m seeing…I’m concerned. He’s lost interest in soccer, started hanging out with a new crowd, and he’s just so moody. Is this normal teen trouble, or should I be worried about drug abuse?

This mom is rightfully concerned. If there’s one thing we all know is true, it’s that the teen years typically involve some moodiness and unpredictable behavior. After all, these kids are a cocktail of hormones, and they’re trying to figure out their place in the world.

But still, there are some behaviors that go beyond the norm. And these behaviors could indicate opioid abuse.

Signs Your Teenager is Abusing Opioids

Be on the lookout for the following warning signs:

• Severe Mood Swings

Teenagers whose moods and personalities change suddenly and drastically are potentially under the influence of opioid abuse. These mood swings are more severe than your typical teenage drama. If your teen is abusing opioids, he might become depressed and withdrawn or angry and hostile (or all of the above). He may even get violent or threaten other family members.

• Loss of Interest

Teens who become addicted to opioids may lose interest in the things that used to bring pleasure. School, sports, friends, work, and other interests can quickly fall by the wayside. He may lack motivation to fulfill obligations and start to withdraw from extracurricular and other social activities. Grades may drop. If your teen has become apathetic and unmotivated – and there is no other clear reason for the abrupt change – it could indicate your child is struggling with opioid abuse.

• Physical Changes

Opioid abuse takes its toll on the body. Physical symptoms can include constricted pupils, constipation, flushed cheeks, and slowed breathing. Your teen may also experience drowsiness or sudden bursts of energetic euphoria. You may also notice a lack of energy and poor eating habits.

If your teen is abusing opioids, he may experience withdrawal when unable to get his hands on a drug of choice. Opioid withdrawal symptoms include sweating, nausea, headache, diarrhea, insomnia, body aches, and anxiety.

Opioid abuse can also affect your teen’s appearance. No matter their age, people who are addicted to opioids eventually tend to neglect their appearance. They may care less about bathing and brushing their teeth; many wear the same dirty or wrinkled clothes for days on end.

• A Group of New “Friends”

Teen social circles change on a dime. But if your teen starts to hang out with a new crowd for no apparent reason, it might be due to drug use. Keep in mind that this shift in relationships can happen gradually or suddenly. He may let old friendships die off as they drift toward other teens using the same drugs. Or, he might make a drastic shift into a whole new friend circle. Either way, this could be a warning sign that he’s mixed up in the drug scene.

• Opioid Drug Paraphernalia

If you find drug-related items in your teen’s possession or in his room, this is an obvious red flag. Opioid paraphernalia may include needles, lighters, pipes, and, of course, the actual drugs. If your teen isn’t abusing the drugs, he definitely knows someone who is. It’s highly unlikely he’s just the innocent bystander holding someone else’s supplies, but isn’t doing the drugs himself. The important thing to remember is you can’t afford to dismiss opioid paraphernalia as insignificant.

What If You Notice the Warning Signs? 

At the end of the day, if you notice the warning signs your teen is abusing opioids, you have one pro-active choice: talk to your teenager.

If you’ve noticed physical symptoms, suggest taking him to the doctor for a check-up. Resistance to a routine exam may be further indication that your teenager is abusing opioids.

Interact with him after he’s been hanging out with friends. This can help you pinpoint signs of drug use (if that’s what they’ve been doing in their new social circle).

Ask about his behavior changes. Let him know your concerns. Yes, it’s a hard conversation to have, but ignoring the issue isn’t in his best interest. Take action as soon as possible, so, if he is abusing opioids, he can get the help he needs.

Get help today at 800-934-1582(Sponsored) to learn about treatment programs for drug and alcohol addiction.

The opioid epidemic has been raging a deadly war in the United States for over two decades. 

In the late 90s, Big Pharma readily reassured doctors that their patients would not become addicted to opioid pain relievers, so they started doling out prescriptions at greater rates than ever before. Unsurprisingly, this led to widespread misuse of these highly dangerous medications (e.g. natural and semi-synthetic opioids and methadone), and overdose rates began to steadily increase.

Flash forward twenty years and, and this avoidable plague has only gained momentum. In 2019 alone, over 10 million Americans misused opioids, with significant increases in overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl. Today, synthetic opioids are now the most common drugs involved in drug overdose deaths in the United States. 

What is Medication Assisted Treatment?

Three million American citizens have had or currently suffer from opioid use disorder (OUD), and more than 500,000 in the United States are dependent on heroin.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) uses a combination of prescription medications, counseling, and behavioral therapies to treat opioid addiction, sustain recovery, and prevent overdose.

Medications for opioid use disorder, also known as MOUD, have been shown to reduce the risk of fatal overdoses by approximately 50%. Furthermore, studies have found that MOUD is also effective at reducing the risk of nonfatal overdoses, which can be highly traumatic and medically dangerous.

In the face of the United State’s harrowing drug epidemic, one of the primary addiction recovery methods for medication-assisted treatment is a prescription drug called Suboxone. 

What is Suboxone and How Does it Work? 

Since its FDA approval in 2002, Suboxone has become one of the most commonly used medication-assisted treatments for opioid addiction. Also known under the brand names Bunavail or Zubsolve, Suboxone contains two primary active substances: 

• Buprenorphine is a long-acting opioid used to replace the shorter-acting, more addictive opioids that many drug users become addicted to (e.g., heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl or hydromorphone). When taken at the correct dosage, it blocks opiate receptors in the brain to provide relief from cravings and withdrawal symptoms without causing the person to feel high (euphoric) or sleepy.
• Naloxone, also known under its brand name Narcan®, is a medication used to reverse opioid overdose. When combined with buprenorphine, however, it acts as an antagonist; it enhances the opioid-blocking properties of buprenorphine while discouraging misuse. Therefore, if a drug user were to crush and snort a tablet of Suboxone, the added naloxone will block opioids from the brain’s receptors and prevent any sort of high from occurring.

Suboxone Dosages

Suboxone is an oral medication that can be administered sublingually (placed under the tongue) or buccally (between your gums and cheek) as a single daily dissolvable dose. 

