Heroin addiction symptoms
Read more about the symptoms of heroin addiction and how it develops over time.
Find out more about Priory's addiction services and start your recovery today.
Heroin addiction is a condition where you become physically and mentally dependent on heroin, a powerful opioid drug that comes from morphine, a natural substance derived from the opium poppy. Also referred to as heroin use disorder, this condition causes changes in the brain, leading to intense cravings and making it hard to stop using.
Some of the key signs of heroin addiction include having a strong desire for the drug, and experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as sweating, shaking or feeling nauseous when you haven’t taken it for a period of time. Knowing the key signs can help you take the right course of action before the impact of heroin abuse becomes a serious problem, for yourself or someone you know.
Early signs of heroin addiction
The emotional and behavioural signs of heroin addiction include:
- Craving heroin and constantly thinking about the next time you can use it
- Using more often than planned
- Obsessive focus on getting and using heroin
- Intense mood swings or emotional numbness
- Feelings of anxiety and depression
- Prioritising heroin over hobbies, work, or social plans
- Isolation from friends and family
- Risky or impulsive behaviour
Here are some of the early signs to look out for in someone else:
Personality changes, such as:
- Mood swings or irritability
- Unusual anxiety or paranoia
- Agitation or restlessness
- Lack of motivation or interest in hobbies
- Acting secretively, dishonestly or manipulatively
Neglecting responsibilities, such as:
- Ignoring family or social commitments
- Being unable to care for children or pets
- Avoiding basic hygiene or household tasks
Financial problems, such as:
- Struggling to pay bills or buy essentials
- Unexplained missing cash or valuables
- Running up debts on credit cards or loans
- Frequently borrowing or even stealing money
Long-term physical and psychological symptoms
There are various long-term effects of heroin use, which will significantly impact physical and mental health. These include:
- Collapsed veins, due to injecting heroin
- Frequent infections or abscesses
- Insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns
- Noticeable weight loss
- Poor hygiene
- Chronic constipation
- Heart problems or damaged valves
- Liver or kidney disease
- Breathing issues or lung complications
- Memory loss and poor concentration
- Increased risk of mental health disorders
These long-term symptoms, particularly those that impact the brain, make it progressively more difficult to stop taking heroin.
Risk of heroin overdose
As tolerance builds, you or someone you know may use larger amounts of heroin, or use it more frequently. This significantly raises the risk of overdose.
Even with new or one-time users, there’s always a risk of overdosing on heroin, due to its unpredictable ingredients. You never know its true strength – and it may be mixed with other substances, such as benzodiazepines or fentanyl.
You can also overdose if you take heroin when drinking alcohol, or taking other drugs.
If it’s acted on quickly, a heroin overdose is treatable. Call emergency services immediately. They can administer naloxone, which is an emergency medication that reverses withdrawal effects and brings the person back to consciousness.
Withdrawal and overdose are different. Withdrawal happens when someone stops using heroin after becoming dependent, so the body craves it.
Drug withdrawal symptoms, while very uncomfortable, aren’t usually immediately life-threatening. An overdose, however, occurs when the body is overwhelmed by taking heroin, either because of its high dosage or its strength. This can lead to death without emergency help.
How heroin addiction can progress over time
Continued heroin use can deepen addiction, turning it into a problem that may feel impossible to get a handle on. After a while, you develop a tolerance to it. As your body gets used to the drug, it takes increasing amounts of heroin to feel the same high.
Dependence is then created when your body and brain start to rely on the drug to function normally. If you stop using it, you experience withdrawal effects because your body has adapted to having heroin.
Signs that addiction is worsening include:
- Needing more heroin to get the same effect
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using
- Losing control over how much or how often you use
- Increasing health, work, or legal problems
Eventually, these effects will start to show outwardly too, making the issue hard for others to ignore.
What to do if you recognise these symptoms
It’s important to take your concerns seriously and seek support, whether it’s for your heroin use or someone else’s. You’ve already taken the first step by reading the information in this article and finding out how to get help.
Speak to someone
Speaking to someone you trust is a useful first step. They can provide you with the emotional support you’ll need as you reach out to professionals and move towards recovery. This will also help to reduce some of the shame you may feel by keeping your drug use to yourself.
If you’re worried about someone else’s heroin use, try to compassionately speak to them about it without being confrontational. Carefully plan what you’re going to say, focusing on conveying the fact that you want to help.
Use a non-judgemental tone, without blaming them for becoming addicted. Let them know about their treatment options, or suggest that you can research them together if they’re up to it.
Consider treatment
There are steps you can take right away, so you or someone you know can find peace of mind and live a fulfilling life beyond addiction. Free support is available from services such as Talk to Frank, the NHS, local support services and charities.
You can also get fast access to a range of private addiction services at Priory. We deliver heroin addiction treatment at our network of UK-based rehab facilities. You can find out what treatment is right for you with our free addiction assessment.
