Three arrests in two weeks doesn’t necessarily mean a resurgence in use, says narcotics unit.

Over the last several months, police said they’ve seen a jump in arrests for heroin possession and use in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.

But the recent numbers don’t necessarily mean a resurgence in the drug ? police say it’s always out there, it’s just a matter of the users and dealers getting caught.

In the last two weeks in Costa Mesa there have been at least three arrests for possession of heroin, said Costa Mesa Sgt. Paul Dondero, head of the department’s narcotics unit.

Not only is heroin available, it’s also cheap, Dondero said. The street prices have been declining to as little as $25 a gram.

Newport Beach police have also seen an increase in heroin arrests, Narcotics Det. Eric Peterson said.

Heroin-related arrests in Newport-Mesa are mostly users who have been supplied their drugs from someone outside the city, police said.

The boost in heroin arrests doesn’t always influence the city’s crime-rate. Most of the people committing “street crimes” are influenced by stimulants, such as methamphetamine, Dondero said.

A heroin user doesn’t fall into a specific category ? it can be anyone, Peterson said. Junkies, or hypes, as they’re called, exhibit certain identifiable symptoms.

“If they’re a heroin user they’re real skinny, they’re real drowsy, just low,” Peterson said.

Heroin is an opiate, which brings the user down. It can sniffed or smoked, but the high is felt almost immediately when it’s injected.

Heroin is considered by many as one of the hardest and most addictive street drugs. It’s not a situational drug, like ecstasy, Peterson said.

“It’s one of those hard-core drugs, because you gotta stick a needle in your arm and not that many people are willing to do that,” Peterson said.

Those under the influence of heroin are typically marred by visible track marks, have constricted pupils, have clammy and itchy skin and are drowsy, he said.

In January, Newport Beach police saw some of the worst effects of heroin use when they arrested a 26-year-old heroin abuser from Pennsylvania. A successful business owner, he would shoot up on the way to and from work. He told police he used 12 grams of heroin every day, a habit that cost him up to $130 a day.

The man had moved to Newport Beach seeking rehabilitation for his growing drug habit. When police first arrested him for being under the influence of several drugs, his face was spotted with track marks. After using up every available spot on his body, the man had started shooting up in his face, Peterson said.

Weeks later, the same man was arrested for possession of heroin. In just a short time, the number of track marks on his face had tripled and he appeared noticeably more gaunt.

Heroin users like this man graduate to a whole new level of drug use ? when you’re hooked, you’re hooked, Peterson said.

Most heroin seized locally is tar heroin from Columbia and Mexico. It comes in small, sometimes hard or sticky, rocks that are diluted and injected, police said.

Although police have seen a recent spike in heroin arrests, methamphetamine is still the most common drug seen in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, police said.

But people selling drugs ? whether methamphetamine or others ? are selling a whole selection of drugs, including heroin, Dondero said.

“You’ll see coke and heroin often times being purchased together, a lot of users will use that combination,” Dondero said.

Although police haven’t heard reports of the deadly Fentanyl-laced heroin that has hit other parts of the country reaching Orange County, it has been reported in Southern California, Dondero said.

“It’s just a matter of time ? that makes its way into everything,” Dondero said.