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What Does a Heroin Addiction Look Like?

young man struggles with signs of heroin addiction

Heroin is one of the types of drugs whose use and potential for addiction can really take over a person’s life. Its highly addictive nature means any use is likely to lead to an addiction. Heroin use is accompanied by a variety of physical side effects. Its ability to quickly cause physical dependence means recovering from heroin addiction involves an often difficult withdrawal period. For this reason, conducting heroin withdrawal is safest and most likely to produce a positive outcome when done under medical supervision. Reach out to The Arbor by calling 844.413.2690 to discover how our heroin rehab center can help you turn your life around.

Signs of Heroin Addiction

Heroin addiction displays a set of hallmarks that can aid in identifying if someone you love is struggling with heroin addiction. These include heroin addiction symptoms, some of the most common being:

  • Flu-like feelings and reactions between instances of heroin use
  • Impaired cognition
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Itching
  • Drowsiness

For people close to someone struggling with a heroin addiction, the more obvious signs of heroin addiction may be behavioral. Heroin addiction can be all-consuming on a person’s time and attention. This necessarily shifts priorities and lifestyles to accommodate drug use. Be on the lookout for the following when it comes to someone’s behavior:

  • Aggression or anger
  • Secrecy or lying
  • New-found financial issues or regular requests to borrow money
  • Withdrawal from social engagement
  • Switching friend groups unexpectedly

Other signs of heroin addiction to watch out for include the presence of drug paraphernalia including aluminum foil, dirty spoons and bottlecaps, needles, and lighters. Most people tend to hide drug use due to societal stigma or embarrassment. When someone stops trying to hide their addiction in the case of a drug like heroin, it could mean their addiction is advanced and in severe need of intervention.

Heroin Addiction Symptoms

Heroin addiction brings with it a variety of physical and psychological symptoms. Some of these were mentioned above. The other category of heroin addiction symptoms worth covering is related to its withdrawal symptoms. They are many and can be severe for long-term addictions or following a binge period. 

Withdrawal timelines are often unique to each user. The symptoms experienced depend on how long a person has been using, what method they used to ingest heroin, and what kind of dosage they regularly used. Still, withdrawal symptoms can appear as soon as six hours following use. They typically peak in the first couple of days and largely dissipate following a week. The most common heroin addiction withdrawal symptoms are:

  • Mood swings
  • Insomnia
  • Muscle aches
  • Diarrhea
  • Irritability
  • Runny nose
  • Restlessness

Heroin Addiction Treatment at The Arbor

The Arbor prioritizes personalized addiction treatment. That’s because we recognize the unique challenges each person faces and the unique strengths they bring to recovery. For us, that means tackling heroin addiction using our continuum of care. Simply put, each of our clients receives an integrated, comprehensive treatment plan starting from day one. 

Join Us in Treatment

It also means every client can access the level of care they need to produce the best possible outcome. For some people, outpatient rehab is sufficient. Others require the intensity and oversight of inpatient rehab. Another component of heroin addiction treatment at The Arbor is family involvement. It is likely that family played a role in someone pursuing recovery in the first place. Maybe a parent noticed the confluence of the behavioral and physical signs of heroin addiction and supported their child in seeking help. Whatever the scenario, healing the interpersonal damage caused by heroin addiction is paramount to long-term sobriety. Learn more about how The Arbor approaches heroin addiction treatment by reaching out to 844.413.2690.