Heroin: Methadone Symptoms & Side Effects

Question: How can i tell if my friend is taking heroin she is 41?

(Posted by: bingbong on 2010-08-12 18:34:14)

Hi i think my friend is taking heroin, all the signs are pointing to it, her brother takes it his friend, i fact most people around her do, but i always thought she would never, i may be wrong she has 4 kids 1 still at school, she is acting so strange very emotional one minute then happy then crying she always liked a drink but i have never seen her like this

Posted by: MeAgain on 2010-08-12, 18:46:03

Look into her eyes, if her pupils are extremely small (pin pointed ) in bright light. If you are sitting down and talking and there is a pause in the conversation and she falls asleep but, wakes up as soon as you start talking again and this keeps happening then there is a great chance she is using. I learned this when I knew someone on heroin. The other things you've said don't sound like heroin use.

Posted by: LizDaRealest on 2010-08-12, 18:35:36

If she's your friend, you should just be able to ask her?

Posted by: Sabrina Akina on 2010-08-12, 18:36:36

She could be going through a hard time? Or emotional rollercoaster. Try looking at her arms for any bruises or little places in the crease for any needle points where heroin can be taken. If she is get her children away that would be terrible if they had to see their mother like that. Hope this helps.

Posted by: Heather B on 2010-08-12, 18:38:28

With the little information you gave I would say it sounds more like hormones. It is likely she could be premenopausal or even going into menopause.

Posted by: **Ghosty** on 2010-08-12, 18:51:39

Hi - Heroin can be taken in several ways- •It can be snorted. Most first time users take heroin this way. •You can smoke it. You heat the heroin on a piece of foil and inhale the smoke that comes off through a tube. Most people call this ‘chasing the dragon’. •Most long-term heroin users usually fix (inject) their heroin. It is broken down into a liquid by mixing it with water and either citric acid or vitamin C powder, then heating in a spoon until all the powder has gone. Fixing it gives you the biggest hit but it’s also the most dangerous. Which way do you think your friend might be using it? It sounds more like a emotional upset, to me. Mood swings like that can be caused by many psyc problems, including depression and Bipolar Disorders of varying intensity. This is how Wiki describe 'how to spot someone who is using Heroin': •Step 1 Understand what heroin looks like. Heroin can look like either a black tar substance, or a brown/ tan powder. Pure heroin is a white powder. However, it is very rare to find pure heroin as most time the drug is cut with other substances such as talcum powder, caffeine, or even brick dust. It will usually be accompanied by a heating device (often a spoon and a lighter) to liquefy the drugs for injection. You may also find injection needles nearby. Do not touch the needles. Those who do drugs with IV needles have a severely increased risk of infectious diseases, especially HIV. Touching the needles can expose you to the same diseases if you accidentally get poked by the needle. Heroin can also be snorted or smoked, but most users prefer injection as the drugs hit the blood stream almost immediately, causing an immediate high. •Step 2 Look for track marks. Track marks are needle marks on the skin from continuous injection. The area around the injection sites are often raised and may be infected. It is common for skin abscesses to also appear around the injection sites. This is common because of a lack of sanitation during injection, as well as the reuse of dirty needles. •Step 3 Watch for changes in speech patterns. Heroin is similar to alcohol as it is a depressant. However, the depressant signs of heroin use are much more pronounced than the signs of alcohol abuse. Someone on a heroin high will often have slurred speech, delayed reaction times, and impaired thinking and judgment. The may also seem tired, disoriented, and can become hostile or irritated with little provocation. •Step 4 Look for a change in lifestyle and personal character. Heroin users will often become recluse from their normal activities and will dramatically chance in hygiene and appearance. Their social group will often change by choosing those that also use heroin, both to gain acceptance of the drug use, as well as easy access to the drug. They may also begin asking for money from you. In many cases they will even steal money or other precious items from you to support their habit. •Step 5 Look at their eyes. An immediate physical sign of heroin abuse are constricted pupils when looking at their eyes. •Step 6 Look at their employment. A heroin user will find it difficult to keep up both a job and their drug use. Watch for extensive absences from work,or general problems in keeping a solid job. Good luck, to you and your friend.