Am I Addicted To Heroin

What you take away from identifying your problem can lead to the make or break point in the success of your happiness and health. It’s very useful and important to know what differentiates between being addicted to heroin and it just being a recreational thing. If it’s just recreational then your power to walk away from the drug and cutting ties with dealers or friends who use is a lot easier than if an addiction to it has seeped in.

Chances are that you’re addicted to heroin if you have to ask yourself. This has a lot to do with the fact that heroin is highly addictive and people who have a habit of using it ordinarily feel the need to use in an addictive manner. It is the type of drug you get hooked to, addicted to, fast and unsuspectingly. It can be pretty insidious and sneak up on you in that way. However it is not something to be underestimated. A heroin addiction can be powerful. There are several reasons for this. A lot of times, though, people want to quit but stay hooked on heroin in order to ward off the awful withdrawal symptoms. This is a very unfortunate circumstance. Sometimes warding off these vile symptoms from withdrawing is actually the catalyst that keeps the person using. In this situation, being brave and having some emotional support can be crucial.

Whatever the reason is to use though, an addiction is just that and being able to spot if you have an addiction is the very first step toward recovering from said drug problem. In terms of general addictions, when you notice that your behavior is starting to change, that the way you deal with your relationships is shifting and that your honesty is tapering off all due to this drug then you are definitely addicted. This happens to be the case with any sort of substance addiction and can kind of be relied on as a general rule. If the substance has the ability to change who you are as a person, how you act towards your job and your attitude with your family and friends, then it definitely is a substance that has a hold on you. In the face of heroin it is pretty much a known fact that this drug is one of the top addictive drugs on the streets.

The severity of heroin as an issue in this country is getting worse and worse. Opiate prescription pills hold some responsibility for this heroin epidemic. This is because opiate prescription pills can become very addictive in themselves, leading someone to crave and need a drug of the opiate variety once their prescription runs out. It isn’t uncommon for said individual to then seek out heroin as a cheaper and easier to obtain type of substitute for the opiate pills they were on. Unfortunately a heroin addiction is not unheard of in this situation, especially as prescription pill abuse becomes a growing cause for concern in this country.

Specific Symptoms of Heroin Addiction

In order to properly determine and figure out whether or not you’re addicted to heroin, there are a set of symptoms here to help you further evaluate what’s going on. These are the symptoms of a heroin addiction. These are the things and signs to look out for:

  • Thinking about using often
  • Using the drug to relax
  • Using the drug to deal with a problem or in preparation for the day
  • Experiencing heavy anxiety if you aren’t using
  • Getting sick (withdrawal symptoms) or headaches if you go without using
  • Lying or acting deceptive for the sake of using
  • Worsening performance at work or in school
  • Lack of interest in your favorite hobbies or activities
  • Stealing money or valuables to get money for heroin
  • Withdrawn
  • Strong cravings that seem to have control over you

One of the signs mentioned above is getting heroin withdrawals if going without using. The symptoms for heroin withdrawals are restlessness, aches in muscles, pain in the bones, diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting, a lot of anxiety and a lot of discomfort. This also includes the user’s strong craving for another fix.

If you are choosing heroin and using over things you used to enjoy, or people you used to like to socialize with, then it’s very likely that you’re addicted. If you notice major changes in the way you act or behave, even the way you carry yourself, it is very possible that you are in fact addicted. These are the type of things to look out for. It’s rare that a recreational habit with heroin stays recreational. Most likely if you’re using heroin, you’re in fact a heroin addict.

What Can You Do About Heroin Addiction

If you’re experiencing any of these things then it’s likely you’re addicted to heroin. In order to get to the next step of recovery you’re going to have to get out of denial on the matter, which is what pinpointing your problem is all about. This will give you perspective on what is going on with you and the freedom to take action. Facing that you have a heroin addiction isn’t always easy, but it can be a liberating thing for yourself and what the future has in store for you. Seize the opportunity to figure out what’s going on with you internally and what about your heroin use is symptomatic with addiction so that you can move forward on your path to bettering yourself. Once you’ve established that you do have an addiction, then the next step is a no brainer. That is- figuring out what type of help you’re going to get to address the problem.

It’s really important to clarify within yourself what type of drug problem you have and really facing it because that can lead to being able to take responsibility and move forward. If you take active action to make a change in your lifestyle then you will make the progress you need to make in order to see a real change in your life. Putting down the needle is often described by users trying to get clean as difficult thing to do, but it gets easier over time. Once you’ve hurdled the withdrawal symptoms then you will gain a lot more clarity to overcome the rest of the journey of getting to and maintaing sobriety.

Reaching out to people who are clean, once you’ve admitted to yourself that you’re an addict, is a crucial step in this. You want to have emotional support to get through this. It isn’t easy but having a friend or loved one you can talk to will be of great benefit to your recovery. It’s important to cut ties with those that use, or your dealers, when trying to kick the habit. If the environment isn’t supportive or conducive in any way to staying off heroin then it isn’t an environment worth surrounding yourself by.

Most importantly, heroin is an addictive and dangerous drug. Steering clear of further use is of utmost importance and you should make this your priority. The drug is capable of making things far worse than they’ve already gotten. It isn’t something to be toyed with. If you have recognized an addiction then seek help as soon as you can.

By Robert O. Newman II, ICDAC, ICPS, CIP