Intravenous heroin use is a huge issue in the UK.
Many people fail to realise that addiction is a disease of the brain causing compulsive behaviour and cravings until the substance can be consumed again. [1]
This misunderstanding around addiction can cause those with heroin addiction to feel shame and intense stigma surrounding their drug use, ultimately stopping them from accessing help.
Heroin is an opioid drug processed from morphine; a seed extracted from some varieties of poppy plants. In the UK, heroin is often cut with powdered milk or sugar to allow it to retain its white appearance.
Heroin is considered one of the most addictive substances in the world. This means it is incredibly hard to overcome an addiction to it without professional, tailored support and treatment.
It is usually sold as a white or brown coloured powder, though black tar heroin does also exist. This impure heroin gains its name from certain processing methods that leave contaminations in the substance.
Black tar heroin is usually taken intravenously which means injected into muscles, veins, or under the skin though this can be incredibly dangerous and even fatal in some instances.
Because of how powerful the substance is, heroin quickly changes the way the central nervous system functions. This means that in the brain, heroin changes back to morphine then binds to the receptors responsible for pain and pleasure.
Heroin dulls feelings of pain and heightens feelings of euphoria causing a release of dopamine. The following hours after consumption cause the user to feel mentally impaired and fatigued.
Due to the rush of feel-good chemicals, most people who consume heroin crave more to relive their experience.
Though every person’s likelihood to develop an addiction varies according to multiple factors, intravenous heroin consumption poses extreme risks to all users even if only consumed once.
Shooting or shooting up heroin is the phrase used to refer to consuming the drug intravenously into the veins with a needle. This form of consumption is very popular among those with severe heroin addictions as it provides immediate results.
Whilst inserting a hypodermic needle directly into the veins is the most popular way of consuming heroin, others inject the needle into the skin or muscle if a vein cannot be found.
This can lead to irreversible damage such as amputations, infections, and skin grafts.
Injecting heroin into the veins means it is directly inserted into the bloodstream, thus travelling quickly to the brain and causing immediate feelings of euphoria throughout the rest of the body.
Alongside this, users describe feeling a sudden warmth throughout their body and a weight on their arms and legs.
The euphoria heroin provides is often referred to as a false sense of security. Many people turn to heroin to avoid physical and emotional trauma.
Others consume heroin for pain relief. It is estimated that 80% of people who report having an addiction to heroin, began misusing prescription drugs first. [2]
People inject heroin due to the immediate effects that can be felt. Because it is such an addictive substance, even those who understand the risks often continue to use the drug through any means possible.
Because intravenous heroin use is so invasive, it can cause a wide range of complications to arise in both the body and brain.
Using the same needle or sharing needles is what poses the most dangerous health risks. Using a blunt needle repeatedly can cause infection and sharing used needles with other people can significantly increase the chances of contracting a blood-borne disease such as HIV and hepatitis.
In specific circumstances where medical attention cannot be sought, these diseases can quickly cause the mental and physical health of an individual to quickly deteriorate resulting in death.
People who inject heroin are 22 times more likely to contract HIV compared to the population of those who do not use drugs. Though this risk is related to improper needle use, it is further reinforced through poverty and criminalisation. [3]
Continued intravenous heroin use can also cause medical complications such as collapsed veins and track marks. Track marks are clear identifiable scars from continued needle abuse. They can cause severe infections, blood clots and are caused by repeated injections into the same vein.
Bacterial infections are also another major issue and can contaminate valves in the heart as well as blood vessels. Clogging the vessels to the lungs, brain, kidneys, and heart can result in immediate death.
You may be worried that someone you know is addicted to using heroin intravenously. The most common way of identifying this is by noticing their extreme highs and lows.
Drugs that are injected, such as heroin, produce much quicker highs and therefore much quicker crashes. Have you noticed any of the following in a friend or loved one?
There are also lots of physical symptoms to look out for which include:
If you are unfamiliar with substance abuse and injections, you may be unsure of where to look. Most people inject heroin into their forearms but can continue to the neck, groin, feet, or face.
The more obvious an injection site is, the more a person will try and cover it up with either a new tattoo, piercing, hairstyle, or clothing item.
With any injury, big or small, if it is left untreated it can quickly become infected. This is very common in people who use IV drugs. When a person injects heroin into the same spot it can cause permanent physical damage to the skin and veins.
Clothing and skincare items can further irritate the area causing an infection to occur. If a person begins to ignore their hygiene, they are placing themselves in danger of developing a bacterial infection due to a lack of cleanliness.
Soot tattoos are a condition caused by injections of carbon on the tip of a needle. These are formed under the skin and are called soot tattoos due to the soot that forms on the needle.
Whilst many people try and hide these marks by getting professional tattoos over them, they become visibly darker over time.
Heroin consumption provides the user with much more energy than they are used to. This means that they will find it hard to sleep and sometimes stay awake for days at a time.
This extra energy means that more calories are being burnt due to a lack of rest. IV heroin use can cause an individual to lose weight very quickly. This is very noticeable to family and friends and can cause bones to protrude and skin to become tight.
A heroin overdose occurs when an individual consumes too much of the substance. The main sign of an overdose is shallow breaths or lack of breathing.
Opioid substances such as heroin depress a person’s breathing meaning their skin turns pale, their fingers and lips turn blue, and they gasp for breath.
There are also lots of other signs to look for such as:
Overdoses are a leading cause of death in the UK and Public Health England has urged users to be careful following an increase in heroin overdoses. [4]
If you spot signs of a heroin overdose you are urged to act fast and contact emergency services. Symptoms from an IV heroin overdose typically tend to appear within about 10 minutes once the individual has injected the substance.
If you are concerned that someone you love is addicted to heroin, you should look for physical signs of addiction, as mentioned above. Seeking treatment before an overdose occurs is imperative.
It may also be helpful, if you live with the individual or frequent their home often, to look for drug paraphernalia such as needles, lighters, pipes, and containers.
At Rehab 4 Addiction, we can place you and your family in contact with a professional interventionist who can help facilitate an effective conversation about treatment.
If you are suffering from heroin addiction and want to stop, call our team today on 0800 140 4690. Our team can help locate a treatment centre and programme carefully curated to your needs.
Through detoxing and therapy, a life free from the clutches of heroin can be a reality for you. Whether you choose an inpatient or outpatient programme, we’re here to help.
[1] Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment, https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Principles_of_Drug_Addiction_Treatment/mtMdJ3qqSnQC?hl=en&gbpv=0
[2] Associations of Nonmedical Pain Reliever Use and Initiation of Heroin Use
https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/DR006/DR006/nonmedical-pain-reliever-use-2013.htm
[3] People Who Inject Drugs, HIV and AIDS, https://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-social-issues/key-affected-populations/people-inject-drugs
[4] Drug users urged to be extra careful following a high number of likely heroin overdoses
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
