For those struggling with heroin use, attending a center that specializes in heroin addiction treatment is often the best option for proper treatment. Heroin is a highly addictive substance that compromises physical and mental health and ultimately harms the relationships with those you care about most. If you or someone you know is seeking treatment for heroin addiction, please don’t hesitate to contact Red Oak Recovery® at 866.457.7590 for information about heroin addiction rehab and treatment.
When Does Someone Need a Heroin Rehab Program?
Heroin is a potent drug that quickly changes the brain chemistry of its users. Although the drug is rapidly addictive because of its intense and pleasurable sensations on the brain, withdrawals can be drawn out and painful to go through. It is a short-acting opioid, so when an individual ceases using the powerful drug, the pleasurable feelings are quickly replaced with uncomfortable physiological responses resulting from craving the drug. You will most likely need to attend a heroin rehab program if you regularly use heroin and have been experiencing some of these side effects:
- Mental preoccupation with using heroin
- Weight loss
- Mood symptoms like paranoia, depression, anxiety, and hostility
- Intense, uncontrollable heroin cravings
- Fatigue and body pain
- Chronic constipation
- Unexplained bruises or scabs on the body
- Alternating periods of euphoria and despair
- Nodding out during a conversation
When you choose to stop using heroin, a process of weaning off the drug is necessary. Unfortunately, heroin is one of the most challenging substances to stop using on your own. After you have stopped using it for a short time, the body can rapidly lose tolerance. If a person relapses using the same amount of heroin they previously used, it dramatically increases the likelihood of a fatal overdose. Fortunately, receiving professional help in a heroin rehab center reduces the risk of overdose or death. For this reason alone, a heroin rehab program will give you or your loved one the best chance at a safe and successful recovery outcome.
What Happens in a Heroin Addiction Treatment Program?
Upon entering treatment at a heroin rehab center, the first step will often be filling out paperwork and initial visits with a physician. Through this step in the enrollment process, we ascertain the toll that addiction has taken on your body. After officially committing to a heroin rehab program, the healing process can begin. Heroin rehab programs often include medication, behavioral therapy, and group therapy. You will likely be around other people struggling with heroin addiction. Depending upon your position in the timeline of heroin withdrawal, it may prove helpful to know what symptoms you may encounter during your stay in a heroin addiction treatment center.
The heroin withdrawal timeline will not look the same for all heroin users. The withdrawal experience depends on a few factors, such as the duration of use and the amount of heroin used. The worst side effects of heroin withdrawal happen within 6-12 hours of the last use. Typically, heroin withdrawal symptoms peak between days two and three. However, these symptoms can last up to 10 days and even longer in some cases—a minority of people who use heroin experience physiological symptoms for months. The mental effects of battling heroin addiction can be lifelong. Here is a list of symptoms you may experience when weaning off heroin:
- Depression
- Drastic mood swings
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Muscle aches or spasms
- Flu-like symptoms (like diarrhea, vomiting and extreme fatigue, sweating, fever, and chills)
- Shaking, tremors, and shivering
- Severe stomach pain
- Hypertension
Being in a heroin rehab addiction center can help you deal with the pain and discomfort of your symptoms. It can also prevent the possible dangerous outcomes of an at-home withdrawal. At heroin addiction rehab, you can expect a high level of accountability and support.
The Importance of Getting Professional Help for Heroin Addiction
The chances of recovery from a heroin addiction increase when individuals seek professional help. Professional rehab centers offer comprehensive, evidence-based, and scientifically proven treatments that are designed to help people recover from their addictions. Professional treatment programs focus on all aspects of the person’s life, including physical, mental, and emotional health. They utilize cognitive behavioral therapy techniques as well as other therapeutic approaches to provide an individualized plan for each person in order to change unhealthy behaviors, thoughts, and beliefs associated with the addiction and replace them with healthier ones. This kind of program is essential in helping individuals learn how to live without using drugs again.
Heroin rehabs also create safe environments where individuals can work on overcoming their addictions without distractions or temptations that would lead them to relapse. They provide 24-hour medical supervision, individual and group counseling, life skills classes, and other services to help the person heal from their addiction. In addition, specialized treatment centers offer more tailored plans that are specific to each person’s needs.
The goal of any professional heroin rehab program is to help individuals achieve long-term sobriety and a healthier lifestyle. Through effective and compassionate care, people can learn how to cope with triggers, manage stress, build healthy relationships, and practice self-care in order to continue living an addiction-free life. With access to quality healthcare and emotional support, individuals can not only recover from their heroin addiction but also avoid future relapses as well. Professional help is therefore essential for those struggling with heroin addiction and can lead to a successful recovery.
Start Your Treatment Journey Today with Red Oak Recovery®
With the most severe cases of heroin use, symptoms can take much longer to subside. The psychological and emotional repercussions of heroin addiction last a lifetime. A support system of peers and the tools to manage your addiction will continue to serve you well outside of rehab and throughout your life. If you’re interested in beginning your heroin addiction recovery journey, please call Red Oak Recovery® today at 866.457.7590. You can also reach us via our online contact form.
