How to Recognize Heroin and Help Prevent Abuse
As the opioid crisis worsens across the country, people are more desperate than ever to protect their loved ones from opiate drugs like heroin.
Synthetic and semi-synthetic opioids like heroin are super addictive and can be bad news when used. If you think a loved one is using heroin, you want to know what to look for and get them help.
When looking for signs of opioid addiction one of the questions people ask is, “What does heroin look like?” This drug comes in many forms and knowing what each looks like can keep you and your loved ones safe.
Keep reading to learn what heroin looks like and how South Shores Recovery can help you or your loved one get long-term sober!
What are the Basics on Heroin?
Heroin is a potent and highly addictive opioid derived from opium poppies (papaver somniferum) plants that grow in southern Europe, northern Africa and Afghanistan.
When used illegally heroin can cause serious health problems including overdose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 19% of all opioid overdose deaths in 2020 involved heroin.
Given these numbers, more and more people are desperate to understand and recognize this drug and its signs of use. This of course includes knowing what this opioid looks like.
What Do Various Forms of Heroin Look Like?
When talking about the appearance of this illegal drug we need to remember heroin comes in many forms. So its appearance can vary depending on how it was made and what was used to make it.
Also, remember relying on physical appearance alone may not be enough to detect heroin. In many cases, testing will be needed to be 100% sure a substance is heroin.
That being said knowing what to look for can still be helpful when detecting the presence of this drug. Here are some of the most common forms of heroin:
Powdered Heroin
Pure heroin looks like a fine white powder. This is one of the more classic forms of heroin and is the purest form of the drug. White powder heroin will often be cut with other substances usually sugar, baking soda, talcum powder, or powdered milk during the manufacturing process.
This allows the dealer to increase their product and profit. In some cases, dealers will cut heroin with other drugs to make it more potent and to attract more customers. Street heroin can be cut with more harmful additives including rat poison, fentanyl, and other substances.
One of the most disturbing cutting agents, first found in the Kensington area of Philadelphia, is xylazine, a horse tranquilizer that causes heavy sedation and terrible injection site reactions.
Powdered heroin can also come in a less pure form as an off-white powder, a light or dark brown powder that looks like brown sugar. Brown heroin will be less potent than white heroin and will have more impurities.
Black Tar Heroin
Black tar heroin is less potent but cheaper than other forms of heroin and comes as a dark tar-like sticky substance. The dark color and sticky consistency of this form of heroin is due to the impurities left in it as it is less refined than powdered heroin.
This drug most commonly comes in black but can also be found in dark orange or reddish brown. It can also be solidified into coal-like chunks which can then be melted down and injected or smoked.
Heroin Pills
While less common heroin can also come in a pill form. This form of heroin can be any shape or color of pill and can be hard to recognize just by appearance alone. However it can be helpful to remember that prescription medications are kept in safe containers and have identifying marks that can be used to verify what they are.
Illegal drugs like heroin pills will not have these marks and will be kept in random containers and bottles. They will be white, off-white, blue or brown in color or come as imitations of commonly found prescriptions like Oxycodone and Percocet.
How Is Heroin Used?
When trying to figure out if someone is using this drug it’s good to know the different ways heroin is used. The two most common ways of using this drug are smoking or injecting heroin.
Black tar heroin can be turned into cigarettes or melted with foil and then smoked through a straw once it has melted. When smoking heroin the substance can easily enter the lungs and be absorbed into the bloodstream.
This can also be snorted when in powder form. Snorting heroin allows it to travel through the nasal membranes and into the bloodstream to get high fast. The most common way of using heroin is to inject it directly into the bloodstream.
Remember this is also the most dangerous way as it can cause skin infections, and vein damage, and increase the risk of getting blood-borne diseases like HIV, hepatitis B, and AIDS.
Because of how heroin works it’s very easy to take too much and overdose. There’s also always a risk of ingesting other harmful drugs and substances which can increase the risk of side effects and overdose.
Heroin Overdose: Signs and Symptoms
A heroin overdose is life threatening so it’s good to know what signs and symptoms to look out for to get someone help if they are having an overdose-level reaction to heroin. Some of the common symptoms of an opioid overdose are shallow breathing, respiratory failure, blue tinted skin, confusion, less alertness and loss of consciousness.
If you or someone else is experiencing any of these symptoms after using heroin it’s important to get emergency medical help right away. This condition can have long term consequences and even be life-threatening without proper treatment.
What are the Side Effects of Heroin Abuse?
Most people start using heroin for the intense high it produces. But using this drug can also have unpleasant side effects short and long term.
Some of the common short-term side effects of heroin abuse are:
- Pinpoint pupils
- Slow breathing
- Drowsiness
- Constricted pupils
- Itchy skin
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
- Weight loss
- Bruising or scabbing on the skin
- Needle marks on the arms, legs or other parts of the body
Long term abuse of this drug can cause organ damage especially to the brain structure and physiology, heart, liver and kidney. This can also exacerbate existing medical and mental health conditions or cause new ones to develop.
With chronic use of this drug, many will develop physical dependence on heroin which will make it hard to stop using the drug without professional help. Heroin addiction is life threatening and if you or a loved one is struggling with this disease get treatment as soon as possible.
What are the Signs of Drug Abuse?
There are several signs to look out for when trying to determine if you or a loved one is using heroin. One of the best things you can do is to pay attention to your environment. Someone with an addiction will often have heroin paraphernalia or items related to their drug use scattered around their surroundings.
