Opiates are extracted from the Asian opium poppy plant. Heroin is commonly abused opiate drug. Opiates such as Heroin are Central Nervous System depressants which slow the functions of both the brain and the body. Opiate addiction can wreck havoc on one's physical appearance, leaving them look haggard, weak and droopy.

Opiate addiction not only destroys one's health, it ruins their vitality and youthfulness. With 453,000 Americans using heroin in 2008 (according to information from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2008), there is a chance your loved one or someone you know may be using it. Therefore you should be aware of the physical signs and symptoms of Opiate abusers, and encourage them to stay away from this harmful drug.

Ugly features witnessed in appearance:
We can simply find opiate users through their physical appearance. Apart from scars on their arms or other parts of the body due to needle injections, they also tend to have the following features:

Droopy stance
People under the influence of opiates will appear very tired and often are in a trance or sleep like state. They will be extremely unbalanced and uncoordinated with difficulty in standing or sitting straight. They seem far too relaxed and droopy in appearance as if their external body parts are heavy.

Constricted pupils
Their eyes too will appear droopy and pupils will be constricted (pupils become very small). Constricted "pinpoint" pupils of an opiate abuser is a very serious sign of opiate overdose. These constricted pupils show no response to light.

Poor hygiene
Many opiate users may not take pride in their physical appearance, neglecting personal care, their body's dietary needs and may damage themselves though poor nutrition. They loose motivation to take care of themselves. Opiate abusers may have a disheveled appearance with unkempt hair and body odor. They maintain poor personal hygiene, such as irregular showers and not changing clothing regularly.

Runny nose
Cold-like symptoms along with a runny nose are common in opiate abusers. Inhaling Heroin (which is in powdered form) may result in raw nostrils and redness of the nose. The person may suffer from runny nose or bloody nose even if there is no cold or other illness associated with it.   

Watery eyes
More symptoms of opiate abuse can be found in the eyes of the person. Apart from the constricted pupils, opiate abuser may have watery eyes. Due to snorting of Heroin, a person may experience watery eyes.

Slurred speech
Slurred speech is a typical symptom of a opiate abuser. Due to the Opiate's (Heroin) depressive effect on the central nervous system, the opiate abusers usually feel sleepy or drowsy. This may result in less physical coordination along with slowed or slurred speech. The opiate abuser may sound normal at first, but after talking for sometime, his speech may slow down and sometimes becomes difficult to understand.

Pale clammy skin
Opiate abusers' skin will be moist and cool when touched. They will not feel their skin's condition. The skin may appear pale and greenish. This clammy skin in opiate abusers may be due to the decreased heart rate occurred by the sedative effects of Heroin. Another physical effect of opiate abuse includes collapsed veins and scars on the skin due to injections.

Not active in attitude
Opiate abusers have very little motivation and no desire to achieve future goals. They loose interest in hobbies and their favorite activities. They build tendency towards recklessness. They don't care about the consequences of their actions or behaviors. There will be sudden drop in performance either at school, college or at workplace.

Opiate users are at high risk for addiction as regular use develops tolerance. Apart from the above mentioned physical, ugly features, opiate abuse is associated with serious health conditions which can cause permanent damage to vital organs such as lungs, liver, kidneys and brain. Opiate abuse is a serious issue and often deadly. So, identify the opiate abuse symptoms in someone you know and seek the immediate help. Remember, the faster you catch the opiate abusers, the easier the recovery and of course less harmful consequences.