How to Prevent Heroin Addiction
Heroin addiction is often the end result for those who continue to abuse opiates.
If you can see the signs, recognize the patters and understand what the next step will be, there is a greater chance of preventing heroin use.
In order to do this, one needs to understand the "line" of drugs that are being abused.
Addicts tend to stick with a particular "drug line".
An example of this would be that a typical alcoholic uses alcohol to "relax, unwind, escape" and so forth.
Yes, there is the argument of experimentation of other means to achieve these same goals, however we are talking about the everyday preference.
Once the body begins to "like" or more importantly, "expect" a certain line, the addict tends to fill that need.
Once that expectation is met on a continuous basis, the tolerance builds and an even stronger "pull" is in place regarding the body's need for that particular line of drug.
So, as a family member or friend, how do we prevent someone from getting so deep that they are actually using heroin.
Well, we need to understand the drug line.
You may find info on our site and many other drug sites that clearly discuss these drug lines in great length.
Heroin is in the opiate line of drugs.
With this knowledge we can work from the beginning.
Without a doubt, if you were to interview a thousand heroin users today, and ask them what started their drug use that got them into heroin, they will tell you "pills".
If I could sum up those one thousand heroin addicts, it would look something like this.
Step 1.
Vicodin- This may have been prescribed or simply lifted from the family medicine cabinet.
Abuse set in because they liked the "buzz" that it gave them.
Step 2.
Oxycontin- The buzz is no longer as intense as before.
This means that they now have to find a greater number of the same pill (which is difficult to do while trying to not get noticed) or, step up to a more powerful pill and only take one.
Oxy's are approximately ten times the strength of a standard Vicodin.
The buzz is back but the cost goes up as well.
A single Oxy can cost about $20-$80 per pill on the street.
This is where theft becomes an issue.
Supporting a habit of 4-8 pills a day can cost $50k/year.
That money has to come from somewhere.
Step 3.
Heroin- Heroin can be purchased in every small village in the U.
S.
for around $10/bag.
That is extremely bad news.
This means that they can now get an even greater high for much less money.
It is a natural progression.
New users to heroin tend to first use by smoking or snorting.
This stage usually doesn't last long.
Quickly it progresses to the needle.
The high is faster and more intense.
Once the needle is discovered, they don't go back.
What action do you take now? First, find out about the drugs that are being used.
Find out the dosage (mg) and how many are being consumed as well as how often (daily, weekends etc.
).
This will give you an indication as to where you stand as far as the progression time line.
Seek help now.
We talk to kids every day that go from Vicodin to heroin in just a few short months.
If you can see the signs, recognize the patters and understand what the next step will be, there is a greater chance of preventing heroin use.
In order to do this, one needs to understand the "line" of drugs that are being abused.
Addicts tend to stick with a particular "drug line".
An example of this would be that a typical alcoholic uses alcohol to "relax, unwind, escape" and so forth.
Yes, there is the argument of experimentation of other means to achieve these same goals, however we are talking about the everyday preference.
Once the body begins to "like" or more importantly, "expect" a certain line, the addict tends to fill that need.
Once that expectation is met on a continuous basis, the tolerance builds and an even stronger "pull" is in place regarding the body's need for that particular line of drug.
So, as a family member or friend, how do we prevent someone from getting so deep that they are actually using heroin.
Well, we need to understand the drug line.
You may find info on our site and many other drug sites that clearly discuss these drug lines in great length.
Heroin is in the opiate line of drugs.
With this knowledge we can work from the beginning.
Without a doubt, if you were to interview a thousand heroin users today, and ask them what started their drug use that got them into heroin, they will tell you "pills".
If I could sum up those one thousand heroin addicts, it would look something like this.
Step 1.
Vicodin- This may have been prescribed or simply lifted from the family medicine cabinet.
Abuse set in because they liked the "buzz" that it gave them.
Step 2.
Oxycontin- The buzz is no longer as intense as before.
This means that they now have to find a greater number of the same pill (which is difficult to do while trying to not get noticed) or, step up to a more powerful pill and only take one.
Oxy's are approximately ten times the strength of a standard Vicodin.
The buzz is back but the cost goes up as well.
A single Oxy can cost about $20-$80 per pill on the street.
This is where theft becomes an issue.
Supporting a habit of 4-8 pills a day can cost $50k/year.
That money has to come from somewhere.
Step 3.
Heroin- Heroin can be purchased in every small village in the U.
S.
for around $10/bag.
That is extremely bad news.
This means that they can now get an even greater high for much less money.
It is a natural progression.
New users to heroin tend to first use by smoking or snorting.
This stage usually doesn't last long.
Quickly it progresses to the needle.
The high is faster and more intense.
Once the needle is discovered, they don't go back.
What action do you take now? First, find out about the drugs that are being used.
Find out the dosage (mg) and how many are being consumed as well as how often (daily, weekends etc.
).
This will give you an indication as to where you stand as far as the progression time line.
Seek help now.
We talk to kids every day that go from Vicodin to heroin in just a few short months.
Source...