Track Marks on Arm – Identifying and Addressing the Signs of Injection Drug Use
Many types of addictive drugs can be taken through an injection. Some of these are fentanyl, meth, heroin, cocaine, opioids and methamphetamine. These injections leave track marks, which are among the most visible signs of injecting drugs. The marks at these injection sites are an indicator of substance abuse and come with potential health risks. Identifying track marks reveals an opportunity to move toward a healthier, drug-free lifestyle. At Live Free Recovery Services, we provide addiction treatment programs that support you with detox and lasting recovery.
What Are Track Marks?
Intravenous drugs are injected directly into the veins. Often, these injections are in the forearms, which is where veins are most visible. However, they can be in other areas of the body as well, such as the inner elbows, hands, wrists, feet and legs. An injection leaves a small puncture wound with a scab. When an injection site is used repeatedly, these areas become discolored, and the veins scar. The skin may also initially have a purplish bruise. As the puncture wound heals, the bruise turns yellow and green. After the bruise disappears, the scar that disfigures the skin looks like a small, pink patch. With continued drug use, the arms may have multiple scars spanning the length of visible veins.
Signs and Symptoms of Track Marks
The signs and symptoms of track marks are both physical and behavioral. Physically, a drug abuser will have scabs at the injection sites. Even a single injection can cause bruising, which results in dark or discolored veins. Swelling and infections at these sites are also possible. Over time, continued IV drug use results in raised, pink scar tissue.
A drug user often spends more time than usual in the bathroom. He or she may seek solitude by isolating in a bedroom or other private areas. Social interactions with family and friends may decrease significantly. In an attempt to hide the physical signs of drug use, a user could wear long sleeves all of the time and even on warm days.
Health Risks of Injecting Drugs
When you inject drugs into your veins, you are exposed to numerous short-term and long-term complications. For example, you are exposed to needle-sharing risks, such as HIV, hepatitis and other infections that are passed by blood. You can also develop a skin infection or an abscess at the injection site. In some cases, veins collapse, and the user develops circulation issues.
With continued IV drug use, you are exposed to additional long-term complications. On the skin, you may struggle with chronic skin ulcers. Scarring usually becomes permanent. Deep vein thrombosis, also known as DVT, and vascular damage are common. As infections circulate in your blood throughout the body, you may experience serious organ damage.
Common Drugs That Lead to Track Marks
Several drugs are commonly injected intravenously and can lead to track marks. Opioids, such as heroin and fentanyl, are often injected to achieve a faster high. These drugs are highly addictive, s there is a strong possibility of developing a dependence within a short period of time. As a user develops dependence, the risk of an overdose increases.
Stimulants are often taken intravenously. Some of these drugs are cocaine and methamphetamine. When injected into a vein, these drugs can cause severe vein damage. In addition to these drugs, some prescription medications can be injected into the bloodstream, such as sedatives and painkillers. These may be drugs obtained legally or without a prescription.
Addressing Track Marks and Seeking Help
Because of the many risks associated with IV drug use, harm reduction strategies are essential to prevent many of the short-term risks. For example, safe injection practices are necessary to reduce injection site complications and infections. One of these practices is to only use clean needles to reduce the risk of a skin infection. Public health monitoring and needle exchange programs are in place in many areas to reduce the risk to IV drug users.
Even with these practices, the risks persist while you use IV drugs. Breaking a drug addiction is challenging, but support is available. Detox programs, for example, support you through the safe withdrawal of opioids and other substances. Supervised detox is a safer alternative to detoxing at home as you will receive 24-hour care with the management of your withdrawal symptoms. Methadone or buprenorphine can be administered to help you reduce cravings and minimize the severity of the withdrawal symptoms.
A drug addiction is both physical and psychological. An effective drug treatment program provides you with behavioral therapy to support you with the psychological aspects of addiction. Counseling services are also combined with holistic support. These include assistance with nutrition and mindfulness, which support total body healing.
How to Support a Loved One with Track Marks
Discovering track marks on a loved one can be an emotional and stressful experience. It is important to approach the subject of drug abuse without judgment. A person struggling with an addiction needs support and love rather than criticism. Encourage your loved one to seek professional treatment. Assist him or her with identifying detox and recovery options.
While you understandably want to offer your full support to your loved one, your well-being requires attention as well. It is easy to get overly involved in the recovery process of your loved one, but this is emotionally and psychologically damaging to you. Establish healthy boundaries to avoid getting overly involved. You can receive support and guidance with this by joining a support group for family members of drug users.
Treatment Services at Live Free Recovery Services
At Live Free Recovery Services, we are committed to providing the treatment and support that individuals need to overcome an addiction and pursue a life free of addiction. When you initially contact us for a consultation, we will thoroughly answer your questions and complete an assessment. Through the assessment, we can tailor an individualized treatment program to suit your specific needs.
Typically, our treatment program begins with detox. In the safety of our comfortable facility, you will have a supportive environment to withdrawal from the substance. Medical detox is available to assist with the management of symptoms. After the detox process is completed, you will receive continued support with your recovery.
Long-term aftercare programs include inpatient and outpatient programs. Some individuals benefit from living in a sober living home, which is free of triggers that may have contributed to drug use initially. Our inpatient and outpatient programs provide the emotional support that you need as well as relapse prevention strategies. We also actively support you with building a supportive network outside of treatment through couples and family therapy.
Often, drug abuse coincides with a mental health condition. Some drug users seek relief from symptoms like anxiety and depression through the use of drugs. Addressing the co-occurring mental health conditions is crucial for continued healing and a better recovery outcome. Some of the mental health services we provide are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Individual, group and holistic therapy sessions are also available.
Take the First Step Toward a Healthier Life Today
Seeking treatment for your addiction is the first step, and this step can change your life in incredible ways. At Live Free Recovery Services, our compassionate team is committed to helping you achieve your goals. We provide supportive, evidence-based addiction treatment for individuals struggling with substance use disorders, including opioid addiction and intravenous drug use. When you contact us, we will work closely with you to understand your situation and develop an effective treatment plan tailored to suit your needs. Contact Live Free Recovery Services today to start your journey to recovery.
Category: Drug Testing