What You Need To Know About Detoxing From Heroin

One of the leading causes of death in America is drug addiction. It is also one of the most difficult conditions to treat. When a person starts using drugs it becomes easy for them to become addicted as their body will start to become dependent on the drug. Fortunately, the chances of being drug-free after years of becoming addicted are quite high especially if the patient is taken to a very effective rehabilitation center. If you have a loved one who is suffering from addiction to drugs such as heroin, then you must learn everything that you need to know about detoxing from heroin. 

Effects And Withdrawal Symptoms Of Heroin 

 

Heroin is an opiate drug that has an almost immediate effect on a person's mood depending on the amount that is taken. On higher doses it can cause severe drowsiness within 7 to 8 seconds of intake. People get addicted to heroin because it gives them a sense of pleasure and well-being. It also causes them to feel drowsy and is known to reduce pain in the body. The adverse effects include decreased heart rate and blood pressure as well as nausea and vomiting. Taking heroin in high doses can even be deadly. 

Heroin addiction is one of the most difficult conditions to treat mainly because of the withdrawal symptoms that addicts experience the moment they do not get their fix. Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include agitation, anxiety, muscle aches and insomnia. Although these symptoms are extremely uncomfortable, they are not usually life threatening and the good news is that they are treatable. 

Heroin Addiction Recovery

Many families opt to send their addicted loved ones to drug rehabilitation centers where they undergo different treatment programs. One of the most used treatments for heroin addiction  is heroin detox which is usually one of the first steps in the addiction recovery process. Experts agree that this is one of the most important steps in getting rid of heroin addiction. The most crucial thing however is to make sure that you enroll your loved one in a facility that will give them the proper treatment.

Different detox centers can vary in terms of how they deal with painful withdrawal symptoms that follow after trying to stop heroin use. Before deciding on which rehabilitation facility to send your loved one to, make sure to do your research.  One of the most commonly used prescription medications is called Methadone which is a non-intoxicating drug that reduces one's desire for heroin and at the same time prevents withdrawal symptoms. Treatment is available to help your loved one heal from his addiction.

How To Address Heroin Withdrawal

Heroin is an extremely dangerous and addictive substance. Withdrawal following heroin addiction occurs once an addict inhibits use after an extended use period. The withdrawal process is commonly defined through an assortment of uncomfortable emotional and physical symptoms, including insomnia, vomiting, yawning, diarrhea, sweating and chills. In this entry, we will discuss some common methods for combating the withdrawal process on the road to recovery.

1 – Touch base with a physician once you have decided to stop using heroin. They may be able to address your symptoms or point you in the direction of someone who can. If you do not have a general physician, consider the possibility of an emergency room or medical clinic visit.

2 – Legally prescribed medications have been found to help address withdrawal symptoms, while offering the potential for a reduced withdrawal period. Common medications include methadone, buprenorphine and clonidine. Individuals experiencing severe diarrhea or vomiting may be treated with additional substances.

3 – Locate a reputable 12 step addiction recovery program. Here, a team of seasoned addiction specialists will be able to monitor and support your transition into sobriety while providing education and tools with which to counter your addiction moving forward.

4 – Begin attending support groups in your area. These organizations serve in helping former addicts maintain sobriety while reducing the risk of relapse in a community setting.

5 – Be sure to seek out professional counseling following withdrawal.

6 – Though you may not need it, it’s important to complete a full psychological evaluation following withdrawal to help avoid potential relapse risks. We all go a little crazy from time to time… Either way, you’ll be on the road to enjoying the confidence and peace of mind you deserve. 

Heroin Use is Associated with Infectious Diseases

Injection drug users often neglect basic actions that would protect their health. If they share needles, they risk sharing hepatitis, HIV or other diseases. Injection can collapse veins, cause infection in the heart lining or valves or abscesses. Unless treated, most of these conditions can progress to more serious conditions that result in death. For example, local infections resulting from the adulterants in black tar heroin from Mexico can turn into necrotizing fasciitis, a fast-moving infection that progressively kills more and more tissue. Black tar heroin may be adulterated with dextrose, burned cornstarch, instant coffee, and sometimes dirt.

