Heroin Eyes

It’s difficult to hide heroin use. Anyone who is under the influence of heroin has certain telltale signs that they’re inebriated. Sometimes they slur their speech or nod off without warning, other times they may be visibly shaking or lethargic. Heroin use is visible because heroin attaches to opioid receptors that directly impact our central nervous system. Once heroin reaches the nervous system, all bets are off as far as someone’s appearance.

At ReVIDA® Recovery, we don’t want you to have to hide your heroin use anymore.

One of the most common signs that someone has heroin in their system is the unusual appearance of their eyes. Individuals taking heroin will have droopy, bloodshot eyes with pinpoint pupils – often referred to as “heroin eyes.”

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Side Effects of Heroin Use

Heroin’s significant impact on the central nervous system (CNS) creates drastic side effects that affect the entire body. The CNS controls emotions, speech, movement, personality, and memory. It can also alter the way we breathe and our behaviors.

Because of this, the side effects of heroin use include:

Respiratory dysfunction (trouble breathing, pneumonia, and disease)
Coma
Loss of ability to take care of oneself
Heart problems (atherosclerosis, pericarditis, endocarditis, tachycardia, bradycardia, atrial fibrillation)
Overdose (can lead to death)
Arthritis
Gastrointestinal distress and diseases
Various cancers
HIV, Hepatitis C and B, necrotizing fasciitis, and skin infections (all from needle sharing)

Signs Of Heroin Overdose

Overdose is arguably one of the largest side effects of heroin use.

A heroin overdose happens when:

Someone takes more heroin than their body is capable of metabolizing
Someone has stopped taking heroin for a prolonged period and relapsed, thinking they could take the same amount they took before they stopped
Someone has unknowingly ingested heroin
Someone has ingested heroin alongside other substances like alcohol
Someone has unknowingly ingested heroin that has been laced with powerful drugs like fentanyl

Heroin is an illegal substance, and it is never regulated by the FDA or any trusted 3rd party sources. It is all too common for heroin to be laced with an unhealthy drug like fentanyl (which is almost 100x more powerful). Dealers will mix fentanyl into heroin to save money and stretch out their inventory. While someone may believe they’re taking their normal dose of heroin, they may be taking heroin laced with fentanyl. This can cause the body’s major organs to shut down.

Heroin Detox and Withdrawal

If you or someone you love has been managing a heroin use disorder, you know how difficult it is to stop taking it. It may feel impossible. People who know nothing about heroin might say “it’s a choice”, but the reality of heroin use is much more complex. The mind and body become dependent on heroin because it changes the way the brain is wired. Discontinuing heroin use essentially means retraining the brain to feel “normal” again. Quitting heroin isn’t just uncomfortable – it’s painful, scary, and often overwhelming.

When someone takes heroin for a long time, the brain and body become accustomed to its presence. When you take it away, the entire body goes through withdrawal symptoms as it tries to adjust to the lack of heroin. It can be incredibly painful, and many people attribute the feeling to dying. Most of the time, heroin withdrawals are not fatal – but they can be dangerous. Withdrawals can cause deep depression, panic/anxiety, and insomnia. None of these symptoms should be ignored or dealt with alone. High-quality treatment can help to ease the symptoms of withdrawal, prevent relapse, and increase someone’s quality of life.

Treatment of Heroin Eyes

Treatment of heroin eyes doesn’t exist. Yes, those that use heroin could use eye drops to prevent redness, but pinpoint pupils and droopy eyes aren’t treatable. No matter how well someone eats, how much they exercise, or how much sleep they get, heroin will still be visible in their eyes because it directly impacts the CNS. The only way to fully treat heroin eyes is to stop using heroin.

Treatment of Heroin Addiction

At ReVIDA® Recovery, we have seen firsthand how effective evidence-based heroin addiction treatment can be. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been taking heroin or how impossible it feels to stop right now – recovery is always possible. Let’s talk about some of the treatment options we offer here that could be right for you.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

While you’re here for MAT, you’ll be closely monitored by a compassionate and knowledgeable staff. Medications are available that can help in alleviating heroin withdrawal symptoms and guiding you safely into recovery. You’ll also have access to resources that can help you on your journey moving forward, including individual counseling, group counseling, and support groups. In an MAT program, we use medications alongside traditional therapy to guide you away from opioids and into a healthy life of recovery.

You’ll also have the option to move forward with our outpatient treatment program. If a higher level of care is warranted, we will provide referrals for a local inpatient or residential treatment program. Your clinician will go over all of your options to set you up for success.

Suboxone® (Buprenorphine) Treatment

Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, is a safe and evidence-based way to treat OUD. At ReVIDA® Recovery, we support the use of Suboxone® (buprenorphine) because it has been proven to reduce cravings while working to prevent relapse. To receive Suboxone® (buprenorphine) treatment, you will have to be opioid-free for 24 hours.

Outpatient Rehab Services

We believe that both individual and group therapy are critical components in the treatment of OUD – especially if you’re looking for long-term recovery. This is a safe and supportive space where you will learn how to manage your triggers and create healthy coping mechanisms. Our behavioral healthcare team is composed of licensed therapists, certified counselors, care coordinators, and peer recovery specialists who are standing by and ready to help. If we can treat your addiction where it started, at its roots, your chance of recovery is greater than if we were to simply treat your withdrawal symptoms.

At ReVIDA® Recovery, we’re standing by to help you reclaim your life from heroin. Recovery is possible, and you can start your journey to wellness whenever you’re ready. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please call us today at 423-631-0432.