How To Avoid Relapse Post Heroin Rehab

Completing a heroin rehab treatment program is a great accomplishment. It is not, however, the end of your recovery experience. The choices made following rehab are perhaps just as important, if not more so, than those made during rehabilitation. Maintaining proper aftercare and discipline is a crucial aspect in maintaining sobriety throughout the transition back to the day-to-day routine.

Because addiction is a disease, avoiding relapse and the triggers associated with it is a major factor is maintaining sobriety once treatment is complete. Most all drug rehabilitation programs work to provide patients with relapse prevention tactics as part of their rehabilitation and aftercare programs.

5 Relapse Prevention Tips

1)      Avoid keeping your feelings in. If you attend addiction support groups as part of your aftercare treatment, these forums can be a wonderful place to express your feelings and emotions.  In this way, you’ll be able to alleviate excess tension while obtaining help and support from peers who have been through similar experiences.

2)      Commit to an activity or hobby to keep yourself occupied. Take up an instrument, exercise class or volunteer at a retirement facility. Dust off the old brain and choose a class at your local community college to keep the old chef dream alive. The busier you are, the less opportunity you’ll have to resort to old habits.

3)      Steer away from acquaintances and friends who don’t support your decision to remain sober. Surround yourself instead with friends and family members who support your recovery and are committed to keeping you on a positive path.

4)      Do your best to avoid situations that may tempt you to use. This includes emotional circumstances and areas that have pushed you to use in the past. If you must attend events or places that cause you to dwell on your addiction, be sure to map out a feasible escape plan.

5)      Those who relapse are not failures. THOSE WHO RELAPSE ARE NOT FAILURES. If you happen to slip up, it will do you little to dwell your mistake. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and take the next step forward. It can be easy to let one mishap excuse a return to negative behaviors. Do not let one simple mistake alter the positive steps you’ve made. Consider contacting your substance abuse rehabilitation center for support and advice during this difficult time. Recovery is never an overnight process. With time, drive and determination, you WILL be able to achieve the happy, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle you’re striving for. 

Heroin Detox Methods

People who use heroin for an elongated period of time will eventually form a physical dependency to the drug. Heroin is an extremely addictive substance that places the user in a euphoric state by inhibiting the opiod receptors within the brain. The detoxification process for heroin can often result in a number of negative physical symptoms. As such, it is recommended that addicts seek medically monitored detox programs to help combat the withdrawal process.

Detox

Detoxification refers to the process of removing unwanted substances from the body. The symptoms associated with heroin detox commonly include strong cravings, bone and muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, neausea, sweating and more.

Residential Care

Locate a reputable heroin rehab center to complete your detox. These facilities will serve in providing you with a supervised, safe and drug-free environment to complete the detoxification process. In most cases, facilities will recommend an extended stay of 3-6 months to help patients adjust to sober living.

Medication

Find a substance abuse rehabilitation facility that can provide you with medication to combat your addiction. Methadone is one of the more common medications - used to diminish withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. Alternative prescriptions include Buprenorphone and LAAM. Be sure to discuss your options with your addiction specialist before and during detoxification to ensure a safe and healthy detox experience.

Therapy

Whether you decide on individual sessions, family counseling or a support group, your participation in therapy will do wonders for your sobriety transition. Drug-free behavioral patterns may be developed through cognitive-behavioral therapy along with new and specialized means in dealing with stressful situations.

Activities

Many patients find their participation in activities meditation and reading to aid in their detoxification experience. By keeping a focused and positive mindset throughout the process, you will have already begun building the foundation from which to base your new, happy and sober life. 

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. 

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What Happens In Heroin Rehab?

A person addicted to heroin is at high risk for pain, sickness, disease and even death without the aid of a professional heroin drug rehab facility. Heroin, a form of synthesized morphine, is one of the more addictive and potent substances to use today. The drug is classified as a Schedule 1 substance, meaning it is illegal to possess or use due to it’s high potential for addiction. Though this opioid addiction can certainly be overcome, the road to recovery is always a difficult one.

Detox / Withdrawal

Before the real healing can begin, addicts must complete a medically monitored detoxification program. Detox works to remove the drug from the individual’s system while addressing the symptoms associated with withdrawal. The following is a list of common symptoms found in patients moving through withdrawal:

Anxiety

Depression

Sweating

Fever

Cramps

Diarrhea

Nausea

Insomnia

Vomiting

Aches

Due to the extent of these symptoms, it is strongly advised that addicts enroll in a medically monitored detoxification to help ease them through the withdrawal process in a safe and comfortable fashion.

Once an individual has completed detox, it’s time to move forward with the heroin rehab experience. Depending on the type of facility, a variety of methods can be utilized to help addicts through their initial recovery. Traditional heroin rehab centers tend to rely on individual and group therapy while promoting a structured, daily routine through various activities and group exercises. Holistic treatment facilities utilize many of the same methods found in traditional rehab centers, but with an emphasis on spirituality and natural treatments.

Regardless of the facility philosophies, the end goal is always a healthy and long lasting recovery. In order to achieve this goal, patients are encouraged to develop a personalized rehabilitation plan or action with their addiction counselor. In this way, patients are able to monitor their progress throughout and beyond the program while keeping their eye fixated on the big sobriety prize. 

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. 

Does My Teen Need Heroin Rehab?

Heroin rehab is a scary consideration for parents who suspect their teen is using. The drug is synthesized from morphine found in opium poppy seeds, producing a euphoric state in users by mimicking actions of natural endorphins on the brain. Though many users choose to inject the drug, the popularity in smoking and snorting is increasing due to the lowered risks associated with non-needle use. If you suspect that your loved one is using, the following entry will provide you with a few ways to spot the signs.

1 – Keep an eye out of drastic behavior changes. Teens who have begun using heroin may begin associating with a different crowd. Lowered grades and a drop in job performance or attendance may also be cause to take notice.

2 – Many addicts will show various physical changes due to excessive use. Common examples include runny eyes and noses or pupil constriction. Users may also begin sleeping more excessively, while exhibiting signs of lethargy and apathy during waking hours. Hygiene may be low on the priority list.

3 – Look for odd items around the home, such as small baggies, capsules, syringes, or antihistamine packing materials. Take note if valuables or cash suddenly goes missing. If the individual is dealing as well, you may also notice unfamiliar and unexplained valuables in their possession. 

4 – Even dress can be an indicator! Addicts may choose to wear winter-wear during high temperature periods to conceal their injection marks.

What To Do

If you confirm use, it’s important to rectify the situation immediately. Get in touch with a reputable heroin drug rehab facility to discuss potential treatment plans. Heroin rehab centers will be best able to assess and address the addiction at hand, while providing your teen with the tools and resources they need to move beyond their dependency and towards the productive, happy and fulfilling life they deserve.