I just don’t get heroin addiction. I say that because someone I’ve been trying to help in recovery that had suffered at the hands of this substance for a very long time has recently succumbed back into its deadly grip and is now exhibiting behaviors that truly baffle me. What’s even more frustrating is how I just went through this very thing not more than nine months ago when someone else I was trying to help recover from this substance ended up dying from it at the young age of 22. But overall, I’ve come to the realization with this latest sponsee’s relapse that I really don’t have enough knowledge and understanding about heroin to be helping someone try to recover from it.
The fact is I never did heroin during my drinking and drugging heydays. Not once. Frankly, I was too scared to try it or any other opiate for that matter. And in all honesty, I’m glad I never did because I probably wouldn’t be sitting here right now typing this article to share it with the rest of the world on my spiritual blog.
It’s said that approximately 140 people in the United States now are dying each day from drug overdoses, most of which seem to be attributed to heroin. I read another statistic while researching this entry that said in New York City alone, at least 2 people per day are dying of heroin overdoses. Sadly, even with these horrific statistics, the percentage of heroin users is only rapidly increasing by a very large percentage every single year.
But because I have no experience with this drug, on what it does to a person, or how it changes their behaviors, I felt it might be best for me to compile a list on Heroin Addiction 101. So here goes:
Visible signs of heroin use:
- Shortness of breath
- Dry mouth
- Constricted (small) pupils
- Sudden changes in behavior or actions
- Disorientation
- Cycles of hyper alertness followed by suddenly nodding off
- Droopy appearance, as if extremities are heavy
Paraphernalia used in heroin abuse:
- Needles or syringes not used for other medical purposes
- Burned silver spoons
- Aluminum foil or gum wrappers with burn marks
- Missing shoelaces (used as a tie off for injection sites)
- Straws with burn marks
- Small plastic bags, with white powdery residue
- Water pipes or other pipe
The behavioral signs (the ones I find baffling) of heroin abuse:
- Lying or other deceptive behavior
- Avoiding eye contact, or distant field of vision
- Substantial increases in time spent sleeping
- Increase in slurred, garbled or incoherent speech
- Sudden worsening of performance in school/work, including expulsion or loss of jobs
- Decreasing attention to hygiene and physical appearance
- Loss of motivation and apathy toward future goals
- Withdrawal from friends/family, instead spending time with others with no natural tie
- Lack of interest in hobbies and favorite activities
- Repeatedly stealing from loved ones or unexplained absence of valuables
- Regularly needing to borrow money from loved ones with varying reasons
- Hostile behaviors toward loved ones, including blaming them for their own problems
- Regular comments indicating a decline in self esteem or worsening body image
- Wearing long pants or long sleeves to hide needle marks, even in very warm weather
These are just some of the many things I read about heroin addiction while compiling this list. The most common one I’ve seen amongst any opiate users I’ve ever known, especially heroin-based ones, is the excessive lying. It’s usually quite elaborate, which is exactly what a few others and I have been dealing with the past few days with this person we all were trying to help recover. They have been telling each of us something different and apparently even seem to believe their own lies.
You see that’s the crazy thing about heroin addiction that I’ve thankfully never had to experience. It truly corrupts the mind, body, and soul and causes them to do insane things like lie incessantly to everyone, including themselves, even when they don’t have to.
So as I finish this article, I have no idea where this sponsee is at the moment, what they’re doing, or whether I’m suddenly going to get a call and find out they’re yet another overdose statistic. I guess the only thing I can do and the only thing any of us can do really, is pray. Pray for them to get sober, before it’s too late, which is exactly what I intend to do right now as I head to bed…
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
Now tell me what is so different from an Heroin addict than any other addict. When in our height of addiction we all did those things to some degree or another. I think the heroin addict today thinks just like a new guy coming into AA you don’t understand I am different, just like I did back when I came into recovery but don’t you see I am a cocaine addict I am different, same with the crack addict same idea. Maybe if we quit treating them differently in recovery and stick with the solution only instead of yea maybe you are different.
I think the difference is the cravings at least from what I was told. I’ve never done an opiate so I have no idea, but consistently those I know who have, especially heroin have told me how much different the cravings are for it versus alcohol.
The difference in the recovery rate is measurable; what heroin does to those around the addict is very much the same, although the fall-off towards “bottom” seems to be much faster. I have seen them both, and the end for both is pretty damn awful. Let ’em go, and pray for them – and then find someone you might actually be able to help. And yes – I *do* know how hard those things are to do when you actually know and care about the person. But caring never saved addicts or drunks, in my experience.
Thanks Steve for these words. Truly I wished our love could save every addict on this planet… but alas, it cannot… and it really rests upon the laurels of the addict themselves to reach out for help and do the work.