Identifying A Heroin Spoon

A heroin spoon can be any metal spoon. Once it has been used to heat up and liquefy heroin, it will often have stains from the drug or burn marks from the lighter or candle.

If you are concerned that a loved one is engaging in heroin drug use, look for stained or burnt spoons, missing spoons, and other heroin paraphernalia.

What Is A Heroin Spoon Used For?

Heroin spoons are used to heat up and liquefy the drug so that it can be injected. The drug is placed in the bowl of the spoon, and a lighter or candle is held directly to the underside of the metal. Cotton balls might be used as a makeshift filter once the heroin is in liquid form.

If someone in your household is injecting heroin, missing spoons might be the first sign.

The spoons get stained and burnt when they are used for heroin, so the person using them might hide them afterward.

Other Drug Paraphernalia Used For Heroin

In addition to injection, heroin can be smoked, snorted (if it has no impurities), or taken rectally.

People dealing with a heroin addiction might be using it in multiple ways. They could also be using other drugs, like methamphetamine.

Look out for these other common heroin paraphernalia items:

• small pieces of aluminum foil or gum wrappers: used to heat up heroin until it smokes
• lighter or candle: held under foil to smoke heroin
• straw or small heroin pipe: used to inhale steam and smoke as heroin heats up
• cigarette/rolling papers: heroin can also be rolled directly into cigarettes and smoked

Also, look for these items which might indicate heroin substance use through injection:

• tie-offs
• metal bottle caps
• cotton balls
• cigarette filters
• heroin needles or syringes

Dangers Of Injecting Heroin

Heroin use has skyrocketed in recent years because of the opioid epidemic. The opioid crisis has been especially bad on the east coast in states like Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

People often first get addicted to opioid painkillers like OxyContin. They start using heroin when they lose access to prescription opioids.

Heroin is extremely dangerous to use. Recently, it has been cut with the lethal drug fentanyl more often. Fentanyl overdose was the leading cause of death last year in the U.S.

General dangers of using heroin include:

• lung problems
• sleeping problems
• weak pulse
• tremors or seizures
• mental health issues
• overdose

Dangers associated with heroin injection include:

• heroin abscesses
• collapsed or weakened veins
• increased risk of infections
• damage to skin and muscle tissue

Treatment Options For Heroin Abuse At Bedrock Recovery Center

Bedrock Recovery Center offers evidence-based addiction treatment on the east coast. Located in Canton, MA, we serve cities like Boston, MA, Washington, D.C., and Stamford, CT.

Call our helpline today to learn about conquering heroin addiction at our inpatient treatment facility.

Sources

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) — Heroin DrugFacts
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) — Heroin Research Report: What are the medical complications of chronic heroin use?
3. The U.S. Department of Justice — Drug Paraphernalia Fast Facts