Have you heard of the parable of the frog and the pot of boiling water? As it goes, when a frog is put instantly into a pot of boiling water, it jumps right out. When you place the frog into a pot that isn’t boiling, and slowly raise the heat, they don’t notice until it’s too late.
We, as people, are very similar to this. It’s easy to know when something serious has happened. If you fall and break your arm, you know you need help. What we don’t always notice, however, is when something has built up over time to the point where it needs to be addressed.
This is exactly what happens when it comes to substance use disorders, which impact nearly 3 million people aged 12 and up here in California. As a person who has developed a substance use disorder (SUD) or someone who lives with a person who has an SUD – it’s easy to overlook how much things have changed. Here at Pacific Sands, we’ve seen exactly how substance use can impact both clients and their loved ones.
As an intimate facility that gets to know our clients on a one-on-one level, we work to offer education to our clients and community alike. We teach people how to spot the signs of a substance use disorder so they can make informed decisions about their health. Today we’re going to look at the stages of heroin addiction, how it progresses, and what you can do if you’re looking to step away.
When Does Heroin Use Become a Heroin Use Disorder?
No matter what substance a person is taking, the development of a substance use disorder won’t happen overnight. In fact, the specific “timeline” for developing any form of an SUD is never set in stone. There is no one path that will guarantee an SUD for every single person. Things like your social group, personal mental health, childhood, stress levels, and more can play a role in the development of an SUD.
When it comes to heroin, the important thing to note about the transition from “casual consumption” to a heroin use disorder, is that your odds of developing a heroin use disorder are impacted by its illicit nature. On the one hand, heroin being illegal can make it harder to obtain. On the other hand, because it’s unregulated and you’re already seeking it out on your own, your odds of developing a heroin use disorder might increase.
What Are the Stages of Developing a Heroin Use Disorder?
Much like having one drink doesn’t make you an alcoholic, trying heroin once doesn’t guarantee that you will develop a heroin use disorder. If you find that you are seeking out heroin, however, it might be important to reflect on why you wish to and where you think this path might lead.
Let’s take a closer look at the stages of a heroin use disorder.
The Beginnings – Experimentation
Everything has a beginning. For a heroin use disorder, this beginning will always include the first few times you tried heroin. Maybe you were at a party and someone offered you a hit, promising a good time. Maybe you were stressed and your friend suggested trying some heroin to calm down. No matter the reason, the first curiosity can be like the first crack in a window. You have the option to repair it before it potentially develops into something more.
The Middle Stage – Actively Seeking It Out
The first stage of a heroin use disorder doesn’t have to develop into something more. There are many people who might never go beyond the first stage, having only tried it once or twice and never looking at it again.
This is where the middle stage begins. You’ve taken heroin in the past at this point, and something about it has you interested in coming back. Now you’re taking the steps to actively seek it out. During this stage, you might be thinking about it occasionally. You might have it once a week, or every other week. Either way, during this stage you are making the active and conscious choice to continue to seek out heroin.
The Final Stage – Dependency
Despite the name, we want to stress that the “final” part of the final stage doesn’t have to mean death. Final simply means the furthest form of a heroin use disorder.
In this stage, you experience withdrawals anytime you’re not seeking out heroin. You think about it more often than before. Some people experience job and relationship troubles during this phase. Included in this can come difficulties managing your money.
Additionally, many people who have been dealing with a heroin use disorder for a longer time are more likely to cut back on activities they used to enjoy. These get cut out to make more time to be spent taking heroin. You might pull away from family and friends, not wanting them to see what you’re doing, or just pulling away because you’re spending your time elsewhere.
The further into a heroin use disorder you are, the more risk you can run of experiencing an overdose, just from probability alone. Since illicit substances like heroin can’t be regulated, you can never truly know what’s in a given batch. If you think you or a loved one is experiencing a heroin overdose, don’t be afraid to call 911.
Is It Ever Too Late to Step Away From Heroin Use?
The only time it becomes “too late” to step away from heroin is if you’re one of over 40,000 people who have died from an opioid-related overdose in the past 5 years here in California. This is why it can be so important to know you have access to powerful tools like Narcan, which can save the life of someone going through a heroin or other opioid overdose. You can find access to Narcan distribution programs right here in California.
No matter what substances you’ve taken, how long you’ve taken them, or anything else you’ve experienced during your time with a heroin use disorder – it’s never too late to step away. There’s help out here that is committed to setting you up for long-term recovery.
The Treatment Options Available for Heroin Use in California
Stepping away from substance use can seem daunting. Especially for those in the final stages of a heroin use disorder – you might have years of history with the substance. Taking a step away from anything that’s been in your life that long, impacting your life in the way it does, can seem unfeasible. We’re here to remind and reassure you that it is possible.
No matter what your reason for turning to heroin was, we will help you find the resources and means elsewhere. For example, many people might seek out heroin as a way to manage their own mental health or stress. During a recovery program, you will learn new ways to manage those things so you can continue to do so without heroin in your life.
Heroin is an opioid, meaning it has some intense phases of withdrawal with serious cravings. This is what makes finding a quality heroin detox program to start off your journey so important. You want a team that will work with you, to help set you up for long-term success as you transition from detox into a recovery program. That’s exactly what our team does here at Pacific Sands.
As a facility with a dedicated staff team and a solution-focused approach to recovery, we will work with you to identify your specific wants and needs from a recovery program. From there, we will tailor your plan to work around and with you to ensure you get the most out of your time with us.
There’s no wrong time to get started. Our Pacific Sands team is here to help you whenever you’re ready. Just give us a call anytime at 949-426-7962 and we will get the process rolling. No matter what’s going on in your life, we will empower you to make this happen. You deserve it.
Pacific Sands – The first step towards a new life.
