The good news is that, among teenagers, heroin use is in decline. Among young adults, the number remains relatively stable, with a very slight increase. Even though heroin use remains stable – or is even going down – it is still important to recognize the fact that plenty of people still use heroin.

Although heroin abuse has trended downward during the past several years, its prevalence is still higher than in the early 1990s. These relatively high rates of abuse, especially among school-age youth and the glamorization of heroin in music and films make it imperative that the public know the dangers of heroin abuse. Heroin also is increasing in purity and decreasing in price, which makes it an attractive option for young people.

Teen Heroin Substance Abuse

Adolescence is a period that can typically be described of as an experimental or rebellious time. A time when youth reject conventionality and traditional authority figures in an effort to establish their own independence. However, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that teenagers reporting heroin use in their lifetime is declining. Amongst 12th graders, the number has come down from 3 percent in 2001 to 2.0 percent. The total number of teenagers that report using heroin in their lifetimes has dropped from 3.1 percent to 2.4 percent since 2001. This shows progress.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), teenagers have reasonably easy access to heroin. 29.7 percent of 12th graders say that it is easy to obtain. Even 8th graders (12.6 percent) say that they can obtain heroin. However, there are other drugs, such as prescription drugs and marijuana that are much easier to obtain than heroin.

It is encouraging to note that many teenagers recognize the risks of heroin. The NSDUH found that 87.8 percent of 12th graders agree that heroin substance abuse represents a “great risk.” The fact that so many teenagers recognize the dangers of heroin use is encouraging, and could lead to further declines in teen drug use of heroin.

Young Adult Heroin Substance Abuse

Heroin is more addictive than most pharmaceuticals. This means that young adults trying heroin as an alternative to prescription drugs are getting hooked at an alarming rate. Amongst young adults and college students, heroin use is not seeing the decline it has in teenagers. Perhaps this older age group feels the risks are acceptable. A slight increase in heroin users in college students is seen from 0.1 percent to 0.2 percent. Additionally, in young adults, those reporting that they have used heroin at least once in their lifetimes has increased from 1.7 percent in 2005 to 1.9 percent. It is a small increase, and one that shows that heroin substance abuse among young adults is stable and perhaps growing slightly.

First Time Heroin Use

According to NSDUH information, in the last year about 91,000 persons over the age of 12 used heroin for the first time. Amongst recent first time heroin users, aged 12 to 49, the average age was 20.7. This indicates that many heroin users wait until they leave their teenagers years to begin using the drug.

Other heroin use statistics:

• 3.8 million people (1.5 percent of the population above 12) say they have tried heroin at least once in their lifetimes.
• 560,000 people used heroin last year.
• 338,000 people used heroin last month.
• The rate of lifetime heroin use is higher among those in prison (23.4 percent for State and 17.9 percent for Federal).

Even though heroin use isn’t terribly widespread, it still represents a threat. The devastating effects of heroin overdose and prolonged heroin use, along with its addicting nature, can be very damaging and can put strain on loved ones of someone involved in heroin substance abuse. Police across the country are reporting an alarming trend of increased heroin abuse and heroin seizures, according to an ABC news story. The rise in use is attributed to an increase in the availability of the drug, as well as a drop in prices.

Heroin Help

If you or someone you know is abusing heroin, whatever the age, please contact our toll free number at (866) 872-6491. We are here to answer your questions on heroin abuse and addiction.

Injecting Heroin

Many believe that injecting heroin is the quickest way to receive the high because it goes directly into the blood flow. It may not be the quickest high, but it is the most intense high. When a user injects heroin, they have to dissolve the powder with water to make it a liquid form. Typically, the user will dissolve the powder by mixing it with water in a spoon because it is easy to heat the mixture that way (the user holds the spoon with the mixture over a lighter). However, this is dangerous because there are usually additives in the mixture. Often, the additives don’t dissolve as well as pure heroin, leading it to clog the blood vessels that lead to the heart, kidney, brain, etc. Another danger of injecting comes from problems with the syringe. The user could easily contract AIDS or hepatitis if the needle has been shared and not cleaned. If a user injects, they could also suffer from collapsed veins. A user can also inject the heroin into a muscle. The high will usually occur 5 to 10 minutes later.

Snorting Heroin

Many newer users are afraid of injecting. Snorting is popular among this group. It is the quickest process of the three. The user will put the powder into a thin line and then snort lines through their nose. It is then absorbed into the bloodstream through the nasal tissues. The effects are not as quick as injecting. It typically takes 10 to 15 minutes to feel the high at its most intense point. Prolonged use of snorting heroin can lead to nose bleeds.

Smoking Heroin

Although most believe injecting is the quickest way to get a high from heroin, smoking is actually the quickest way to get heroin into the brain. It is not necessarily the most intense high, but it is almost immediate. This method has become more popular with a younger crowd because it does not seem as dangerous as injecting. A common misconception is that one can only become addicted to heroin when injecting.

Smoking heroin is mostly associated with brown tar heroin. Users believe it is wasteful to try to use powder heroin. Because of its nature, it is difficult to smoke heroin alone.

There are several different ways to smoke heroin.

