Symptoms of Heroin Use

[CASEY]

I need help knowing what I am looking at. My son uses heroin. His behavior faciliates between bouts of crying, feeling abandonded, hopeless, depressed and periods of apparent well-being where he is calm, psychologically present, reasonable. He attributes his despair to clinical depression which he has. I am sure the drugs are contributing. I am not sure if the periods of calm are immediatley following injection and the despair is withdrawal or coming down. When I confront him, I want to know what I am talking about. I support his recovery 100% but don't know how to bring it about. thanks, Casey

[jayla740]

I have been married to my husband for almost a year now. I knew about his past heroin addiction form day one, because he threw his whole past out there. He had been clean for almost 2 years and was anti-drugs, drinking, and smoking. Which suited me just fine! Things were amazing. I joined the Air Force and he drove to Texas 6 times in 4 months to see me. I finally got stationed out in Dayton Ohio...heroin capital of Ohio. I didn't even think that him relapsing was possible because of his convictions against it. I was wrong and on our 3rd day living here I suspected. He was throwing up, nodding off, couldn't even walk that's how high he got the 3rd night and I thought he was just real sick, though part of me already knew. He finally admitted to me on the 5th day that he had been getting high. Well, we've been here 4 whole months now. I've made over $26,000 since I joined in September and I have $5.61 in my checking account right now. I am over $20,000 in debt because he used all my credit cards to buy gift cards to sell for dope. He pawned his $1,800 guitar I bought for him, my laptop, his Ipod, and God knows what else. He went to detox and was clean for about 4 weeks and today I got that feeling again. I came home for lunch and he was getting out of the shower. But he was supposed to have went to a job interview before that. Who showers after the interview?! Then he kept mentioning how bad his stomach hurt, and after he dried off he kept pouring sweat. His face was flushed, he told me he ate a bowl of cereal but there wasn't any dish in the sink (and no he didn't do the dish, because mine from the morning were still in there), and he wouldn't look at me straight in the face. I asked him flat out and he freaked out and said that if I kept thinking he was high he might as well go out and get high. Then he calmed down and apologized for yelling. Oh and did I mention that our computer "broke" today? So he took it to get fixed and it should be done in 5 days...I bet if I call the pawn shop downtown I'll find it there with a loan taken out on it. It's so frustrating to want to believe in someone so bad but to know that they are flat out lying to your face. I'm not stupid...I know what to look for and he knows that I know. It is such a terrible feeling you get in your gut when you suspect they're getting high and lying to you. I already found him dead once. I heard him fall in the bathroom and I had to break the door to get in and by the time I did he was blue..not breathing with no pulse on the floor. I had to give him CPR till the ambulance came. They said if it had taken me any longer then he wouldn't have made it. You would think that would be enough of an eye-opener to someone. I realize withdrawl is terrible...but suck it up. You're not just ruining your life when you do this ****...you're taking down everyone you love as well. I have nothing to show for my hard work everyday other than a huge debt I'll never see the end of it feels like, a family who is angry with me for being so stupid, and what feels like a loveless relationship. I feel like I'm dead inside because there is just nothing left to give anymore. There is no pity, no more anger, and it feels like no love. I feel cold, emotionless, and bitter. I rarely smile, I can't remember the last time I laughed and meant it..I've just had enough but at the same time I love him too much to give up. I'm still holding on to some shred of hope that slips further away each day...maybe I'm just as stupid as my family thinks. Any words of hope, encouragement, or anything would be really helpful from anyone
-Jayla

[IBKleen]

Hi Brown,

First, this post is over 9 years old. So that it doesn't get lost you would be best served to start your own post. Go to the top of this page and hit the green post a question button. Follow the instructions. You can copy and paste what is here. If you need help, give a yell.

I want to talk with you but like I said I am afraid this will get lost.

I was going to head to bed to watch some tv but will wait for you. Again, if you need help just ask.

