Smoking Heroin - Signs and Dangers
- June 8, 2022
- Prosperity Haven
- Addiction Treatment
Using heroin is dangerous, no matter which method you choose to take it. The risks of taking this drug include physical and mental harm, overdose and dependence. Often, users only realize how ensnared they are when they are deep in addiction.
Smoking heroin shares many of the hazards presented by other methods of administration, and also comes with its own dangers. Reading this article will inform you on the overdose threat caused by smoking heroin, the signs that someone is smoking heroin, and how to get help if you or a loved one is addicted to heroin.
Can you smoke heroin?
Yes, you can smoke heroin. People usually smoke it by chasing the dragon, which is when you heat up the heroin on tin foil and then inhale the fumes through a straw or a rolled-up piece of paper. You can also vape heroin. This is done by putting the drug in an electronic cigarette and then inhaling it.
Users tend to smoke black tar heroin and brown heroin more than white heroin, as it is easier to chase when smoking heroin on foil.
Smoking heroin is dangerous because it increases your risk of overdosing. This is because when you smoke heroin, the effects of the drug hit you very quickly. The high from smoking heroin only lasts for a few minutes, which can tempt users to keep chasing that initial feeling by smoking more and more of the drug. This increases the risk of overdose and other health.
Why do people smoke heroin?
People smoke heroin because it is a quick and effective way to get high. The effects of the drug hit users very quickly, giving them a strong feeling of euphoria. This can be very addictive, especially for people who are struggling with mental health issues or other problems in their life.
Users may smoke heroin instead of injecting under the mistaken idea that they will not get addicted if they take the drug in this way. Heroin is incredibly addictive, no matter how it is used. If you take heroin consistently, you will become dependent on it.
Effects of smoking heroin
The effects of smoking heroin are very similar to the effects of injecting it or snorting it. The main differences are in intensity and duration of high. Snorting tends to be the least powerful and lasts for the shortest amount of time, smoking has a long duration and more powerful high, and injecting is the administration with the longest effect and strongest high.
Smoking heroin can cause drowsiness, constricted pupils, slow and shallow breathing, confusion and disorientation. It can also cause nausea and vomiting. In some cases, it can lead to unconsciousness and even death.
Can you overdose from smoking heroin?
People who smoke heroin sometimes believe that you cannot OD from smoking heroin. This is a dangerous fallacy. Smoking heroin absolutely can kill you and you can die from smoking heroin, like any other method of administration.
Heroin is particularly dangerous when it is combined with other drugs including alcohol, when it is used after a period of abstinence, or when someone takes it who is suffering from ill health.
Signs of Smoking Heroin
Do you have a loved one who you suspect is smoking heroin and you would like to know how to tell if someone is smoking heroin? Here are some signs that you can look for:
You find rolled up pieces of tin foil lying around
People who smoke heroin tend to have tin foil with them wherever they go, and in the place where they sleep. If someone you know has rolled up tin foil with burn marks on, they are probably smoking heroin.
You find small empty bags
Heroin comes in a variety of different ways. The most common way that it is wrapped is in small plastic baggies or in pieces of tin foil. If you find these in an area where the person you suspect of using heroin has been, they may have been smoking heroin.
The person has a bad cough
While many drugs can cause someone to have a cough, if the person that you suspect of smoking heroin has a cough, it can further indicate that they have been smoking heroin.
They have electronic cigarettes with residue
While electronic cigarettes can be used in their proper fashion, to provide nicotine, some people use them to smoke heroin with. If the person that you suspect of smoking heroin has an e-cigarette, particularly if it has residue on it, this is an indication that they might be smoking heroin.
Dangers of Smoking Heroin
Smoking heroin is incredibly dangerous. It increases your risk of overdosing compared with snorting, as the effects of the drug hit you very quickly. There is also the danger of addiction, which is a certainty if heroin is smoked (or used in another way) on a consistent basis. After dependency and addiction has set in, users much go through a period of withdrawal when they stop using. This can trap users in a cycle of addiction that is very challenging to free themselves from.
If someone smokes heroin, they may also suffer from other health complications such as lung damage or infections. People who smoke heroin may not realize how much damage the heroin they are smoking is doing to their body, as heroin effectively numbs then. It might only be after they stop taking the drug that they realize how harmful the drug was to their body.
They same can be said for the minds of people who smoke heroin. People often begin smoking heroin to self-medicate against a mental health problem. When they take the drug, their mental health problems go away. Unfortunately, once heroin use is ceased, it becomes clear that their original issues still remain.
In addition to the mental health issues that these individuals were originally battling with, smoking heroin causes more damage to the mind. It is common for people who are attempting to get clean from smoking heroin to experience anxiety, depression and other mental health problems when they stop.
If you smoke heroin, it is important to get help as soon as possible to avoid these dangers.
How to get help for a heroin addiction
If you or someone you love is addicted to heroin, there is help available. You can start by contacting a drug rehab center. They will be able to provide you with the resources and support you need to overcome your addiction. Remember, you are not alone in this fight. With the right help, you can overcome drug addiction and live a healthy, drug-free life.
One of the most difficult things about overcoming drug addiction is finding the right heroin rehab center. It’s important to find a center that offers evidence-based treatments and that has experience treating people with heroin addiction. The staff at the rehab center should also be compassionate and understanding, as this can be a difficult time for you and your loved ones.
If you are struggling with drug addiction, contact Prosperity Haven today. Our team have combined decades of treating heroin addiction, and our priority is bringing your loved one back to life.
YOUR NEW BEGINNING
STARTS HERE
Take the First Step and Reach Out Today