It’s offered in the following four dosages:

• 12 mg buprenorphine with 3 mg naloxone
• 8 mg buprenorphine with 2 mg naloxone
• 4 mg buprenorphine with 1 mg naloxone
• 2 mg buprenorphine with 0.5 mg naloxone

Most people use heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioids multiple times a day, whereas a single daily dose of buprenorphine is long-lasting, limiting exposure to potentially lethal illicit opioids.

Common Side Effects of Suboxone

Suboxone treatment for opioid use disorder can include a number of side effects, the most severe of which are caused by Suboxone’s status as a partial opioid agonist (i.e. the presence of buprenorphine in the compound).

According to the drug manufacturer, common side effects of Suboxone can include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Sweating
• Numb mouth
• Constipation
• Painful tongue
• Dizziness and fainting
• Problems with concentration

Treatment Plans

While treatment approaches vary depending on the addiction recovery center you or your loved one attends, there are typically four main steps in the Suboxone treatment process:

• Step 1  → New patient intake
  This typically includes a medical and psychosocial evaluation, drug screen, and blood tests to ensure you’re a viable candidate for Suboxone
• Step 2 → Induction
  This phase involves a transition from a user’s current opiate intake to Suboxone, with the aim of minimizing “cold turkey” withdrawal symptoms
• Step 3 → Stabilization
  This phase begins after a person has discontinued or greatly reduced their drug use, no longer has cravings, and has few or no side effects. Suboxone is adjusted to the lowest dose to suppress withdrawal symptoms to allow for eventual tapering off and discontinuation of treatment
• Step 4 → Long-term maintenance
  If you or a loved one suffers from a severe opioid addiction, then ongoing, medically supervised treatment of Suboxone and therapeutic support may be required. Consult with a medical professional for more details.

Get the Help You Need

Get help today at 800-934-1582(Sponsored) to learn about treatment programs for drug and alcohol addiction.

The U.S. continues to not only fight the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now also grappling with some major supply chain issues that are leaving the country in chaos. Caused in part by the pandemic, disruptions to the global supply chain are responsible for gridlock in ports, material scarcity, bare shelves in grocery stores and prison commissaries, increasing freight prices, and a huge shortage of workers. 

Not surprisingly, there are a lot of stressed workers, unhappy customers, and anxious companies watching their profits dwindling. But plenty of Americans are also faced with health-related consequences as alcohol and other pharmaceuticals are among many of the products delayed.

For people struggling with alcohol use disorder and health conditions like opioid addiction, this is having a visible impact. 

A Time of Uncertainty

Jake Duke, a regional manager of Spec’s Liquor told ABC News: “We had 50 people waiting in line, just to see what we had coming in this morning because it’s a guessing game for us, just as it is for the guest.”

He shares his frustration about this supply chain uncertainty, “They don’t know what’s coming. We don’t know what’s coming,” he said.

Last week, the American Medical Association called the supply chain issues an urgent healthcare crisis, as the Food and Drug Administration announced 115 drugs are in short supply nationally. Those drugs include chemotherapy, Adderall, insulin, oxycodone, and some anxiety medications.  

Heading the writing on the wall – and experiencing their own supply chain delays – pharmacists warn hundreds of medicines could be placed on backorder at any time. 

So what are the implications? Well, those with substance use disorders could face some pretty severe consequences if suddenly forced to stop certain medications. And withdrawal symptoms are one of those consequences.

The Risk of Suddenly Stopping Medication

To abruptly stop using opioids, including prescription opioids that are in short supply, can cause withdrawal symptoms, including (but not limited to) flu-like symptoms, stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, anxiety, restlessness, inability to sleep, high blood pressure, runny nose, rapid heartbeat, visual disturbances, and excessive sweating.

For those struggling with severe alcohol addiction who face a lack of supply, the results could be potentially deadly. People who are used to drinking large amounts of alcohol have likely developed a dependence. If they stop drinking (also known as “going cold turkey”) they can experience seizures and delirium tremens — a life-threatening condition that can cause tremors, shaking, confusion, hallucinations and can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or even death. 

Risk factors for those who stop drinking and develop delirium tremens include:

• Adult men
• People with a history of seizures
• Those with have experienced alcohol withdrawal previously
• Heavy and long-term drinkers: defined as men who drink more than 14 drinks per week and women who drink more than 8 alcoholic drinks per week.

Why is America Experiencing Supply Chain Issues?

According to the Economist, the main reason for the supply chain problem is the pandemic. After $10.4 trillion in global stimulus money was distributed, it resulted in people buying more goods and services than ever, putting a major strain on supply chains globally. 

However, the pandemic also caused a serious manufacturing problem; some goods can’t be made as quickly and efficiently as others. Electronics and clothing are stuck because of industrial shortages in microchips in places like Taiwan, and the Delta variant has closed down clothing factories in other parts of Asia. 

When goods are eventually sent to the U.S., we don’t have enough truck drivers to deal with the huge demand to get goods to customers. Companies are now struggling to fill these service jobs and, despite hefty signing bonuses for truck drivers, we are still in need of tens of thousands of truck drivers to make up the supply chain short fall.

Ending Supply-Related Withdrawal Symptoms 

While shopping and nice-to-have items are one thing, life-saving medications and substances that people are dependent on are a much more serious problem.

If you go to a hospital, you don’t expect to find out they’re out of a drug that can save your life. Or if you have a prescription for a medication that keeps chronic pain at bay, that you’ll suddenly be left with excruciating pain and withdrawal symptoms. So what’s the answer?

According to the Harvard Business Review, the U.S needs to reimagine its pharma supply chain. They say we’re in this situation because of a poorly designed global supply chain, despite relying on it for our nation’s most essential medical needs. While it’s an intolerable, and potentially dangerous situation for millions of Americans, they say it need not be this way if we fulfill the production of vital medicines within the U.S. instead of abroad. 

The U.S. is too dependent on global production and supply of these medicines. When something goes wrong, like a pandemic, we’re left struggling to meet the needs of our nation. 

The answer, HBR says, is to stop relying on China and India for medicine materials — where 80 percent of active medicine ingredients come from — and start making these medicines in the U.S. 

If you or someone you love is experiencing a substance use disorder, help is available. Call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) today.

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The opioid crisis is a complex issue in the United States. Opioids kill 50,000 Americans every year, yet they’re still considered to be an effective pain reliever for chronic pain. That’s something lawmakers hope to change by implementing more training programs for doctors and providers prescribing opioids.

