When Someone You Know Is Addicted to Heroin

The suspicion that a friend or family member battles a heroin addiction is painful and frightening. There is the desire to confront the individual combined with the fear of doing so. If your intuition is wrong, you run the risk of sounding accusatory. Even if you are correct, the individual may not readily admit addiction, or accept the offer of help.

Warning Signs

There are, however, several warning signs that may indicate a drug problem. Though harder to discern in the early stages of addiction, eventually the toll that heroin addiction takes on a person’s life will make the problem abundantly clear. The sooner you can confront the addict the better; each day spent in addiction only drags the individual deeper.

If you are anxious to find out how to know if a loved one is on heroin, there are several red flags to look for. The addict need not exhibit all of these behaviors or patterns. Likewise, the presence of one or a few of the red flag behaviors does not necessarily peg anyone as a heroin addict. Many of these are also symptoms of other addictions or mental health conditions.

Addicts generally exhibit unpredictable shifts in behavior and lifestyle patterns. Keep an eye out for erratic behavior, a change in social groups or emotional transformations. Heroin users gradually start to numb emotionally, showing a loss of enthusiasm, a lack of focus or attention, listlessness, and a flat affect. 

Physically you may observe extreme loss of weight with the addict appearing gaunt, tired and aged. Needle marks (‘tracks’) on various parts of the body, especially where veins are close to the surface such as forearms and groin, also suggest heroin use.

Perhaps you have discovered objects that indicate drug use such as needles and syringes, a scale, small plastic bags, a coffee grinder, etc. These supplies are often associated with heroin use and/or distribution.

A downturn in the individual’s financial situation may also suggest a drug dependency. Is the addict asking to borrow money and claiming to be in financial trouble? Do you notice large ticket items missing from their home? Many addicts will sell items such as electronics or jewelry to bankroll their habit.

A drop in professional or academic performance as well as an inability to keep commitments may also be an indicator of a drug problem.

Confronting the Addict

Though you may confront the individual about the situation, it is important to remember that heroin addiction and lying go hand in hand. Users become especially adept at deception and manipulation. Though you may receive a convincing answer to your inquiries, if your gut still tells you something is amiss, you are most likely correct.

Heroin use is never harmless or innocuous even if the addict claims that his or her use is purely recreational and ‘not harming anyone.’ In addition to the damage that the addict is inflicting on his mind and body, it is important to point out that heroin use is a crime. Users who are caught will face legal repercussions. Additionally, it has been shown that addiction to heroin leads to other crimes—commonly theft, prostitution and occasionally violence as well. Most heroin-related crimes are based in the addict’s need to secure more money in order to obtain more of the drug.

Not only is the addict’s personal safety at risk, but the safety of the people around the addict as well. If you suspect a friend or family member is using heroin, do not delay in seeking help.