[brown914]

Please someone help me I have a boyfriend that i feel has relaps and is on Heroin.  We have been together for 8mths and when I met him a guy friend of mines told me he was a nice guy but he was an Heroin addict. I asked him in the beginning of our relationship was he on Heroin.  And he told me no.  He use to use it and I believed him, because he could have lied and said my friend is lieing on him. I respected his honesty and still gave him a chance believing that he was clean.  Lately I have been noticeing changes with him.  He has started lieing to me.  He has and part time job that pays him under the table.  Every friday he tells me his boss has not paid him his money or he only gave him half of his pay check. he's not paying his half of the bills.  He  sneaks off with my car and stay gone for hours.  He's been cranky lately always tring to hurt my feelings. He stays sick with flu like symtoms.  My cousin told me that a friend of hers that he gets the Heroin from says he back on it.  I approaached him about the situation and he lied and said he's not.  He said he was popping perks to help him deal with the withdraws.  I really didn't like that idea either because that means he has two habits to deal with.  My car broke down and he couldn't get it fix but he drives it everyday and drives the gas out of it and don't have the money to replace it. So I took the car from him and wont allow him to drive it anymore. He was really angrey with me called me all types of names and treaten to move back home and break up with me. At that moment I really didn't care.  He took my car one day that I gave him permission to use it and my daughter and I saw him with a car full of the guys he use to get high with. I called him on the cell phone and asked him where was he at, he lied to me and told me he was sitting in front of his friend house. I was angry because if he lie about something as small as that, then he will lie about anything.  My children they are grown and teenagers and live at home with me.  And they have been noticing the pattern and brought it to my attention. And I feel so imbarrassed because my children are saying he's not right for me.  And they don't like him anymore. I tried to talk to him about the situation but he tells me that my children are just grown and needs to stay out grown people business.  That made me really mad because I feel he's tring to place the blame on them. I feel as if he pulling my family apart please someone please help me.  I don't want to turn my back on him but my children and I shouldn't have to go through this.  I am beginnig to feel imbarrassed around my children, family, and friends.  Because of his Heroin addiction.  I want to leave him but I feel sorry for him. What do I do?

[karen8755]

I do not know the age of your son.  I have just gotten my 21 year old son out of an inpatient program.  He is on Natraxone and is awaiting to get into a half way house.  Your son must want to get help  .  You need to talk to some one to help you with an intervention NOW.   One night awoke out of a deep sleep and checked on my son.  He was in the bathroom in full respiratory and cardiac arrest.  The needle of heroin on the floor.  I did CPR and brought him back life , this experience motivated him to get help.  You son is not ok, he will die, or end up in prison.  ACT NOW, he does not need to hit rock bottom to get help.  Talk to an interventionalist.  This is serious.  I feel your pain, we parents need to stick together for our children.
K

[jadedziac]

i believe i am asking the same. I am at a loss myself, i don't know what to do either.,,,
honestly I believe in our hearts it says to stay and help and get him through recovery but our head is telling us that it really doesnt matter at all because they arnt going to stop and they are so not good for our families or ourselves. The problem is, which do we listen to? our head or our hearts? I understand you love him , I love mine so much too. I am 34 years old and never was close to anyone like i am him so it is so hard. i dont know what to tell you to do, i know something has to give wheather its him or i.

[jadedziac]

the only problem with him taking the drug test is that its a lose/lose situation, if i ask him to  he will only be extremely mad at me and say i dont trust him and in the end i feel like a big retard who made an accusation or he takes the test and he fails and then i believe i am finished with it all or he passes and he will just throw it in my face. I havnt been to an alanon meeting, i dont even think there is one in this town. Am i wrong for saying that if he does fail the test that i am finished with it all? His mother told me "what if he had cancer" and if he did then by all means i would be by his side. But cancer isnt heroin. I have 4 children and he has 5. None of our children are a product of us. I have 2 that live at home and he has 2 at home.Heroin would cost me my childrens home, stability, and even their lives. Cancer wont.