The Scope of Opioid Prescribing in the US

The CDC indicates that opioid prescribing has decreased in the last few years — from 259 million prescriptions in 2012 to 153 million prescriptions in 2019. However, 153 million prescriptions still amounts to nearly two thirds of all adults in the United States getting a bottle of prescription opioids. That’s pretty staggering when you think about it.

Fueled by concern in his community in West Virginia, Senator Joe Manchin is pushing the Food and Drug Administration to provide additional safeguarding training for healthcare providers prescribing opioids — something that is long overdue according to treatment providers and recovery advocates. 

Karren Simonsen, a practice nurse from the Mid-Atlantic Recovery Center, told reporters that providers need to be held accountable, and that doesn’t just include doctors. “It’s important that not only are primary care providers educated and held accountable for the prescriptions that they’re writing, but also dental providers because that’s something that we see often,” she said. 

Other treatment providers at MARC said it is critical to know about people’s backgrounds and any co-occurring disorders before treating those at risk of misusing opioids.

The Risks of Opioid Use

There are multiple factors at play with the use and prescribing of opioids: patients are struggling with chronic pain and, in an attempt to  alleviate that pain, doctors rely on information they’ve been provided about opioids as an effective painkiller. 

Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts more than three months and can be the result of an underlying medical condition or injury. It is estimated that over 100 million Americans live with chronic pain, which can be really challenging to manage.

While doctors did not know this initially, it has come to light that there is a significant risk associated with opioid use in the development of opioid dependence and even addiction (opioid use disorder). The true risks were withheld by opioid manufacturers, when they lied and misled doctors, telling them that opioids were safe and effective for the treatment of pain. The New York Times reported that Purdue Pharma knew there was significant abuse of their drug “OxyContin” years after its introduction, and they concealed that information. 

By that time, however, America was already dealing with an opioid crisis. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioid use disorder affects three million  Americans each year. 

In 2020, 93,000 Americans died of a drug overdose which is a 30 percent rise since 2019. Dr Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse told NPR, “This is the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period, and the largest increase since at least 1999.” Volkow described this rise as “chilling” and another sign that the opioid crisis and COVID-19 pandemic are having a deadly effect on the US. 

“This has been an incredibly uncertain and stressful time for many people, and we are seeing an increase in drug consumption, difficulty in accessing lifesaving treatments for substance use disorders and a tragic rise in overdose deaths,” she said.

Prescribing Opioids for Pain Relief

Opioids are still the most commonly prescribed medication for pain symptoms or a pain-related diagnosis, and prescriptions are most frequently written in general and family practices. A staggering 20 percent of patients reporting symptoms of pain will be given an opioid. 

In writing the facts about opioids, it’s also important to put this information into context. There are thousands of stories online about how individuals live every day with chronic pain, and, worse, those who can’t get adequate pain relief. 

For example, Beth has lived with chronic pain for over 18 years, beginning from sciatica. The pain now extends to her lower back, arms and various parts of her body. Medication, among other lifestyle factors she says, “is a necessary and core tool for me in the management of chronic pain.”

Conversely, there are thousands of stories about people who have struggled with pain medication, such as Britton, a veteran who struggled with prescription opioids following an injury, Stevi Rae who struggled with addiction after a car crash and the use of prescription opioid medication, and Ann Marie who tragically lost her son to a prescription opioid overdose. 

The CDC states that prevention, assessment, and treatment of chronic pain are challenges for healthcare providers and systems, with a lot of pain going unrecognized, particularly among racial minority groups, women, the elderly, those with cognitive impairment, and those at the end of life. 

Is training the answer, or should there be more restrictions on opioid prescribing? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seem to think it’s a combination of both.

CDC Opioid Prescribing Guidelines

CDC data shows that since 1999 deaths from prescription opioids have increased more than five times — a loss of over 200,000 Americans have died from prescription opioids.

The CDC states that they are committed to combating the opioid overdose epidemic by improving the way opioids are prescribed. They provide clinical practice guidelines that can ensure patients have access to effective pain management but they also reduce the risk of opioid use disorder and death. 

The CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain provides clear recommendations to the prescribing of opioid pain medication.

The CDC also collects data to monitor trends and advances research, about opioid use; builds state, local, and tribal capacity to increase prevention activities and use data to inform a public health response to opioid use; supports providers, healthcare systems and payers with the ability to make evidence-based decisions that promote patient safety and improve opioid prescribing; partnering with public safety officials and community organizations; and increasing public awareness about opioid misuse and overdose.

While the FDA is being challenged by lawmakers to provide training to opioid prescribers, there is little information about such a training program. However, the FDA clearly states on their website that their highest priority is to advance efforts to address the crisis of misuse of opioid drugs harming families. Their approach seeks to decrease exposure and prevent addiction, support addiction treatment for those with opioid use disorder, foster the development of new novel pain therapies, and improve enforcement and assess the risk/benefit of opioids. 

If you or someone you love is struggling with a substance use disorder, help is available. Call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) today.

“Two out of every five fentanyl pills that we are seizing are a lethal dose.” – Kyle Williamson, Special Agent, El Paso Drug Enforcement Agency

It’s unprecedented. Fentanyl seizures by the El Paso DEA are up over 524%, and methamphetamine seizures are up over 200%.

These numbers were reported by Kyle Williamson, a recently retired Special Agent with the El Paso Drug Enforcement Agency. Why the massive increase? Williamson says one of the main reasons is the influx of fentanyl streaming across the southern border. The demand for opioids in the U.S. is high, so the supply is coming in to meet it.

But…people aren’t getting the drugs they might expect. Often, the drugs are counterfeit fentanyl pills manufactured in Mexico. These lethal-dose pills are disguised to look like regular Oxycodone that a person might get from their doctor.

The result? Overdose deaths are on the rise. The CDC reported a staggering 96,779 drug overdose deaths across the nation in the 12-month period ending March 2021. In the 12 months prior to that, there were 74,679.

Williamson stressed the importance of educating people about the deadliness of fentanyl, especially since these pills become so easy to access. He notes, “They are distributed through social media, they’re on the streets, they’re in the schools…they’re everywhere.”

Why is Fentanyl So Deadly?

