Heroin is highly addictive and poses a significant risk of overdose. That heroin is often mixed with other substances and usually contains unknown amounts of fentanyl only increases these risks. If you or a loved one is abusing or addicted to heroin, a heroin detox treatment program can offer help before it’s too late.
Before starting treatment, however, there are things you should know about a heroin detox program. When you find out what to know about heroin detox, you or a loved one can start the journey toward lasting wellness.
Gulf Breeze Recovery is a holistic addiction and dual diagnosis treatment center offering a full continuum of care. Here, clients have access to around-the-clock medical and clinical care to safely and effectively detox from heroin in a private, safe, non-judgmental environment.
Call 833.551.2304 to learn about our heroin addiction treatment program.
What to Know About Heroin Detox
Generally speaking, the physical and psychological symptoms of heroin withdrawal can be painful and intense. Thus, the fear of withdrawal often prevents people from seeking treatment. While you cannot avoid heroin withdrawal symptoms, a medically supervised heroin detox center can help make heroin detox as safe and comfortable as possible.
Knowing what to expect from heroin detox can help prepare for it. Heroin withdrawal can vary in length and intensity depending on factors such as the level of dependence, the amount and frequency of use, previous detoxes, and overall health.
The following is a general heroin detox timeline:
- 6-12 hours after the last dose – Initial symptoms, including restlessness, anxiety, muscle aches, and intense cravings begin.
- 1-3 days – Physical symptoms such as sweating, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, increased heart rate, and high blood pressure peak. Psychological symptoms, including depression, irritability, and cravings, are also present.
- 4-7 days – Physical symptoms may persist but are less intense and more manageable. Psychological symptoms persist, including anxiety, depression, mood swings, and cravings.
- 1-2 weeks – Physical symptoms have subsided, but psychological ones continue and are triggered by stimuli or situations associated with heroin use.
- 2-4 weeks – Acute withdrawal is over, but individuals may experience post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), characterized by low energy, sleep disturbances, mood swings, anxiety, and difficulty experiencing pleasure.
As with other opioids, medication-assisted therapy (MAT) is frequently used to help manage withdrawal symptoms. As symptoms decrease, the amount of medications used also decreases. While the goal is to be entirely drug-free by the end of treatment, people with a history of long-term, severe addiction, and chronic relapse may require lifetime MAT.
5 Things You Should Know About a Heroin Detox Program
Heroin detox programs are designed to help clients safely overcome physical dependence on heroin and manage withdrawal symptoms. Understanding the critical aspects of heroin detox programs helps ensure their safety and effectiveness.
Here are five things you should know about a heroin detox program:
- Professional supervision is essential – Heroin withdrawal can be challenging, uncomfortable, and even dangerous. Professional supervision is crucial to ensure a client’s safety.
- Medication-assisted treatment – MAT eases withdrawal symptoms, reduces cravings, and helps prevent relapse. Common medications include naltrexone, buprenorphine, and methadone. MAT is used in conjunction with counseling and behavioral therapies.
- Individualized treatment plans – Everyone’s experience with heroin addiction and withdrawal is unique. A thorough intake assessment helps identify a client’s level of dependence, medical history, and co-occurring disorders. This information is used to create an individual treatment plan.
- Transition to ongoing treatment – Detox is the first step in overcoming heroin addiction. With heroin out of the system, the body’s natural dopamine production and other systems begin to start functioning normally, and clients are ready to begin recovery.
- Psychosocial support – Counseling, therapy, and support groups help clients cope with the emotional and behavioral aspects of addiction. Building coping skills and a healthy support network are vital components of a heroin detox program.
The most critical thing to know about a heroin detox program is that detox alone is not sufficient to maintain lasting recovery.
Contact Gulf Breeze Recovery for Heroin Detox Treatment
If you or a loved one needs heroin detox treatment, contact Gulf Breeze Recovery at 833.551.2304 or online. Heroin addiction is challenging to overcome, but it is possible. Let us show you how.
