How to Know if Someone is Using Heroin

Sleep patterns are often affected when someone of any age uses heroin.  They are often extremely tired, drowsy or complaining about how fatigued they feel.  They may sleep in late and be disoriented when they wake up.

Specific to heroin use is a condition that is known as  “nodding”.  This is a sleep disorder characterized by a user quickly alternating between being awake and asleep.

Heroin will slow down the respiratory system and this can make it hard to tell if a person is unconscious or just asleep.

Another sign of heroin use is that a user will start to behave in unfamiliar ways.  For example, a normally outgoing person may suddenly become sullen and isolated.  You may find that your previously friendly child starts avoiding going out with friends or being social. If a college student goes from being highly focused on their academic career to being someone who won’t talk about class and starts to see grades fall, this is another potential warning sign.  Some students drop out of school completely or start to talk about leaving.

Behavioral changes also occur when young adults start to use heroin.  They may start to stay up late, miss out on social events or activities they used to enjoy or be missing at important family events.  It may be that you notice that they are telling lies or being secretive whereas before they were open and honest about their life.

Young adults who use heroin will also present with certain physical signs and symptoms.  The main ones to be aware of are:

• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Track marks on the body – especially on the inside of the arm, behind the knees and between the toes
• Collapsed veins
• Being constantly tired or suffering from chronic exhaustion
• Itching skin
• Dry mouth
• Constriction in the pupils often referred to as ‘pinpoint’ pupils
• Difficulty breathing
• Rapid unexplained weight loss