Can You Help Me Smarten Up...

Can someone please help me with a query - Someone i know used to be a heroin addict. How can i be sure they arent using anymore? Please help me with this?
The bottom line is you can't know. All you can do is to decided if you like the way they behave, because most addicts behave appallingly.

If they are reliable, caring, unselfish and are not self-destructive, they probbaly aren't using. Don't bother asking them because even if they tell you the truth you won't know.
Thanks for that
What are the chances of an ex-addict staying clean for good though?
if they work a proper program of recovery, the chances are good. Most addicts do have relapses, even small ones. Just focus on the way they act, rather than asking them.

Ask no questions, get no lies :)
That was my theory too - it just makes it hard when i dont know what signals to look out for and thats where my frustration lies.
There is no way i'm going to let them catch onto the fact that i am suspecting them for two reasons.

If they are - they'll sharpen up and just get better at hiding it
If they arent - they'd get very upset that i would possibly mistrust them

I cant stand lies so i dont like giving people the option to try it with me anyway. I just want to be able to tell thats all.
if you have a reason to believe they are using, they can't hide pinpoint pupils. My point is that you will drive yourself crazy wondering. If they give you reason to think they are, they probably area.

In the end its their behaviour your accept or reject, whether they are clean or using.
Pinpoint pupils are a sign of heroin use?
pinpoint pupils (non-reactive pupils) are an indication of opiate use including heroin.
Thanks, that really helps.

Appreciate your time and trouble to explain it.
no problem, but remember.. looking for signs will drive you crazy! They are either behaving well or behaving badly!
His behaviour is ok - naturally he's quite an agressive personality - not against me or anything like that but he's easily irritated. I suppose that makes it harder to tell. My uncle is still a junkie - has been for 30 years. He can get very aggressive and violent and hard to rationalise with.
My partner is not like that, i can say for sure, however there are times when my uncle has been so high and the only way i knew was because he'd walk into the kitchen and put the spoon in the sink. He is much more jittery than my partner - i never see that in my partner.

What makes me nervous are things like him staying in the bathroom for 10 - 15 mins
(not flushing the toilet or brushing his teeth)

.......OH, and he has a VERY sweet tooth

put 10 blocks of chocolate in front of him and he devours them like they're crackers

Now i know it doesnt HAVE to mean he's back on the juice, but i do know that it's a big sign

I know you're going to say check out the behaviour but the truth is, i dont care if he's well behaved, i dont want to go through this all over again - have lived with it through my uncle longer than i'd wish on anyone and i couldnt handle it again

is it possible to use heroin without needing a hit every day - can you have it maybe once every couple of days and be ok or doesnt it work like that?
Hi

Firstly - how long was he on heroin for???? and how much clean time is he supposed to have???? and what recovery program is he working???? how long have you known him???? if you think he is using - obviously he has to fund his habit???? any clues there???
whoops forgot - also if he has a habit he will need it every day!
most addicts relapse at one time or another. If you dont want to put yourself through worrying if he is using or not, leave now.

He may be using, he may not be using.. but today is only tomorrow. He could be clean OR using EVERY day for the rest of his life. If you want to worry about this every day for the rest of your life then there is no advice I can give you that will help.