When people think of a heroin addiction, they may think of popular depictions in film and TV; but these are often far from the truth.
In reality, a heroin addiction can be extremely dangerous, and the methods of ingesting this are some of the main contributors to this.
Heroin most often comes in the form of a white powder, but due to differences in purity and manufacturing, it can also appear brown or even as a black tar-like substance.
Generally, there are three methods in which someone would consume heroin, whether addicted or not.
The most commonly thought-of method of consuming heroin is via injection. This is when the heroin is turned into a liquid form and injected by needle into the bloodstream or a muscle.
This provides the quickest results, and individuals are likely to experience extreme highs, but also requires the most equipment, or paraphernalia, and preparation.
Another method is through smoking, where the individual smokes the heroin in powder form, sometimes with other substances such as tobacco. This can also provide extreme highs and requires less paraphernalia, often that adapted from common household items.
The final method of consumption, and the focus of this webpage, is snorting. This is most common during early usage of heroin, and it is consumed similarly to amphetamines such as cocaine.
Individuals require little preparation for this method and use the powder form of heroin to ingest via a straw or rolled note.
One of the most common signs of someone snorting heroin is the paraphernalia or apparatus that the individual may use when consuming.
As mentioned above, the individual is likely to use a tube-like object to snort the powder-form heroin such as a straw, rolled note, glass tubes, or custom-made equipment.
However, and in addition, there may also be other signs such as a powder residue on a flat and smooth surface such as a metal plate or mirror, commonly used by those struggling with addiction.
Individuals may also use items such as loose razor blades or cards to prepare the substance before consumption. Checking the edges of these objects carefully may reveal a powder substance to indicate the consumption of heroin.
For the individual themselves, they may display symptoms of someone suffering from a heroin addiction.
This includes physical changes such as changes in skin colour or nails, bloodshot eyes, general dishevelled appearance, and irritated skin from persistent itching.
There are also some behavioural effects such as extreme drowsiness or tiredness, sometimes resulting in deep sleep or comas. The individual may become more irritable, and unmotivated, develop a lack of hygiene, anxious, depressed, or develop other mental health disorders.
If you believe someone you know may be suffering from a heroin addiction, or are recognising these signs in yourself, then there are several important factors to look for such as:
This list is not extensive, but Rehab 4 Addiction is happy to discuss any further questions or queries via our hotline on 0800 140 4690.
In general, the effects of consuming heroin can be incredibly damaging, not only to physical health but also to psychological wellbeing and mental health.
Although heroin can provide short-term euphoric highs, the long-term effects are far more harmful.
For example, the likelihood of overdose is more likely when snorting heroin, as it is far more difficult to manage or assess to the quantity of substance being consumed.
Long-term usage is therefore far more dangerous, as usage over a long period of time can lead to heart issues and complications – a common factor among overdoses (1).
In addition to these physical risks, a heroin addiction can lead to a deterioration in other areas of life such as personal relationships, careers, and finances. These can become long-term issues if not acted upon as soon as possible.
In general, the negative effects of snorting heroin (and consumption) far outweigh the short-term effects that may be achieved.
However, for many people simply stopping usage is not an option. With this, individuals risk severe withdrawal symptoms that can have lifelong effects if not managed appropriately or suitably.
Examples of withdrawal symptoms include mental effects such as insomnia and increased paranoia but can also have severe physical effects in the case of a long history of heroin abuse.
This can include serious health risks such as seizures and heart attacks but also includes milder effects such as increased sweating, body tremors, and restlessness.
As seen above, there are many dangers to an individual consuming heroin, many of which are generalised to heroin addiction, but there are also many specific to snorting the substance.
For example, the action of snorting heroin can cause damage to the nose, sometimes resulting in persistent or constant nosebleeds or clots in the nostrils.
In extreme cases, this can be severe and can be life-threatening, sometimes requiring surgery (2).
In all cases, addiction can be dangerous to the well-being of the individual, but also to those around them.
For example, friends and family could be put at risk when exposed to an individual under the influence of heroin if they are known to behave erratically when consuming.
This could also be dangerous in terms of the paraphernalia that is used when consuming heroin. As mentioned in the previous paragraphs, this includes apparatus which are dangerous to those who may be unaware of their presence such as loose razor blades.
This danger is often increased when the friends and/or family are not aware of the issue – a common occurrence with heroin addictions as the individuals are likely to become secretive or hide their behaviours and activities.
Although it may not be something the individual struggling with addiction has considered or wanted to take part in due to denial or other factors, seeking help is vital for their health and wellbeing.
Luckily, there are several ways in which someone can do this, either via their local services or by seeking further care through Rehab 4 Addiction:
This is one of the most common sources of support for those struggling with a heroin addiction.
Whether this is approached by the individual themselves, through an intervention, or through carefully approached conversation, receiving support, or letting someone know that you’re there for them is one of the best sources of comfort.
Not only will the individual feel safer at home or around this specific individual, but they will also have someone to turn to in crisis and therefore reduce the chance of serious emergencies.
This is not suitable for every individual but starting a conversation with someone you believe to be struggling with a heroin addiction may be a great help for someone’s sense of support and love.
If the individual is suitable for and decides to, continue with rehabilitative treatments, then they may be suitable for pharmacological treatments.
These are highly researched and modern techniques often employed to help those who would struggle to go ‘cold turkey’ or simply stopping the consumption of heroin suddenly.
Where this may be potentially dangerous, medical professionals will prescribe heroin-like substances such as methadone and buprenorphine.
These substances help to reduce the negative effects of withdrawal symptoms but can also be additive in themselves, causing many issues in themselves (3), so caution and supervision is required before commencing this path.
The most common and recommended method for getting help for heroin addiction is to be referred to therapy.
This is the most common method as it is the most effective. By allowing the individual to speak with a professional counsellor about their thoughts, negative cognitions, and associated issues with addiction, they are far more likely to develop coping mechanisms and slowly overcome their issues.
The most popular and employed therapy is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This method focuses on identifying the negative thought patterns developed as a result of heroin abuse and works closely with the individual to alter these.
CBT is not usually used alone and is often accompanied by other treatments such as the ones mentioned above or alternative addiction treatment programmes such as group therapy and family drug support.
For more information, contact Rehab 4 Addiction through the website or at our addiction hotline on 0800 140 4690.
[1] Warner‐Smith, M., Darke, S., Lynskey, M. and Hall, W., 2001. Heroin overdose: causes and consequences. Addiction, 96(8), pp.1113-1125.
[2] Yaman, H., Aydın, Y., Yılmaz, S., Önder, E., Güçlüm, E. and Öztürk, Ö., 2011. Recurrent and massive life threatening epistaxis due to nasal heroin usage. Clinical and experimental otorhinolaryngology, 4(3), p.159.
[3] Bourgois, P., 2000. Disciplining addictions: The bio-politics of methadone and heroin in the United States. Culture, medicine and psychiatry, 24(2), pp.165-195.
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.
