Ultimate Guide to Heroin Addiction Treatment

Heroin consumption daily or in large quantities might lead to Addiction. Addiction is a disease that controls the brain working on the Central Nervous System. This blog discusses and answers some of the commonly asked questions about Heroin addiction, such as-

• What does heroin feel like?

• How to Overcome Heroin Addiction?

• Is Heroin Addiction Treatment Safe? 

This blog gives us a detailed version of the withdrawal symptoms and the right therapeutic ways to manage Heroin addiction in people. 

What Is Heroin?

Heroin belongs to a group of drugs called Narcotics, which relieves pain. The drug generates from a plant called poppy, which releases opium. The flower grows in Asia, Mexico, and South America. The heroin that is pure has the consistency of white powder. Heroin is not a legal narcotic like codeine and morphine because it has dangerous side effects (1).

What Does Heroin Feel Like?

Heroin consumption can have numerous far-reaching and life-altering consequences, which include dependence and overdose. Heroin can reduce the activity in the Central Nervous System. According to a survey in 2020, more than 13000 people died from a heroin-related overdose in the United States (2). Heroin is a highly addictive drug that provides pain relief to Opioid pain medication. A person high on heroin consumption may appear extremely relaxed, drowsy, and flushed in the face. Heroin Addiction can have serious side effects. Heroin Addiction Treatment is of utmost necessity to prevent these side effects (3).

How Is Heroin Used? 

Most people mainly intake heroin by injecting intravenously, snorting, or smoking. All new users might not experience high or euphoria. The receptors that cause this feeling become so overstimulated from prolonged usage that they sustain damage. As a result, many addicts spend the rest of their careers chasing a high they are physically incapable of experiencing again. It can prove particularly dangerous in some areas, as many dealers strengthen their wares by lacing doses with synthetic opiates such as fentanyl and carfentanil. These additions make the drug more potent and significantly increase the risk of fatal overdose.

What Are the Effects of Heroin?

There are both short-term as well as long-term effects of Heroin.

Short-term Effects include

• Arms and legs feel heavy.

• A dry mouth.

• Warm, flushed skin

• Stomach upset and vomiting

• Itching

• Fuzzy brain

• Switching in and out of Drowsiness( the situation is often called” in the nod”)

• Euphoria

Long-term Effects include

• Veins get collapsed

• Insomnia

• Menstrual problems and pregnancy-related problems

• Disease related to kidney and liver.

• Diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis

• High chances of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C (4).

How to Overcome Heroin Addiction?

There are basically two therapies that can help you in getting rid of Heroin treatment of Addiction.

Medical Assisted Treatment

There are several drugs used for the treatment of Heroin Addiction that are approved by the FDA. These drugs are basically designed to deteriorate the cravings for heroin as well as reduce withdrawal symptoms during detoxification. Some of the most common medicines that are used are

1. Buprenorphine, also known as Subutex: This basically reduces the cravings for heroin so that the risk of addiction reduces. Overdose of this drug can be habit-forming and can lead to a chance of abuse.

2. Suboxone: This is a mixture of Buprenorphine and Naloxone. This drug helps in reducing Opioid reversals.

3. Methadone: This medication has been used for more than 50 years for Heroin Addiction Treatment. This makes it impossible for the person to experience high. This is highly addictive in nature as it works where other medications fail.

4. Naltrexone: This interferes with the person’s ability to experience pleasure while using Heroin. This drug is non-addictive in nature.

5. Nootropics: Relapse rates for heroin users are high. To help such users stay focused, administering Nootropic such as Waklert 150mg can be a very effective medication-assisted treatment. Nootropics act on the brain’s hypothalamus to promote better concentration and focus. This medication is very effective in keeping away distractions. The positive Waklert reviews and low price of Waklert 150mg make it an excellent choice.

Behavioral Therapy for Addiction

According to many studies, behavioral therapy is considered to be one of the best treatments for Addiction. A critical ingredient for alleviating addiction is learning new habits and behaviors that help in preventing relapses. 

There are many Relapse prevention therapists who are specially trained. They recognize the patterns and behaviors of Heroin Addictive persons and help them out by changing their behavior (5).

Heroin Addiction Rehab

There are various rehabs that offer treatment for Heroin Addiction. If you are looking for Rehab, you should consider all your necessary needs. One of the best Rehab Centers includes the Impatient Rehab Center. These centers alleviate the outside environmental and social factors that make it harder to reach Sobriety during the period of Rehab. The residents have a properly structured routine. The structure includes daily therapy sessions, support groups, and activities. The Impatient Rehab lasts between 30-90 days but also might last longer depending upon the cases (6).

Detoxification

Damage to the brain’s reward centers may result in chronic depression, stress, etc. Medical detoxification therapies help to flush the substances from the body. These treatments will help addicts forge a life in which they will never have to chase that elusive first high.

Benefits Of The Treatment Of Heroin Use Disorder

Addiction is a disease. Addiction treatment is a treatment that helps you to get rid of it. There are many benefits of Heroin Use Disorder. Some of them are listed below:

1. It is a safe way to quit: Detoxification is the process of recovery which have a lot of withdrawal symptoms as well as complications.

2. You can receive treatment for a co-occurring disorder. When you undergo treatment, you have to do an evaluation process. In the evaluation process, you go through a lot of physical and mental tests. These tests can easily determine if you are going through any disease.

3. You can learn the root causes of Substance Abuse: Substance Abuse doesn’t happen in isolation. A lot of factors are associated with it, like trauma, grief, etc. It helps in realizing the causes and shows a reflection of you.

4. You will get different tools for protecting your sobriety. When you go through this process, you suffer a lot of mental traumas. But Drug Rehabilitation programs help you get through this as it provides a lot of support groups (7).

Withdrawal Symptoms

Heroin consumption in large amounts is addictive. Addiction is a chronic disease. When you suddenly stop taking heroin, there are several withdrawal symptoms. Some of them include vomiting and diarrhea, sleeping trouble, certain leg movements uncontrollable, and pain in bones and muscles (4).

How long do withdrawal symptoms last?

The time consumption of withdrawal symptoms varies from person to person. However,

A typical timeline for heroin withdrawal is as follows:

• 6-24 hours –withdrawal symptoms may reflect as soon as six hours after the last dose, though the detox process takes time. These symptoms generally include muscle aches and pain, tremors, diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety, poor concentration, and drug cravings.

• 1-3 days –  The intensity of the symptoms reaches its peak within the first three days of the heroin withdrawal timeline. From the first twenty-four hours, symptoms will often grow in severity, and new symptoms such as irritability, fatigue, stomach aches, nausea, and vomiting will be seen.

• 4-7 days – After three days, physical symptoms especially will start to disappear. By the last phase of the week, the acute phase of heroin withdrawal is almost over, but psychological symptoms may still prevail.

• One week to several months – When someone was a long-time user of heroin, the withdrawal timeline may be longer as some psychological symptoms still prevail.  The symptoms that are seen in this phase are insomnia and experience anxiety, irritability, or depression. If these symptoms do not go alleviate or get worse, co-occurring disorder treatment may be necessary(8).

Our Final Thoughts: Heroin Addiction Treatment

Heroin Addiction is harmful as Addiction is a chronic disease. This substance use disorder might reflect a lot of physical as well as psychological symptoms in you. This is the point where the withdrawal symptoms increase, and you need Heroin Addiction Treatment in life. However, the treatment contains three types but is effective in treating Heroin Addiction.