Heroin Addiction Treatment
Every day, individuals who use heroin attempt to quit using the drug on their own, without the support of heroin addiction treatment. Few however, succeed, and most of the time they end up relapsing as a result of the addictive nature of this dangerous opiate. Simply put, heroin addiction rarely can be overcome without heroin addiction treatment. In order for a person to find the best heroin addiction treatment center available there are certain criteria which need to be looked at. A heroin addiction treatment center has to be qualified in detox in order to better prepare the person's body for the treatment phase of recovery. A heroin addiction treatment facility should have an aggressive and proven treatment program. The most important thing to consider when seeking heroin addiction treatment is to find a drug rehab that has a high rate of success concerning heroin addiction. A variety of effective treatments are available for heroin addiction. According to substance abuse experts, an individual that is addicted to opiates, such as heroin, should receive long term heroin addiction treatment for optimal results.
Detoxification
The first step in heroin addiction treatment is to rid the body of the drug and its residual toxins. This happens during heroin detox, a process that may include side effects such as drug craving, vomiting, restlessness, bone and muscle pain, diarrhea, cold flashes, chills and kicking spasms. Major heroin withdrawal symptoms usually peak between 48 to 72 hours after the last dose of the drug and slowly subside in the days to follow. This is by far the most difficult part of heroin addiction treatment and a very traumatic process, but with professional support, detox can be successfully completed. The primary objective of detoxification is to help relieve withdrawal symptoms while addicts adjust to being without the heroin in their system. Detoxification is not in itself a treatment for addiction, but it is a useful step only when it is followed long-term heroin addiction treatment. The best documented drug-free treatments for heroin addiction are the therapeutic community residential programs lasting at least 3 months.
Different Types of Heroin Addiction Treatment- There are two major types of heroin addiction drug treatment facilities: residential and outpatient. Each one offers heroin addiction treatment, but both offer several key differences.
Residential heroin drug treatment- This form of heroin addiction treatment allows the addict a chance to leave the environment in which they used drugs behind and enter a drug free haven where the only thing to worry about is focusing on recovery from heroin addiction. These facilities may require a stay of between a month and 6 months. Residential heroin addiction treatment allows individuals to live side-by-side with other recovering addicts which helps to create a solid support structure.
Outpatient heroin drug treatment- Outpatient heroin drug treatment offers detox, counseling and other related programs found in residential care – with the difference that individuals go home at the end of every treatment day. This can be the only solution for those who need to be close to their families or have responsibilities that include work or school. It is important to note, that concerning heroin addiction treatment, residential rehab programs have a much higher rate of long term success.
The primary types of heroin addiction treatment are therapy, medication or counseling:
Behavioral therapy- This is a form of therapy that involves reinforcing positive behaviors that help addicts overcome their substance abuse issues, and helps them to lead healthy lives. Usually, behavioral therapy will focus on relapse prevention. One phase of behavioral therapy involves identifying the circumstances that caused the individual to use heroin and teaching them how to recognize these triggers in the future in order to stay clean. With behavioral therapy, addicts learn to cope better with problems and learn not to resort to drug abuse as an escape.
There are many effective behavioral treatments available for heroin addiction. These can include residential and outpatient heroin addiction treatment. Moreover, several new behavioral therapies, such as contingency management therapy and cognitive-behavioral interventions, show particular promise as part of the treatment program for heroin addiction. Contingency management therapy uses a voucher-based system, where patients earn reward points based on negative drug tests, which they can exchange for items that encourage healthy living. Cognitive-behavioral interventions are designed to help modify the patient's thinking, expectancies, and behaviors and to increase their skills in coping with various life stressors. Behavioral treatments have been proven help to lead to increased employment rates of and lower risk of HIV and other diseases.
Counseling- Individual and group counseling in heroin addiction treatment are a chance for the individual to delve into the reasons why they used heroin. Also, they will work closely with a counselor or therapist to develop relapse prevention strategies for changing the behavior and to help them to make better decisions in the future. Group counseling in heroin addiction treatment is a genuinely unique experience that allows individuals to form a bond with other recovering addicts and gain strength from their recovery stories and their support. Counseling in heroin addiction treatment sometimes involves one-on-one or group sessions where individuals engage in discussions about their addiction and drug abuse. In addition to giving them encouragement and support, counseling provides a healthy outlet for expressing, confronting and talking about issues and problems that are related to addiction.
Methadone Programs
Methadone is often used to help those suffering from heroin withdrawal. Methadone's effect on the brain can take away any heroin withdrawal symptoms. However, methadone being used in this manner is not completely safe. Clinical studies have shown that methadone replacement does reduce cravings and negative withdrawal effects, but the adverse side effects may prove to be just as dangerous, as heroin itself.
Heroin abuse and addiction leaves the addict with no goal other than using more and more of the drug. Every day that a heroin addict delays heroin addiction treatment, they are at risk of a deadly heroin overdose. When the right heroin addiction treatment is provided for a long enough period of time, a person can break the cycle of heroin addiction, become clean and sober and find a way back to a healthier and happier life.
