Smoking heroin is often referred to as chasing the dragon a term that originated in Hong Kong and this is done by placing the heroin on a piece of foil and inhaling the heated vapor.  When one is doing this the heat causes it to turn into liquid which moves around on the foil so therefore the term: chasing the dragon. From my experience there are a lot of ways to become addicted to opiate drugs.  For example: shooting heroin, smoking heroin, or snorting heroin. But I am going to let you know a little bit about the dangers of smoking heroin, because many people believe it is more innocent than ingesting it or shooting it into their veins.  Some people see it as a more harmless route to use the drug.

Dangers of smoking heroin

Unfortunately, more than a few drug addiction counselors who want to reduce the impairment that addicts cause themselves have advised them to smoke heroin rather than inject it, to avoid contracting AIDS and other diseases from dirty needles. The higher purity of heroin sold on the street has also led more users who fear overdosing from a heroin injection to start smoking heroin or snorting the drug instead.

But new evidence suggests that chasing the dragon or smoking heroin has its own misfortunes. Experts warn that heroin smokers can develop a deadly neurological condition that deprives them of muscle coordination and speech, and that if untreated, this can lead to paralysis or even death.

I am not here to condone either of these methods of using heroin. I am here to help others learn how to stop using opiates like heroin altogether.

If you have the desire to change your life and learn how to stop smoking heroin, I would suggest that you go to drug rehab or seek out addiction treatment. There you can be comfortably detoxed from heroin by people who are specially trained in this area. Upon arrival you will be administered medications to help ease the pain of withdrawal. This process will take around 5 days, during which time you will basically spend your time sleeping and recovering from the things you have put your body through.  Not always a pretty picture but you can make it through if you are willing to ask for help.

This will not be enough to keep you clean though, and I would recommend when you are finished with your detox that you attend residential treatment. There you will attend lectures, group, and some type of 12 step meetings designed to help you when you leave rehab so you do not return to smoking heroin. I suggest that you take action now.  Call a rehab center in your area on the phone and ask them questions.  How can you get into their rehab center?  What does it cost?  Do you need insurance?  Do they accept Medicaid?  Do they have funding for clients who may not have insurance or Medicaid?  Do they know of any other treatment centers that might be able to take you in?  If you call them up and ask these types of questions, you will generally be able to get the help that you need.