Seeing heroin paraphernalia around can be a sign your loved one is addicted to this dangerous opioid. Recognizing these objects can be the first step to get them help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each day more than 115 Americans die<\/a> from overdosing on opioids. Heroin is one of the strongest and most potent opioids<\/a> currently used and is a common street drug in many areas of the country. Heroin use is both highly prevalent and highly dangerous, with sometimes fatal consequences. Being familiar with heroin paraphernalia can help you understand if someone is using heroin and recognize that they need help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heroin use is somewhat common, but less commonly used than most other opioids. According to public health data<\/a>, one in two hundred people between the ages of 18\u201325 use heroin. One in three hundred people over the age of 25 use heroin, and statistics even show that 0.3% of 8th graders are using heroin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heroin use is closely connected with the national opioid crisis. Statistics show<\/a> that 80% of people who use heroin first abuse prescription opioids. Some have expressed concern that the recent crackdown on opioid-based pain medication may be driving people addicted to pain medications to heroin as these medications become less available. While the national response to the opioid crisis has been expanding, opioid-related deaths continue to grow<\/a> in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the COVID-19 pandemic has affected life across the world, one downside it has created is increased substance use. While data is still just beginning to emerge, surveys show that 20% of people with a substance use disorder have increased their substance use during the pandemic<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Increased stress caused by the pandemic and free time with nothing to do at home are thought to contribute to increased substance use. As people try to cope with social isolation and the fears caused by the pandemic, many experts believe that substance use problems will continue to increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are three main ways that heroin is used, and heroin paraphernalia will vary based on the method. The most common method is injection, but heroin may also be smoked or snorted. Some of the most common types of heroin paraphernalia include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n There are several signs that heroin is being used, aside from the discovery of heroin paraphernalia. Heroin and other opioids slow the body\u2019s nervous system. This results in physical symptoms<\/a> such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Someone who is injecting heroin may also have scars that look like lines in the arms\u2019 veins. If someone who has used heroin is breathing slowly or not responding well when you talk to them, they may be overdosing and you should call 911 immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also general behavioral signs of drug addiction that may help you recognize if substance abuse is occurring. These signs include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These signs are not specific to heroin but should be considered when evaluating someone for potential heroin abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find heroin paraphernalia, you should ideally seek out a mental health professional for advice on how to talk to the person about their substance use. The Recovery Village\u2019s addiction experts can guide you on the best approach and whether an organized intervention<\/a> may be necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Addiction treatment<\/a> can help your loved one if they\u2019re struggling with a heroin addiction<\/a>. Treatment generally begins with medical detox and inpatient care, but may also include medication-assisted treatment<\/a> and teletherapy options<\/a> to receive treatment at home during COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If someone you love is struggling with an addiction to heroin, they don\u2019t have to struggle alone. The Recovery Village at Baptist Health has a strong record of helping those with heroin addiction achieve long-term recovery. Reach out<\/a> to one of our caring team members today to learn more about treatment options that can help your loved one start the path to a heroin-free life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seeing heroin paraphernalia around can be a sign your loved one is addicted to this dangerous opioid. Recognizing these objects can be the first step to get them help. Each day more than 115 Americans die from overdosing on opioids. Heroin is one of the strongest and most potent opioids currently used and is a common street drug in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":3440,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"categories":[86],"tags":[49],"class_list":["post-3465","blog","type-blog","status-publish","hentry","category-heroin","tag-opioids"],"acf":{"written_by":176,"enable_medically_and_up":["Yes"],"medically_reviewed_by":281,"medically_reviewed_content":"This article was reviewed by a medical professional to guarantee the delivery of accurate and up-to- date information. View our research policy.<\/a>","up_to_date":"Last Updated<\/i> - 12\/28\/2022<\/b>","page_first_published_date":"20221228","page_last_edit_date":"20221228","highlighted_description":"If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, help is available. Speak with a Recovery Advocate by calling 888-648-0738<\/b><\/a> now.","key_takeaways":"","source":{"source_label":"View Sources","source_content":"National Institute on Drug Abuse. \u201cBenzodiazepines and Opioids<\/a>.\u201d March 15, 2018. Accessed October 31, 2020.\r\n\r\nO\u2019Malley, Gerald & O\u2019Malley, Rika. \u201cOpioid Toxicity and Withdrawal<\/a>.\u201d May 2020. Accessed October 31, 2020.\r\n\r\nNational Institute on Drug Abuse. \u201cOpioids Trends & Statistics<\/a>.\u201d February 5, 2020. Accessed October 31, 2020.\r\n\r\nNational Institute on Drug Abuse. \u201cOpioid Overdose Crisis<\/a>.\u201d May 27, 2020. Accessed October 31, 2020.\r\n\r\nCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. \u201cProvisional Drug Overdose Death Counts<\/a>.\u201d September 16, 2020. Accessed October 31, 2020.\r\n\r\nBorke, Jesse. \u201cOpioid intoxication<\/a>.\u201d Medline Plus. April 25, 2019. Accessed October 31, 2020."},"staff_member_heading":"Authorship","staff_member":[{"staff_member_title":"Editor","select_staff_member":176},{"staff_member_title":"Medical Reviewer","select_staff_member":281}],"insurance_label":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/3465","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3465"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/3465\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/3440"}],"acf:post":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/staff\/281"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/staff\/176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3465"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3465"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Heroin Use Statistics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Social Isolation, COVID-19, & Substance Abuse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Types of Heroin Paraphernalia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Signs of Heroin Use<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What To Do If You Find Heroin Paraphernalia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Finding Help for Heroin Addiction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"