How to Tell if Someone Is High on Heroin
Tell Tale Signs That Someone Is High on Heroin
The drug known as heroin is highly addictive and has both strong mind-altering effects and negative health effects associated with use. Often while actively high on a significant dose of heroin, an individual will be unconscious. Still, if they are taking a lower amount or only maintaining enough in their system to put off withdrawal, they will display:
- constricted pupils
- shallow breathing
- “nodding” as they fight drowsiness
- droopy facial expressions
Other noticeable effects of heroin abuse are the physical symptoms of ingestion such as track marks on arms or other injection sites, nose bleeds or runny nose if snorted, and burn marks on the mouth or fingers if smoked.
What Does a Heroin High Feel Like?
Some effects of heroin that are immediately felt upon use are:
- a rush of euphoria, pain relief, and intense pleasure
- nausea and vomiting
- a drop in body temperature
- loss of sex drive
- drowsiness and falling asleep
- shallow breathing
A trademark characteristic of heroin is tolerance build-up experienced by users that causes them to need progressively increased dosage to experience the effects of euphoria. It has been reported that the experience of first-time use can never be repeated. Still, addiction can form to replicate that level of euphoria, often leading to overdose and death.
Check out the ways to support a spouse in addiction recovery here:
How Long Does a Heroin High Last?
Depending on the dosage, length of use, and physical factors of the user, a heroin high can last from 1-3 hours. Symptoms of heroin withdrawal are felt as little as six hours after the last dose.
For many users, heroin addiction is a consequence of avoiding withdrawal. This group of heroin abusers only keep using to stop themselves from getting “sick” and don’t feel the effects of the high anymore.
Heroin Addiction Treatment and Detox at Novo Detox
Out of all the substances used in drug abuse, the effects of heroin addiction cause the most substantial physical dependence, making it extremely difficult to quit without professional intervention. The withdrawal symptoms can be so uncomfortable that the highest relapse rate occurs during this period. There is also an increased risk of a heroin overdose as the body changes tolerance levels and is weakened during withdrawal, so the next dose can have devastating effects.
Seeking help at qualified treatment centers can significantly ease the start of the recovery process for heroin users. At Novo Detox, we first approach the addictions we treat with a medical detox phase. An evaluation by a professional MD assigns a customized treatment overview plan that determines what medications will be administered to you in detox. The FDA approves these to lessen the severity of your symptoms and sometimes shorten the withdrawal timeline. Twenty-four-hour monitoring also ensures your safety and comfort throughout heroin detox, as the taxing nature of heroin withdrawal symptoms can exacerbate other health disorders.
After detox, we highly recommend entering one of our residential treatment programs to continue your addiction recovery. Inpatient programs allow those struggling with addiction to identify and treat co-occurring disorders that contribute to using drugs as a coping skill for stress. Through behavioral health and inpatient treatment, you will learn to recognize relapse causes and risk factors, develop healthy coping skills, and decrease the control your mental health disorders and substance abuse have on your life.
If extended residential treatment is incompatible with your life and responsibilities, we offer professional referrals to partner outpatient programs that can accommodate your needs. Through partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient treatment, and with the help of other external resources like support groups and private therapy, recovery is an achievable goal for anyone in recovery from an addiction to heroin.
Our facilities are staffed around the clock because we understand the difference immediate help can make when attempting to overcome drug addiction. Reach out by calling (844) 834-1777 and we can walk you through our admissions process for same-day treatment. The experienced staff at our Detoxification Centers is here to help.