Fentanyl is 100 times more powerful than morphine. With proper medical monitoring, it is possible to use this controlled substance safely for severe pain relief. But…that’s not exactly what’s happening with smuggled drugs.

Dealers mix fentanyl with other substances to make their product more powerful and cheaper to produce.

Since just two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, the drug concoctions that dealers are putting in people’s hands are often far deadlier than people realize. The U.S. DEA has come across counterfeit pills stuffed with more than 5.1 milligrams of fentanyl each.

Of course, someone can take a pill without realizing it contains any fentanyl. Or, they may take a pill knowing it contains the powerful drug, but not know just how much they’re getting in that little pill. It’s not as if there’s quality control or oversight of smuggled drug production. If drugs are purchased on the black market, there’s no way to know exactly what’s in them – until it’s too late.

A Spreading Poison

Williamson and other El Paso officials have noticed the uptick in smuggling and overdoses, but the problem isn’t just at the border. DEA Acting Administrator Christopher Evans noted, “While a major entry point for fentanyl is the Southwest border, the cartels are spreading their poison into communities across the nation.”

In an effort to stop this spread, the DEA launched Project Wave Breaker. This initiative “aims to reduce the amount of fentanyl coming across the Southwest border, reduce crime and violence associated with drug trafficking, and ultimately save lives by reducing the demand for illicit fentanyl.”

Launched in April of 2021, Project Wave Breaker involves outreach and enforcement efforts to stop the flow of fentanyl. It will also target Mexican criminal organizations, who are known as the biggest suppliers and distributors of this drug in the United States.

What Else Can be Done About Fentanyl?

Well, we can apply some basic economic principles, even if the business is illegal (and deadly). It’s basic supply and demand. The demand is high, so the supply has risen. We need to reduce the demand.

As Williamson noted, education is key. That means continuing to educate people about fentanyl and how smugglers are sneaking it into illegal substances in deadly amounts. By taking even one pill, people are taking their lives into their own hands.

Would some still take the risk? Possibly. But hopefully the increased awareness will give people pause and prevent some of the overdoses we’re seeing across the country.

Meanwhile, initiatives like Project Wave Breaker will continue to attack the problem from the legal side. Last year, officials involved in the project seized a total of 2,316 kilograms of fentanyl. That’s enough lethal doses to kill more than a billion people.

For information about treatment options for you or a loved one, call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) today.

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Dave seems…different. He used to laugh easily, and he was always up for socializing. But lately, not so much. He seems moody and now he snaps at people over little things. And he’s less likely to accept invitations to get together. It’s like he’s withdrawing from me and everyone else. He’s also lost some weight. I’m not sure, but I think he’s hooked on prescription pain medication.

I started noticing changes in Dave not long after his knee injury, but that was nearly two years ago. He recently admitted that he’s still taking painkillers “just in case.” He said he’s afraid the pain might flare up again.

I want to help him, but I honestly don’t know how.

Prescription Pain Medication and Addiction

Do you have a Dave in your life? Maybe you’ve noticed signs of opioid addiction, but you’re not 100% sure what’s going on with your friend. You don’t want to sit on the sidelines while they ruin their life, but what are you supposed to do? How can you be the friend they need right now?

There’s only one place to start: talk to them.

It’s not a conversation anyone wants to have, but it needs to happen. Yes, it will be hard. Yes, it might be awkward. Yes, your friend may get mad. But avoiding or ignoring the issue will not help your friend.

The most loving thing to do is to face these challenges and talk to your friend about their possible addiction.

What Should You Say?

This might be one of the toughest conversations you ever have. It’s normal to wonder how in the world you’re supposed to bring up the topic or what you’re supposed to tell your friend.

Here are four ideas that can help your conversation:

• Take a loving approach: Always, always, always take a non-judgmental and caring approach. Yes, this is a confrontation of sorts, but don’t bring a confrontational tone to the conversation. The point isn’t to make your friend feel bad, but to help them. Make it clear that you are talking to them because you care about them.
• Use “I” statements: Try to keep the focus on how the addiction is affecting you and things you are noticing and feeling. (“I feel like we haven’t spent as much time together lately.” “I’ve been hurt lately by some of the things you’ve said.” “I’ve noticed these changes…”) When you use “I” instead of “you,” the conversation comes across as less accusatory.
• Focus on their health: Let your friend know you are concerned for their well-being. Express your worries about the effects the drug use is having on their health and life. You don’t want to come across as angry at them, just concerned about them.
• Talk about the impact: Center your talk around the effects of addiction rather than your friend’s actions. Help your friend see how addiction affects people and their loved ones. The point is to provide perspective. If they can gain a healthier perspective (without feeling judged or condemned) they are more likely to react better to your conversation.

Help Them Get Treatment for Opioid Addiction

After you bring up the topic, the next step is to point your friend in the right direction – toward help. Look through treatment options together. Ask them to bring up the potential addiction when speaking to their doctor. Help them find resources that provide the support they need.

It may also help to frame the situation as a time of transition (instead of simply calling it a change, or sobering up, or an intervention). Explain that you want to help them make a transition from dependency on prescription pain medication to making different life choices that are much healthier in the long run.

Helpful Resources

Support is available for your friend. If they are open to making changes (and remember, they have to want it), you can provide valuable resources to explore together.

• Outpatient treatment options will help your friend deal with an opioid addiction while remaining at home and work.
• Inpatient treatment is also available, and is often the most effective way for someone to conquer an addiction.
• Support groups are also key to helping your friend stay sober by providing ongoing encouragement and assistance.

And one more thing; let your friend know you’ll be there rooting for them every step of the way. Remind them they’re not alone. Believe it or not, having the encouragement of a solid support system can make all the difference in the world.

For information about treatment options for you or a loved one, call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) today.

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When it comes to OxyContin addiction and heroin addiction, people often question if one is worse than the other. The initial assumption is that heroin is worse. After all, doctors prescribe OxyContin, while heroin is bought on the street.

A prescription painkiller can’t be as dangerous as an illicit street drug like heroin…right?

Wrong.

The Danger of Opiates

To understand the debate, it’s important to look at both drugs. Oxycodone, the main ingredient in OxyContin, and heroin are both members of the opioid family. These opioids both cause the same changes in the brain’s chemistry, and their resulting addictions are equally difficult to overcome.