• The heroin can be rolled into a marijuana-like joint, or mixed into a cigarette.
• It can be smoked in a standard pipe or a water pipe.
• Some users inhale the heroin as smoke through some kind of tube (commonly known as “chasing the dragon”).
• Some use a straw, but that is quite wasteful.
• Others find it better to use a toilet paper tube.

If you or a loved one is addicted to heroin, it is important to seek help. Once addicted, the effects are devastating. Most lose their jobs, dreams, and ambitions. In some cases, it only takes one shot to become addicted. But, there is hope. If you are interested in receiving information on heroin detox or rehab, please call tour toll free number at (866) 872-6491. We are availabe 24 hours a day.

Heroin is popular due to the low cost.

Heroin is actually one of the more expensive drugs for an addict. It depends on the region in which one is buying and the dealer. It can cost anywhere from $500 to $800 per gram. But when it comes to a single use, typically one hit costs around $10. However, when someone is addicted to heroin, they start feeling the effects of withdraw within a few hours after their last hit and must take multiple hits a day.

Since this is a more expensive drug, those who become addicted to heroin usually fall into some financial problems. An addict will, in some cases, forfeit their car, home and personal belongings. People often lose their jobs and families because of the high cost of a heroin addiction. An addict will sometimes intentionally or even unintentionally let everything in their lives crumble to feed their addiction. The tragic fact of the matter is that in most cases an addict’s career is ruined. They often do end up losing their job, eliminating the only financial means they have to support their habit. However, it is much more likely that the addict will go to illegal lengths to fund their addiction.

Stealing money or products to feed a heroin addiction is a very common practice among addicts and can result in convictions, fines, and jail time. Any one or all three of these results can negatively affect not only the life of the addict but also the lives of their closest friends and family. Security measures are constantly being taken to prevent theft. This fact only increases the likelihood of an addict getting caught if they chose to feed their addiction this way. Anti-theft devices with new technology make thievery not only dangerous but in many cases just plain dumb.

Feeding a full-blown heroin addiction is definitely not cheap. The body develops a tolerance to the drug, which causes the user to need more and more of the drug in their system to obtain the effects they have become accustomed to. As their need increases, their focus in all other facets of life decreases. All they can think about is where their next hit of heroin will come from. It wouldn’t be too expensive if someone could only hit up every now and then, but that is not realistic with a true heroin addiction. The drug not only eats away at an addict’s life and body, but it also takes a pretty big bite out of their wallet.

Purchasing just a few hits seems to be more popular with teenagers who don’t do drugs often because it costs less to do one hit of heroin than other things such as buying a case of beer. However, it is always dangerous because it is so highly addictive.

Heroin addiction drains the individual of money starting with the very first hit. It costs per hit of heroin. If the person just does it once in a while they might not see a substantial financial decrease. However, if an addiction develops, which is likely, they soon will. They will need more and more of the drug. The drug’s side effects will lower their productivity on the job, putting their career at risk. If they are fortunate and don’t lose their job altogether, they will no doubt miss days or weeks of work due to the side effects of addiction. If they are not employed, they will be not only losing money they would have had if they were working but will often start dipping into savings accounts to feed their heroin addiction. If an addict begins to steal money or products to try and buy more heroin, the addict will probably be caught. Such criminal acts will definitely cost an addict a pretty penny. When they finally realize what a devastating effect heroin is taking on their life and try to end their addiction, a drug treatment center will also cost them money. However, this will be money that is actually spent towards fixing the problem instead of just covering it up.

High Cost of Heroin

Not only is heroin one of the more costly drugs financially speaking it is also one of the most dangerous drugs. An injection of heroin puts the user at a significantly higher risk of getting deadly diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. When an addict puts himself or herself at risk they put their families at risk as well.

Heroin Addiction Treatment

If you or a loved one is addicted to heroin, it is important to seek help. Once addicted, the effects are devastating. Most lose their jobs, dreams and ambitions. In some cases, it only takes one shot to become addicted. But, there is hope. If you are interested in receiving information on detox or rehab, please call the toll free number at (866) 872-6491.

Heroin Use Among Celebrities

Hollywood has seen it's share of tragedies with heroin.

Heroin has been in the mix with many celebrity tragedies. One of the better known stories is that of Jonathan Melvoin, the touring keyboardist for the Smashing Pumpkins. On July 11, 1996, Melvoin and the Smashing Pumpkins drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin were injecting heroin and drinking alcohol. It is always dangerous to mix alcohol and drugs. Often, the fatal overdosing occurs only because the drugs were mixed with another drug or alcohol. Late that night, Melvoin collapsed. Chamberlain could have helped, but he fell unconscious as well. When Chamberlain woke up early on July 12, he and the band’s security manager tried to revive Melvoin. They were unsuccessful. When the ambulance arrived, he was pronounced dead on arrival. After all of this, Chamberlin decided to go to rehab for his drug problem.

Another tragedy happened to a well-known comedian, John Belushi. He died of a dangerous mixture of cocaine and heroin (commonly called a “speedball”). Although he seemed funny and high-spirited on television, his co-workers found him aggressive and a scene-stealer. He had a drug problem since high school. He would tell his friends and wife that he had to use them in order to get up in the morning. If anyone suggested rehab, he would claim that he knew how to use the drugs properly. However, in the end, he did have a fatal overdose at the age of 33 years old.

