Heroin is an illegal drug that is highly addictive and leads to dependence and addiction. Recovering from a heroin addiction is difficult, and the heroin withdrawal process lasts much longer than that of other drugs. Because of the difficulty associated with quitting heroin use, finding the right recovery program is essential to a successful recovery and to preventing injury or death from unsafe withdrawal. Making the choice to quit heroin is the only choice. The recovery process requires complete dedication from the participant, but it gives an individual a second chance at a life they may never have thought they could have.
What Does Heroin Detoxification Include?
After choosing a rehab program, an individual will undergo the heroin detox process. This is the physical removal of the drug and all of its toxins from the body. Heroin detox is a grueling and potentially dangerous process. Medical assistance is needed to monitor health and comfort throughout detox. Some physicians will administer medication such as methadone or Suboxone in order to slowly taper the patient from the drug while minimizing withdrawal symptoms. However, this method of detox can lead to a secondary or substitute addiction. Withdrawal symptoms for heroin are more exaggerated than those of most drugs and may include the following symptoms:
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Severe cravings
- Excessive fatigue
- Muscle and bone pain
- Flu-like symptoms
Recovering heroin users are urged to undergo detox in the care of a rehab facility and under the supervision of experienced medical professions. Physicians can ensure a patient’s safety and ease the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms. Heroin withdrawal symptoms typically last around a week, but long-term users may continue to experience withdrawal symptoms for a month or more.
The Best Treatment for Heroin Addiction
The best treatment for heroin addiction requires more than just detox. Recovering from a heroin addiction is not just “quitting” the drug. Recovery is a lifelong process. Rehab provides a recovering individual with the tools needed to avoid future temptation and opportunities for relapse. Patients who enter a rehab facility for heroin recovery have a much greater chance at recovering than those that do not. The best treatment for heroin addiction is a program that can heal all aspects of addiction including the physical, mental and emotional elements of the disease.
What Happens in Heroin Addiction Rehabilitation?
Besides physical detox, a person will participate in counseling and therapeutic sessions during heroin rehab. Counseling can be done individually, in groups or with family members. Rehab counseling is important, because it allows users to better understand themselves and their addiction. Counseling helps uncover the underlying causes of a person’s heroin use and addiction. Drug use can be related to any number of psychological or emotional causes. Therapy can provide the opportunity for a patient to heal from heroin addiction and its causes and contributors. The goal of therapy is to learn how to manage these underlying causes by developing social and emotional coping mechanisms that do not involve drug abuse. This part of the recovery process is crucial to eliminating the probability of heroin relapse. An individual will need to be strong and confident in his or her ability to maintain a sober life.
What to Expect from Heroin Rehabilitation
Heroin rehab can empower an individual and help him or her regain control over life. Relationships, careers and finances can be restored, and an individual can once again feel at peace. The heroin rehab process is not easy, and it requires complete dedication from an individual. Recovering from heroin addiction is a lifelong process that will involve overcoming temptation or even relapse, but with the right rehab program a person is given the best opportunity at second chance.
Find Rehabilitation for Heroin Addiction Now
If you are reading this, you may be worried that you or a loved one needs help. The next step is simple. Call our toll-free helpline, as we are here to make heroin addiction recovery as easy and comfortable and possible. Call now to talk with a recovery counselor about the heroin addiction treatment program that is right for you. We are here to take your call 24 hours a day, and your call is completely confidential. You are not alone in your addiction battle, let us help. Call today.