Drug users often neglect other basic personal care as well. Many fail to keep themselves clean and groomed and ignore illnesses. Their worlds are mostly consumed with making sure they have enough of the opiate to prevent dope sickness from setting in. The further they go down the road toward addiction, the more this pattern of drug abuse will consume their attention and shatter the pattern of their earlier sober lives. When extended, this effect of heroin use can destroy the person's sober living skills to the point that they no longer know how to make drug-free decisions.

Most heroin addicts have such a severe dread of the dope sickness that kicks in during withdrawal that they will do almost anything to prevent this experience. They are sure that they can't survive or enjoy anything in life if they are not high on heroin, so they refuse to admit the problem and resist efforts to help them.

If you are tired of the day to day fear of receiving a death sentence caused by the use and addiction of heroin, contact us at Above It All Treatment and Recovery Center.  We will show you how we can design a program that gives you the best possible chance of a successful recovery.

What are Heroin Withdrawals?

When going through heroin withdrawals, the first sign of withdrawals is when you begin to feel aches within your legs, followed by discomfort in your stomach when your stomach feels like it is going to rip apart, you get cramps and you are VERY irritable and want to keep moving your stomach because if you keep still it gets worse. This is followed by a serious yawning that continually progresses steadily and every time you yawn you produce tears but that's not annoying. Ironically the yawning feels good, almost euphoric to the rest of the withdrawal symptoms.

Then on the second day you get a serious case of diarrhea and your stomach is constantly grumbling, you have no energy whatsoever.  It only takes a little bump of Heroin or an opiate pill to get rid of it. That’s why it’s so hard to get through withdrawals because it’s the idea that only one little drug can get rid of all your problems. Your neck feels so restless that you can’t keep your head up. You don’t want to eat, you have no desire to eat, you just want to lay there and get some heroin. You vomit on random occasions.

On the third day of withdrawals (the worst day of them all) you can't get out of bed. It really is that bad. And that is if you got any sleep while suffering from the stomach cramps.

One minute you're very hot and sweating, the next minute you're extremely cold (but still sweating), you constantly feel uncomfortable...constantly one or the other of the extremes, you're never "just right".

While going through withdrawals never sounds like fun, it can also be dangerous to go through it on your own.  Contact us at Above It All Treatment Centers to see how we can help you by designing a program that will help you make it through the withdrawals with as little discomfort as possible.  Our certified counselors will start you on the road to a successful recovery with little chance of relapse.  

Treating Heroin Withdrawal

Heroin is an illegal substance classified within the opiate family. Withdrawal from the drug begins once an individual drastically reduces or quits taking it following an extended period of routine use. Common withdrawal symptoms include sweating, goose bumps, insomnia, diarrhea and vomiting. In this entry, we will outline a few ways to combat these symptoms.

Step 1 – Get in touch with your general physician. Though they may be unable to treat your symptoms personally, there is a good chance they’ll be able to refer you to someone who can. If you do not have a general physician, you may want to consider a trip to your local urgent care or emergency room.

Step 2 – A variety of medications are common in treating heroin withdrawal.  Some medications may even reduce the withdrawal period. Popular medications include buprenorphine, methadone and clonidine. Additional medications may be prescribed to patients experiencing extreme diarrhea or vomiting.

Step 3 – Locate and enroll in a residential heroin rehab facility. Not only will these facilities help you through the detoxification process, but will serve to educate and prepare you for a happy, fulfilling and sober existence post program completion.

Step 4 – Locate local meetings for support groups such as SMART Recovery and Narcotics Anonymous to keep yourself in a sober mindset. Many recovering addicts find solace and support within these groups; ultimately reducing the relapse risk.

Step 5 – Seek out private counseling following completion of substance abuse rehabilitation.

Step 6 – Undergo an evaluation to determine the presence of any underlying depression or mental illness. If a diagnosis is made in the affirmative, you should strongly consider appropriate treatment measures to help avoid future relapse down the road.