Janis Joplin is another celebrity heroin tragedy. She began using drugs when she moved to San Francisco in 1963 and was known to usually take speed and occasionally heroin. She was also known to drink often. Joplin had been clean for a period of time, but on October 4, 1970, at the young age of 27, she overdosed on heroin and alcohol. It was found that the heroin Joplin used was unusually pure.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers suffered their own tragedy when guitarist Hillel Slovak overdosed on heroin. During the early years of the band, Slovak first began experimenting with heroin. He left the band for a short time to work on his own things, but returned full-time in 1985. Just as the band was starting to hit the Billboard Charts, Slovak, age 25, died of an overdose on June 25, 1988. The band decided to stay together and wrote many songs about Hillel Slovak. Slovak’s brother published a book with Slovak’s diary and art.

David Sorrenti was only 20 when he died of a heroin overdose. Sorrenti was a well-known fashion photographer. He helped the “heroin chic” style rise to fame. Sorrenti fell in love with a model who was a heroin addict which started his quick fall into drug abuse. Six months later, on February 1997, he passed away. He died because of a kidney ailment, which was believed to be due to his illness and heroin abuse.

If you or a loved one is addicted to heroin, it is important to seek help. Once addicted, the effects are devastating. Most lose their jobs, dreams, and ambitions. In some cases, it only takes one shot to become addicted. But, there is hope. If you are interested in receiving information on heroin detox or rehab, please call our toll free number at (866) 872-6491.

Peer pressure to use heroin

Peer pressure. We’ve all been there before. Some of us are there now. The enormous amount of pressure our peers can put on us to try what they’re trying, wear what they’re wearing, and talk how they’re talking can be overwhelming. We sometimes will go against our own morals in order to evade the harsh glare or confused stare of a peer. But what we must remember, what we must never lose sight of is…ourselves. At the end of the day we are responsible for our decisions. No one is going to take the responsibility for giving you the “little” nudge out of the door. No one is going to help you out of a bad situation that they can’t even get themselves out of. In many cases involving drug addiction, addicts will try to lure their friends into the habit to ease their own guilt and shame. They might pacify their own dissatisfaction of life with drugs and try to drag their friends down the slick slope of drug abuse because after all- misery does love company. However, you can save yourself and those you love from falling victim to peer pressure.

Adults Facing Peer Pressure

It’s natural to want to fit in because of our strong desire for human relationships. But if a peer offers you drugs, it is imperative for both you and your family that you do not conform. Many people assume that peer pressure only applies to adolescents, but that assumption couldn’t be any more wrong. A large number of adults have reported cases of peer pressure in their workplaces and among friends. The forms of peer pressure are still the same now as they were 20 years ago. It’s difficult to pass up an offer for drugs when a peer suggests them, but think of how much more difficult it will be to pass up the same offer the next day if you’ve already given in.

Taking drugs of any kind can carry with it certain risks. Every drug experience is different and each can have both short and long term adverse effects on your body, not to mention the legal aspect if you happen to get caught by the law. No matter how certain you feel about the safety of a particular situation, when drugs are involved there are no guarantees.

Take the initiative to learn about the drugs you’re being offered. Know the facts about them and the risks involved. Arming yourself with knowledge will make it a lot easier to resist peer pressure because you will have the confidence to stand behind your decision. Giving into peer pressure is conformity. Though the drug abuser may feel threatened, saying “no” will voice to your peers that you are a strong individual who knows their own mind.

Teenage Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is a major factor for those who become addicted to drugs, especially with teens. Most teens don’t start doing drugs until their peers talk them into it. People usually start doing drugs with friends as a social thing. Many teens downplay peer pressure, thinking that they can overcome it. However, when they are in the moment, it is a very different situation. There may be a certain someone who they want to impress or a certain group they want to fit in with. It is in human nature to want to fit in with one’s peers. In these situations, it is way more difficult to say “no.” There are certain things that teens especially need to be aware of and think about before they fall into the hard world of drugs.

Prepare Your Teen for Drug Peer Pressure

Teens need to know that facts. In many cases, a new drug user doesn’t have appropriate knowledge on how drugs work or how they affect the body. Many would be surprised to find out how quickly they can become addicted to drugs. With heroin, one could become addicted after injecting even just a couple of times. They need to be aware of the short-term and long-term effects of drug abuse.

Users also need to know themselves. The teenage years are when many come into their own personalities. They need to take a hard look at themselves and figure out what kind of person they want to be. It makes the decision to say “no” easier when they know why they are fighting to stay clean.

If you are a parent, share this information with your child. It is better they hear the true facts from you before they are presented with a situation where their friends are only telling them the exciting things about drugs.

If you or a loved one is facing an addiction, it is important to seek help. Once addicted, the effects are devastating. Most lose their jobs, dreams, and ambitions. In some cases, it only takes one shot to become addicted. But, there is hope. If you are interested in receiving information on heroin detox or rehab, please call our toll free number at (866) 872-6491.