Often, people struggling with oxycodone and heroin addiction need professional treatment to endure withdrawal symptoms and begin their recovery.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, somewhere between 26 and 36 million people abuse opioids worldwide. In the United States, an estimated 10.1 million people aged 12 or older misused opioids in the past year. Specifically, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers and 745,000 people used heroin.

The Heart of the Debate

The problem is that prescription opioids like OxyContin mimic the effects of heroin on both the body and mind. The two drugs are virtually interchangeable, leading many people to jump from painkillers to heroin or from heroin to painkillers. That’s why we’ve seen opioid-related death and addiction rise to epidemic proportions.

For example, when doctors cut off a patient’s access to legal opioid painkillers or they can no longer afford to buy OxyContin off the streets, they often transition to heroin. On the flip side of that argument, a lot of people who are addicted to heroin believe that switching to OxyContin will ultimately make it easier to stop using altogether.

Since knowledge is power, it’s important to look at the abuse and addiction specifics of both opiates.

Facts About Heroin Addiction

Many people don’t realize heroin was considered a “safe and therapeutic” drug about 100 years ago. In fact, heroin was freely given to patients of all ages – even children! By the 1920s, thousands of people were addicted to heroin, prompting its removal from the market.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), about 948,000 Americans reported using heroin in the past year, a number that has steadily risen since 2007. Those between the ages of 18 and 25 have seen the most significant increase of heroin abuse.

Heroin is easily found in most areas of the country, from rural areas to the richest metropolitan areas. Believe it or not, some dealers actually deliver heroin to their customers’ front door, taking a page straight from the Uber Eats business model. Some are even bold enough to run “specials” online as a way to attract young, professional, and upper-income customers.

So, why would someone who’s addicted to heroin switch to OxyContin? Turns out there are a few different reasons – the main one being an overwhelming misconception about medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

MAT medications, like Suboxone, are used as one part of a complete opioid addiction treatment plan. Over a designated period of time, the patient tapers off Suboxone with little to no withdrawal symptoms experienced. It’s the promise of a painless withdrawal process that appeals to those struggling with heroin addiction. Instead of contacting an accredited MAT program, however, people mistakenly believe they can just substitute Oxycontin for heroin, taper off the prescription painkiller, and enjoy sustained recovery.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Facts About OxyContin Addiction

Despite its dangers, OxyContin is still one of the most frequently prescribed pain-relieving opioids in the U.S. It earned an interesting nickname – hillbilly heroin – due to the fact that oxycodone is nearly identical to the molecular structure of heroin and causes the same effects.

Many people who take OxyContin to treat legitimate pain don’t understand the ramifications. They mistakenly believe that, since Oxycontin is prescribed by a doctor, it can’t be that dangerous.

Addiction can develop rapidly. Suddenly one or two pills isn’t enough to keep the withdrawal symptoms at bay. Patients find themselves taking more and more, running out of pills long before their next doctor’s visit, or coming up short on mandatory pill counts at pain clinics. After consistently failing to take the medication as directed, patients are often cut off by doctors or kicked out of their pain management programs.

When it’s no longer possible to get OxyContin legally, people are forced to buy pills off the street. And with black market pills going for up to $90 a piece, money runs out in the blink of an eye. People can burn through their life savings in a matter of weeks. Eventually, someone suggests switching to heroin because it’s cheaper and easier to find.

In what feels like the blink of an eye, people go from abusing legal prescription painkillers to the world of heroin, needles, and blackened kitchen spoons.

For many, heroin is nothing more than a gateway drug of last resort. Unfortunately, it’s accompanied by massive health dangers, violent crime, and serious communicable diseases. In short, heroin addiction is a life-altering – and often life-ending – problem that doles out much more than people bargain for.

Is One Really Worse Than the Other?

When comparing the two, one has to wonder if heroin addiction is really worse than OxyContin addiction or vice versa. Both drugs have the very real ability to destroy lives, making them equally dangerous. When you factor in the crime that always accompanies drug sales and the medical costs associated with overdoses, opiate addiction is an epidemic that touches and affects everyone.

If you or someone you love is currently struggling with an addiction to opiates, don’t waste your time switching from one drug to the next. Instead, reach out for help and fight to get your life back.

For information about treatment options, call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) today.

From trained therapy dogs to spoiled lap dogs, there’s no doubt our canine pals are amazing. And without the strength and love of my dog, I never could have overcome opioid addiction.

Some dogs play vital roles in assisted therapies, while others are tasked with jobs like searching for drugs, tracking the scent of a missing person, or alerting parents of a child’s oncoming seizure. More often than not, however, dogs serve as (wo)man’s best friend – loving us unconditionally and without an ounce of reservation.

I owe my life – and my sobriety – to Barley, a now 15-year-old Beagle/Schnauzer mix who renewed my belief in love, loyalty, and our possibilities. One look at his fuzzy little face and I melt.

Inseparable Friends

Like most wonderful things in life, I found Barley by chance. It was literally a case of being in the right place at the right time. I was minding my own business when this scruffy little 5-week-old puppy came bounding up to me…and I instantly fell in love.

I went door-to-door in search of anyone who might know his owner. When I finally tracked this person down, the poor living conditions shocked me. I clearly remember thinking, “No wonder Barley ran away from this place.”

I could feel tears welling up in my eyes and a quickly growing sense of anger stirring in my spirit. “I don’t care what it takes, there’s no way I’m leaving him here. I’m going to rescue this dog,” I said to myself.

In chatting with the “owner,” it was clear she didn’t care about this precious pup. She said I could “have the damn mutt” if I wanted him. Before she could get out another word, I scooped Barley up, quickly walked away, and never looked back.

Once we got in my car, Barley jumped over the console and into my lap. I looked down and told him, “We’re going home, okay?” He immediately turned his head to the side, stood up on his hind legs, and laid his face on my neck. He knew he was safe. He knew he’d been rescued.

I grew up around dogs my whole life, but Barley was special. He’s the first dog I owned as an adult and, since I lived on my own, I could keep him inside. This sweet rescue dog won my heart, and I never went anywhere without him. We were absolutely inseparable…at least until drugs took over my life.

