Heroin Use and What Parents Need to Know

June 1, 2011 by admin
Filed under: Addiction

Of all the drugs available today, heroin is one of the most addictive. It does not take long for a person using heroin to become physically dependent on it and addicted to it. A shocking recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that about forty percent of teenagers do not see any major problem with trying heroin one or two times and even more worrying is the fact that around nineteen percent of teenagers do not think that using heroin once a week will cause any risks. It is important therefore, as a parent that you are familiar with the warning signs and dangers of heroin use and that you keep your child informed of these dangers.

Heroin

Signs to be on the lookout for when it comes to heroin use in teenagers

Nausea
Drowsiness
Constricted pupils
Impaired mental functioning
Slurred speech
Poor personal hygiene
Runny nose
Euphoria
Slowed breathing
Hostility
Drug paraphernalia
Change in friends
Track marks on the arms or other signs of injection such as infected sores or bumps
Lack of interest in usual activities or family and friends

How is heroin taken?

Heroin looks like brown or white powder and it is usually injected. However teens these days are under the false assumption that it is safer to swallow, smoke or snort heroin and they are turning to these methods instead.

Street names for heroin

Tar
H
Chiva or Chiba
Smack
Mud
Brown Sugar
Skag
Junk

The dangers involved with using heroin

Because heroin enters the brain very quickly, users can become physically dependent on it very quickly. It is highly addictive and there are a whole host of risks involved with injecting this drug such as diseases from sharing needles including hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV. Another problem with heroin is the fact that every dose can vary in strength so there is never any way of knowing how one hit will affect the user.

Heroin Use: facts and statistics

According to a report by SAMHSA in 2006, 14.4 percent of teenagers said they would find it very easy to get their hands on heroin if they wanted to.
Of those teens who had developed major depression, 34.6 percent of them had been using illegal drugs such as heroin at the time.
Around forty percent of teenagers do not feel there is any major risk in trying heroin one or two times. Around nineteen percent of teenagers do not see any major risk in using heroin one or two times a week.
Almost half a million people received heroin addiction treatment in 2006.

How can I prevent my teenager from using heroin?

Make sure you are familiar with the warning signs.

Speak to your child about the dangers of using drugs such as heroin as teenagers are fifty percent less likely to use drugs if they learn about the dangers from their parents.

Make sure you know where your teenager is and make a point of getting to know their friends and their parents.

Tackle signs of drug abuse immediately before an addiction to that drug develops.

Choosing a heroin rehab facility for your teenager

It is very important to decide if your teenager needs assisted medical detox for heroin addiction because of the severe withdrawal symptoms caused due to the highly addictive nature of this drug. The types of treatment provided as well as after care programs and staff credentials should be things you consider when making your choice of rehab facility for your teenager. Speak to a medical professional about your teenager’s symptoms and they can help you to decide between out patient treatment, residential care, treatment for dual diagnosis of co-occurring disorders or assisted detox.

Recovery Ways specializes in treating a wide variety of addictions and co-occurring disorders. For more information on how to get you or your loved one help, call us toll- free: 877-686-6751.

Tags: Addiction, Heroin