Heroin Rehab – 4 Steps To Recovery

When a person makes the decision to enter a heroin rehab facility, a 4 stage journey is initiated to help the individual develop a sober, clean and happy lifestyle. These 4 steps – Initiation – Abstinence – Maintained Abstinence – Continued Recovery – have been developed and used by drug and alcohol addiction specialists the world over.

Initiation

Once help is sought out in combating a heroin addiction, the first step – initiation – is begun. Whether aid to sought out voluntarily or exterior forces have pushed the individual towards treatment, the recovery process always begins the same.

During the first few days of heroin drug rehab it is common for patients to experience feelings of ambivalence regarding the decision to give up using on a permanent basis. Often, patients feel that their addictions are not quite as awful as it’s being made out to be. In truth, these feelings of denial and ambivalence can prove to be your worst foes during your initial recovery. Beware.

Abstinence

Once a commitment has been made to continue with the treatment plan, the second stage – abstinence - can begin. Viewed by many as the toughest step in the recovery process, abstinence requires patients to deal with withdrawal symptoms, psychological dependencies, physical cravings and an array of triggers urging patients to relapse.

During this stage, patients are introduced to a licensed addiction specialist who will begin teaching various copings skills that can be used to maintain a clean and sober lifestyle. The tools garnered during this period will serve to help patients throughout the remainder of recovery.

Maintained Abstinence

Once a patient had completed their first 90 days heroin-free, they are able to move on to the third recovery step – maintained abstinence. Often, a patient who completes a 90 residential program is afforded the opportunity to continue their recovery on an outpatient basis. This serves in putting the lessons learned within the heroin rehab centers to use in a real world setting. Maintained abstinence typically begins after the first 3 months of sobriety, continuing until the individual has reached the five-year mark.

Advanced Recovery

After an individual has obtained five years of abstinence, the final stage – advanced recovery – can begin. It is during this stage that individuals are truly able to utilize the skills and tools learned during their initial recovery; putting them to proper use in building a happy and satisfying life.

Not only are addicts able to maintain their sobriety; they will also possess the tools needed to become a better parent and spouse, healthy individual, and positive contributor to society.