Loving (and Neglecting) My Best Friend

Like many other people, I started taking prescription opioid painkillers to treat a legitimate injury. In just a few short months, I developed a severe dependency on Vicodin. I was in over my head and, deep down inside, I knew it.

When you’re addicted to opioids, the bulk of your time is spent feeding that addiction. Every day, without fail, my only goal was to avoid withdrawal symptoms. I neglected my family, my friends, my job, my health – and my dog.

I often left Barley with my brother for two and three days at a time. Before I started abusing opioids, I would have been beside myself if I hadn’t seen my best buddy for a whole day, much less two or three. When I wasn’t dropping Barley off with family members, I was sleeping, working, or out looking for more pills.

I’d drive around with my poor dog in the passenger seat, riding shotgun while I was on a mission to find more drugs. And on these Vicodin-fueled trips, Barley would sit to my right, his head proudly stuck out the window, ears flapping in the wind, and nose working overtime to process scents in the air. He was so happy and content to be with me. But I was too sick to see it and too lost in addiction to care.

What an absolute waste of precious time.

Breaking My Opioid Addiction

My addiction to opioid painkillers spanned the better part of two years. And then one day, quite out of the blue, I decided it was time to get sober. I found an outpatient addiction treatment program that offered the specific therapies I needed, called them up, and made my first appointment. It’s the best decision I ever made for myself.

I took my recovery seriously and gave it everything I had to give. I understood that, if I didn’t break the shackles of my addiction, I’d never make it out alive. I honestly couldn’t bear the thought of relapsing.

After a few months went by, my body was rid of the drugs and the withdrawal sickness. Physically I felt wonderful; mentally I was a mess. I  just felt so lost and incredibly unsure of my place in the world.

No matter where I went, I was sure that everyone saw me and knew my dirty little secret. I was an addict in recovery, and I was scared out of my mind.

Why would anyone want to be my friend? How could I ever make up for all the pain I caused? Who would ever want to love someone like me?

And then the answer licked me in the face.

My dog, my Barley, never ever left my side. My precious dog loved me no matter what kind of disease I was fighting. Every day that I didn’t have the self-esteem or courage to show my face to the world, Barley could sense it. And he would bounce around, pawing and prodding me to take him outside. He’d take his wet nose and push me, quite literally, out of the bed.

Looking in his eyes, I knew exactly what he was trying to say:

“Look mom, I love you. I’m here for you. Now get your butt up, stop feeling sorry for yourself, and let’s go live this day to the fullest.”

Embracing Life After Opioid Addiction

Believe it or not, after a few weeks of simply walking my dog and being present in the moment, my whole demeanor changed. And the miracle is that, once I began to go outside, soak up the sunshine, and breathe in the fresh air, I wanted more out of life – more out of myself.

It no longer satisfied me to hide in the house and punish myself for the mistakes of my past. I still had the support of family and real friends. I stopped worrying about things that didn’t matter. I let go of the fear and chose to embrace every day.

For too many years, I walked around believing I rescued Barley. The truth is he rescued me as much as I rescued him.

I am alive and sober today, and I owe it all to my best friend. My Barley.

Images courtesy of Pixabay and Nikki Seay

You may have heard about the opioid crisis, and could be wondering, what are opioids, and is heroin an opioid? The dangers of heroin and opioids continue to take a toll on America. In 2020, more than 70,000 people in the U.S. died from opioid overdoses, with heroin accounting for 13,000 of those deaths.¹ Having a better understanding of heroin and opioids may help you avoid addiction or encourage you to seek help if you need it.

In This Article:

• What Are Opioids, and Is Heroin an Opioid?
• What Are the Effects of Heroin?
• What Are the Dangers of Long-term Heroin Use?
• Heroin vs. Opioid Medications
• Heroin Use and Overdose
• Help for Heroin Addiction

What Are Opioids, and Is Heroin an Opioid?

Opioids are a class of drugs that interact with the opioid receptors in your brain.² These receptors are connected to your brain’s reward system. When stimulated, the opioid receptors create a loop that links the stimulus to pleasure. It’s this system that makes opioid drugs very addictive.²

Some opioids are prescribed as medications. These include oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, morphine, and others. Heroin is also an opioid but it has no medicinal purpose. For this reason, it is listed as a Schedule 1 narcotic by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Schedule 1 drugs are substances that have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.³

Prescription opioid medications are classified as Schedule 2 drugs because they do have an accepted medical use, but they also have a high potential for abuse that can lead to addiction. ³ Several types of Schedule 2 opioid medications account for a large proportion of overdose deaths. These include fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine, methadone, and hydrocodone.⁴

Regardless of intended purpose, opioids and heroin create a euphoric ‘reward’ experience in your brain.² Opioid medications may be safe if you used them as prescribed by your doctor for a short period. However, if using them for two weeks or longer, you may become physically dependent on them.⁵

What Are the Effects of Heroin?

Heroin is a highly addictive, illegal drug derived from certain varieties of poppy plants. Pure heroin is a white powder that is made primarily in South America and areas of Asia and smuggled into the U.S. It is normally snorted or smoked. Black tar heroin is made mostly in Mexico. The dark color comes from crude processing methods that leave behind impurities. Black tar heroin is usually diluted and injected into the body.⁶

After heroin is snorted, smoked, or injected into the body, it is converted to morphine, binding to opioid receptors in the brain and nervous system.⁶ The effects of heroin and opioids include blocking pain, increasing feelings of pleasure, and slowing down breathing and heart function.⁶ During an overdose, a shortage of oxygen to the brain can lead to coma, permanent brain damage, or death.⁶

People who struggle with heroin use will experience two stages of addiction—the short-term highs and the long-term lows.

Initially, heroin opioid use delivers a “rush” of pleasure, also called a euphoric high. Still, even in the short term, taking heroin can trigger unwanted side effects such as:⁷

• Dry mouth
• Warm flushing of the skin
• Heavy arms and legs
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Severe itching
• Brain fog
• Drifting between a conscious and semiconscious state

Over time, heroin use may result in more severe side effects. Long-term heroin use can lead to:⁸

• Insomnia
• Collapsed veins (if you regularly inject heroin)
• Damaged nasal tissue (for those who snort heroin)
• Valve and heart lining infections
• Abscesses (swollen, pus-filled areas of skin)
• Chronic constipation
• Stomach cramps
• Kidney and liver disease
• Lung disease and complications
• Depression
• Antisocial personality disorder
• Sexual dysfunction for men
• Irregular menstrual cycles for women

What Are the Dangers of Long-term Heroin Use?