This can be needles, syringes, tourniquets, spoons with burn marks on the back, bottle caps, cigarette wrappings, aluminum foil, and other paraphernalia. You may also hear the person often referring to this drug by its street names like “tar” “dope”, “smack” and “black” and others.
Someone who is using this drug may also exhibit several changes in behavior and habits:
- Changes in mood or personality.
- Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed.
- Social withdrawal.
- Lying or stealing for heroin.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Difficulty controlling emotions.
- Increased risk-taking.
- Depression.
- Anxiety.
- Paranoia.
- Psychosis.
If you think someone you know is using heroin talk to them about it. You can also get help from a professional. South Shores Recovery has a comprehensive program to help those struggling with heroin addiction stop their habits and live a happier healthier life.
Why Get Professional Treatment for Heroin Abuse?
There are many reasons why heroin detox and rehab treatment is necessary for lasting recovery from dependence and addiction. Addiction is a disease that’s hard to overcome on your own. Our facility’s professional services can provide you with the support and resources you need to recover.
Here are some of the benefits of getting treatment with South Shores Recovery:
- Expertise: Our addiction professionals have the knowledge and experience to understand addiction and how to treat it. We can help you create a personalized treatment plan for you.
- Support: Addiction can be a solitary and isolating experience. Our program and team of professionals can give you a support network of others who are struggling with addiction and licensed medical providers who can give you the care you need. This support can be a big help in keeping you motivated and on track in your recovery.
- Resources: Our treatment programs have resources that can help you in your recovery such as counseling, medication and support groups. These resources can help you address the root causes of your addiction and learn new coping skills.
- Hope: Most importantly, our program and staff can give you hope for the future. You can overcome addiction and live a healthy and happy life.
South Shores Recovery and Our Heroin Addiction Program
Heroin addiction recovery on your own can be tough and overwhelming. That’s why we are here to provide you the support and comprehensive services you need all in one place.
Our facility offers various recovery programs and services to address all your care needs including:
Medical Detox Services
Medical detox is the process of removing drugs or alcohol from the body under the care of a medical professional. It’s the first step in recovery from addiction and can be tough and dangerous.
During detox at our facility your body will be able to adjust to being without heroin in a safe and controlled environment. Our team will be there to help manage and guide you through withdrawal symptoms that may arise, whether physical, psychological or both.
Some of the common withdrawal symptoms of heroin are:
- Muscle and bone pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Chills
- Sweats
- Full-body cramping
- Substance cravings
- Runny nose
- Fever
Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and even life-threatening in some cases. That’s why it’s so important to detox under the care of a medical professional. Our facility has a full team of licensed medical and mental health professionals for each of our clients.
Our program can provide a safe and supportive environment for you to build a strong foundation for your sobriety during early recovery. We can address any complications that may arise during your treatment and prescribe medications to help manage withdrawal symptoms.
Remember medical detox is not a cure for addiction but it’s the first step in the recovery process. Once you’ve completed detox you can move on and start focusing on long-term treatment and recovery.
Residential Rehab Programs
Residential rehab is a type of substance abuse treatment that provides 24/7 care in a live-in setting. It’s usually recommended for those with severe addiction who need a higher level of care than outpatient or partial hospitalization programs can offer.
Our residential program is 30-90 days but can be longer or shorter depending on your needs. During this time you will be able to participate in:
- Detoxification: This is the process of removing drugs or alcohol from the body. We offer a standalone medical detox program as well as incorporate detox into our other recovery programs.
- Behavioral therapies: Our facility incorporates various evidence-based therapies into our residential program to help you understand and manage your addiction.
- Relapse prevention services: These help you understand the underlying causes of your addiction and develop ways to manage cravings and triggers.
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT): This can help you recover from your heroin addiction by managing withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
- Life skills training: This teaches you how to live a healthy and sober life, such as managing finances, getting a job and relationships.
- Aftercare planning: This helps you transition back into the community after treatment and find support groups and sober-living services if needed.
Evidence Based Therapies
Therapy is a great tool for those struggling with addiction. It can help you understand the underlying causes of your addiction, develop coping mechanisms and build a support network. We offer various types of therapy in our program:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to your addiction.
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) teaches you skills for managing emotions, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness.
- Motivational interviewing (MI) helps you increase your motivation to change.
- Individual, group, and family therapy helps you understand yourself and your addictive behaviors, connect with others in recovery from addiction and work with your family to understand and cope with your addiction.
Get Help for a Loved One Using Heroin at South Shores
If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin and are ready to get treatment South Shores Recovery can help. Our facility has everything you need to stop using heroin and get your life back.
Contact us today to learn more about our programs and services. We’ll answer all your treatment questions and get you on the path to a happier and healthier life!
FAQs in addition to What Does Heroin Look Like?
What Does Heroin Smell Like?
Heroin is described as having a pungent, chemical and sometimes sweet smell. This can vary depending on how pure the drug is, how it was made and if it was mixed with other drugs or substances during the manufacturing process.
Some heroin can have a vinegar or ammonia smell while others can have a faint floral or fruit smell.
What Does Heroin Taste Like?
Don’t try to taste an unknown substance to identify it. However if you’ve taken something and think it may have been laced with something, knowing its taste can help you or a loved one stay safe.
The taste of heroin can vary depending on how pure it is and what else has been mixed into it. Usually it will have a bitter taste like vinegar or rubbing alcohol and a metallic or chemical taste.