How to Tell if Someone is Experiencing a Heroin High
A person who is on heroin acts very differently from a person who is sober.  Here are some clues that may indicate a person has recently taken heroin.

• Sudden uncaring, uninterested attitude (induced by the rush of chemicals released into the bloodstream
• Very slowed breathing
• Impaired mental state
• Vomiting

How to Tell if Someone Has a Heroin Addiction
 Heroin is a seriously dangerous drug.  It is also highly addictive and habit-forming.  Once a person becomes addicted, his or her entire life may be devoted to scoring more heroin. Here are some signs that a person may be developing an addiction.

• Drastic change in behavior – as said before, heroin actually changes the chemical composition of the brain.  If a person who was previously friendly and outgoing suddenly becomes nasty and antisocial, the person may have a drug problem.
• Complete obsession with the drug – when a person becomes addicted to heroin, his or her body becomes dependent.  This means that if he or she goes without the drug for too long (“too long,” in some cases, can mean only hours) then his or her body goes into withdrawal.  Withdrawal symptoms include goosebumps, vomiting, insomnia, restlessness, diarrhea, uncontrollable leg motion, and overall body pain. Addicted persons physically and mentally need the drug to avoid the pain of withdrawal, and often abandon loved ones, work, and friends to get more heroin.
• Drastic change in physical appearance – heroin causes rapid, unhealthy weight loss and overall weakness in the body. A person who is addicted to heroin often appears tired and pale. Additionally, heroin addicts may wear long-sleeve shirts even when the temperature is very warm to hide tracks (which form when a person repeatedly injects heroin into his or her veins).

How to Tell if Someone has Overdosed on Heroin
Heroin overdoses can be deadly. These are some indications that a person may have overdosed.

• Shallow, slow breathing and slow pulse
• Clammy skin
• Unresponsiveness
• Pin-point pupils

If you see someone experiencing these symptoms, especially if there is evidence of heroin use present (needles, etc.) or the person has been known to use heroin previously, CALL 911.

How to Treat a Heroin Addiction
 An addiction to heroin is very dangerous, but it can be treated, especially if the addiction is identified early. Often those undergoing detoxification treatments live (inpatient) or at least participate in workshops at a rehabilitation center (outpatient). These are some of the strategies that are used at rehabilitation centers to overcome an addiction to heroin.

• Methadone treatment – Methadone is a type of synthetic (man-made) drug that helps to eliminate withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Since cravings are one of the major reasons for a relapse, or return to using, methadone is a very useful tool for kicking a heroin habit. The effects of methadone can last for up to 24 hours, which is four to six times as long as the average heroin-induced euphoria.
• LAAM (levo-alpha-acetyl-methadol) – LAAM is another synthetic drug that, like methadone, helps to eliminate cravings for heroin. The effects of LAAM can last for up to 72 hours, which means that a person does not have to take the drug every day.
• Naltrexone – Naltrexone is used to block the effects of heroin and other opiates. It is also used when a person has overdosed.
• Burprenorphine – Burprenorphine is one of the newer drugs developed to treat heroin addictions. It’s much less habit-forming than methadone, and when a patient stops taking burprenorphine he or she has fewer withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, this drug can be prescribed privately by a doctor. Several studies are currently being conducted to further evaluate the usefulness of this relatively new treatment.
• Behavioral Therapy – Another way to overcome an addiction is with behavioral therapy. In this type of treatment, a patient tries to reconstruct his or her way of thinking to realize that drugs are not needed. Behavioral therapy often takes place in therapeutic communities, which can be either inpatient or outpatient. In such programs, patients can relate to one another and help each other overcome addiction. Often, both behavioral therapy and drug therapy are used to overcome addiction and help the patient return to a healthy, drug-free life.