Repeated use of heroin changes the physiology of the brain, creating imbalances in the body’s neuronal and hormonal systems.⁶ Studies have shown that prolonged heroin use results in deterioration of the brain’s white matter.⁹ This may detrimentally affect a person’s ability to control their behavior, respond to stressful situations, and make decisions. ⁹ During an overdose, a shortage of oxygen to the brain can lead to coma, permanent brain damage, or death.⁸

People who use heroin and opioids through injection are also at risk of contracting infectious diseases such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS, if sharing non-sterile needles.⁶ Use of heroin during pregnancy can lead to a baby born with fetal effects.⁶

Since 2007, heroin use in the U.S. has steadily increased. In 2016, approximately 948,000 Americans reported using heroin in the past year, and 626,000 met the criteria for heroin use disorder.⁷ The age group driving this increase the most is 18–25 year-olds.⁷

It appears this trend is related to the widespread misuse of opioid pain killers in the U.S.⁶ After becoming dependent on opioid medications, many turn to the more readily available—and more affordable option—heroin.⁶

Heroin Dependency and Addiction

Heroin dependency can happen quickly, after just two weeks of using the drug.⁵ Dependency means you will experience withdrawal symptoms, which normally occur 24-48 hours after the last dose.⁵

Signs of heroin and opioid withdrawal include:⁵

• Restlessness
• Muscle and bone pain
• Problems sleeping
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Cold flashes
• Goosebumps
• Leg movement you can’t control
• Severe cravings for heroin

Using heroin and opioids regularly can also cause you to develop tolerance.⁶ This is when you need to take larger and more frequent doses of heroin to experience the high you used to get from smaller, less frequent doses.

Once you become dependent on heroin or other opioid drugs, you may develop an addiction, which is defined clinically as an opioid use disorder (OUD). This is when having and using heroin becomes the central focus of your life. A person is diagnosed as having an OUD when some of the following signs are present within a 12-month period:¹⁰

• Taking heroin in larger amounts or for longer than prescribed
• Wanting to reduce or stop using heroin but not managing to
• Spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from heroin use
• Having cravings and urges to use heroin
• Experiencing withdrawal effects when stopping heroin use
• Needing to use heroin in larger amounts to attain the effects your experienced when you first started using it
• Not living up to obligations at work, home, or school because of heroin use
• Continuing to use heroin despite the problems it causes problems in relationships
• Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of heroin use
• Using heroin even in situations where it is dangerous to do so
• Continuing to use heroin when you know you have a physical or psychological problem that could have been caused or made worse by the drug

An OUD diagnosis is ranked by severity according to the number of symptoms listed above that a person has. Having 2-3 symptoms indicates a mild OUD, 4-5 symptoms indicates a moderate OUD, and 6 or more symptoms indicates a severe OUD.¹⁰

Heroin vs. Opioid Medications

Because heroin and opioid medications have the same effects on the body, more people are misusing both types of drugs.⁶ Some people may turn to heroin after their prescription for an opioid medication runs out and they are unable obtain more prescriptions. Evidence suggests that almost 80% of people who have used heroin previously misused prescription opioid medications.¹¹

On the other hand, some people may start with heroin and turn to stronger opioids, such as fentanyl, after developing a tolerance to heroin. This is indicated by studies showing that about 33% of people entering opioid addiction treatment misused heroin before misusing opioid medications.¹²

The severity of effects can change when using heroin vs. opioid substances. Turning to stronger opioid drugs such as fentanyl is even more risky than using heroin. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid often made illegally, is 50 times more potent than heroin.⁷ This is one reason fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose in the U.S. In 2020, 57,000 people in the U.S. died from overdoses involving fentanyl.¹³ Some of these deaths are likely due to dealers cutting drugs like heroin or cocaine with fentanyl, since all of these substances come in the form of white powder. In such cases, it’s impossible for a buyer to know if heroin has been mixed with more potent drugs such as fentanyl.³

Heroin Use and Overdose

While fentanyl has become the No. 1 drug to cause overdose deaths, heroin is close behind. In 2019, nearly a third of all overdose deaths in the U.S. involved heroin.¹⁴

When a person overdoses on heroin, it means the amount of heroin they have used is more than their body can manage, resulting in death or a life-threatening condition. During an overdose, a shortage of oxygen to the brain can lead to coma, permanent brain damage, or death.⁶ Mixing heroin with alcohol, other opioid drugs such as fentanyl, or other drugs including benzodiazepines can also lead to overdose more easily than many people may realize.⁶

What does a heroin overdose look like? After using too much heroin or opioid drugs, your breathing may slow or even stop. This cuts off oxygen to your brain—a condition known as hypoxia.  So, even if you survive an overdose, you may emerge with permanent damage to your brain and nervous system.⁸ Alternatively, you may remain in a coma due to the effects of hypoxia.⁸

An overdose from heroin and opioids can be treated, if done immediately, with a medication called naloxone. It is available as an injectable medication, used by emergency medical personnel, or as a nasal spray, available to consumers. In either form, this medication binds to opioid receptors, which blocks the effects of heroin or other opioids, reversing overdose symptoms.¹⁵

Naloxone in the nasal spray form is available in some states without a prescription. If the state you live in requires a prescription, ask your primary doctor for a naloxone prescription if you are concerned that you or a loved one may be at risk for opioid overdose. Be sure you know in advance how to properly use naloxone. Keep in mind that naloxone only works on overdoses caused by heroin or other opioids.¹⁵

More than one dose of naloxone may be necessary to help you breathe after an overdose, and other medical care may be required. For these reasons, always seek immediate emergency medical care for an overdose.

Help for Heroin Addiction

If you struggle with heroin and opioid use, help is available. Today, a range of effective treatment options, including medication and different forms of therapy, are used to help people stop using heroin.⁸ Because of the variety of opioid and heroin treatment options available, you can find treatment that meets your specific needs and preferences.

Medications for Heroin Addiction

To help you through the withdrawal process, when detoxing from heroin and opioids, your treatment specialist may prescribe lofexidine.⁸ This is an FDA-approved, non-opioid medicine that reduces opioid withdrawal symptoms.⁸                 

There are also opioid agonist medicines, such as buprenorphine and methadone, that can help you stop using heroin.⁸ These medications also bind to your brain’s opioid receptors, but they do so in a weaker way than heroin, so they may reduce your heroin cravings and lessen your withdrawal symptoms.⁸

Alternatively, your doctor may recommend naltrexone, a medication that blocks opioid receptors.⁸ When you take naltrexone, opioid drugs will not affect your body.

Studies show that buprenorphine/naloxone combinations are similarly effective to solo use of extended-release naltrexone.^8,15

Behavioral Therapy During Opioid Addiction Treatment

In addition to medications, your treatment program may involve behavioral therapies for heroin addiction. Two popular methods often used in addiction treatment are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and contingency management.⁸

With CBT, you learn to change your thoughts about drug use and your behaviors surrounding heroin misuse. In this way, you can learn to effectively manage your drug-use triggers so that you don’t relapse in times of stress.⁸

With contingency management, you can earn motivational incentives, such as vouchers or small cash rewards, when you engage in positive behaviors by avoiding heroin and opioid use to maintain sobriety.⁸

A variety of other types of therapy for opioid addiction, including holistic approaches, are available in many treatment centers today. The methods of therapy that work best for you will depend on your individual situation and personality. What is most important to know is that behavioral treatment is highly effective when combined with medication for heroin addiction.⁸

For more information about treatment for heroin dependency, or to find a treatment center that meets your needs, call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) today.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, August 1). Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts. National Center for Health Statistics.
2. Merrer, J. L., Becker, J. A. J., Befort, K., & Kieffer, B. L. (2009). Reward Processing by the Opioid System in the Brain. Physiological Reviews, 89(4), 1379–1412.
3. Drug Enforcement Administration. (2020). Drugs of Abuse: A DEA Resource Guide/2020 Edition. U.S. Department of Justice.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, October 25). Regional Differences in the Drugs Most Frequently Involved in Overdose Deaths: United States, 2017. National Vital Statistics Reports, 68(12).
5. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Opioid Addiction. The Science of Addiction.
6. Volkow, N.D. (2014). Heroin. Research Report Series. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
7. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Heroin Research Report: What is the scope of heroin use in the United States? National Institutes of Health.
8. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020, July 24). Heroin DrugFacts. National Institutes of Health.
9. Qiu, Y., Jiang, G., Su, H., Lv, X., Zhang, X., Tian, J., & Zhuo, F. (2013). Progressive white matter microstructure damage in male chronic heroin dependent individuals: a DTI and TBSS study. PloS One. 8(5).
10. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.).
11. Cicero, T. J., Ellis, M. S., & Kasper, Z. A. (2017). Increased use of heroin as an initiating opioid of abuse. Addictive Behaviors, 74:63-66.
12. Carlson, R. G., Nahhas, R. W., Martins, S., & Daniulaityte, R. (2016). Predictors of transition to heroin use among initially non-opioid dependent illicit pharmaceutical opioid users: A natural history study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 60:127-134.
13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, August 8). Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts. National Center for Health Statistics.
14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, March 5). Drug Overdose: Heroin Overdose Data.
15. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021). Opioid overdose reversal with naloxone (Narcan, Evzio).
16. Lee, J. D., Nunes, E. V., Mpa, P. N., Bailey, G. L., Brigham, G. S., Cohen, A. J., Fishman, M., Ling, W., Lindblad, R., Shmueli-Blumberg, D., Stablein, D., May, J., Salazar, D., Liu, D., & Rotrosen, J. (2016). NIDA clinical trials network CTN-0051, extended-release naltrexone vs. buprenorphine for opioid treatment (X:BOT): Study design and rationale. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 50:253-64.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “1 in 15 people who take non medical prescription pain relievers will try heroin within 10 years.” Many make the switch because the latter is less expensive, easier to obtain, and can create a stronger, longer-lasting high. Especially if your loved one is already abusing prescription narcotics, it is important to be able to recognize the signs that they have switched from these drugs of abuse to heroin.

Behavioral Signs of the Switch to Heroin

A person who is abusing heroin may begin to behave slightly differently than those who only abuse prescription drugs. For example, many individuals crush the prescription pills they abuse in order to snort them while only some then prepare the crushed pills for injection. Heroin is much more often injected than abused in any other way, and you will likely begin to notice that your loved one shows signs of injecting drugs when they switch to heroin. If so, they will only wear long sleeves and long pants (to hide their track marks), and you will likely be able to find used needles, spoons, syringes, lighters, balloons, and other paraphernalia to suggest this switch in their rooms or home.

Other behavioral signs associated with the switch include:

• More secretive actions
• Stealing or lying to cover their heroin abuse
• Longer periods of time where they sleep or are unresponsive
• Longer periods where they exhibit the signs of being high
• Spending time with different people
• Engaging in riskier behavior
• More intense withdrawal symptoms

Physical Signs of the Switch to Heroin

Prescription opioids can cause many of the same issues that heroin can cause when abused, such as constipation, respiratory depression, dependence, addiction, etc. But heroin can cause many issues that are often specifically related to the drug and the way it is prepared. According to the Center for Substance Abuse Research, “Infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses (pus-filled infections), liver disease, and lung-related complications such as pneumonia” are all conditions that are strongly associated with heroin use. A person’s risk for contracting HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other transmittable diseases will also increase with the switch to heroin. Weight loss is common as well.

How Can I Know My Loved One Has Moved on to Heroin?

It may be difficult to know for certain at first, but you will begin to recognize that your loved one’s behavior and physicality has changed as a result of their switch to heroin. They will likely become even less involved in the daily minutiae of their life, including anything that is not related to their drug use. This is because they are only focused on getting a stronger high that can combat their tolerance and allow them to use for a lower cost.

The switch to heroin often intensifies the amount of danger your loved one is in from abusing narcotics. Call 800-934-1582(Sponsored)  if you think your friend, family member, spouse, etc. is abusing any type of narcotic, and we will help you find a treatment option that meets their needs and will help them return to a happier, safer life.