How to Detox From Heroin Safely
According to The National Institute on Drug Abuse, out of the people that try heroin, 23% become addicted to it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that those addicted to the substance are also likely to abuse other drugs, such as cocaine or prescription painkillers.
Heroin is not only highly addictive but also extremely dangerous:
- From 1999 to 2019, more than 500,000 people died of opioid overdose according to a CDC report
- In 2020, 92,000 people died in the United States from drug-related overdoses
- In 2019, 10.1 million people aged 12 or older had misused opioids in the past year. The same year, 745,000 people used heroin
Quitting a heroin addiction alone is difficult, and can be impossible for some. Heroin detox at a drug rehabilitation center is one proven way to stop a heroin addiction safely.
If you or a loved one are struggling with heroin addiction, call Zinnia Health at (855) 430-9439 to explore our heroin detox and treatment options.
What is a Heroin Detox?
Heroin addicts need the supervision of medical personnel to get through withdrawal safely and avoid relapse. The first step toward recovery starts by asking for help from the right heroin detox program.
There are many forms of treatment available to help with heroin addiction. Two of the most common treatments for heroin addiction are medication-assisted and psychosocial therapies.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three medications for use in opioid dependence: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. The first two are successful in preventing lethal relapses and cases of overdose.
Psychosocial treatment for heroin addiction involves therapy at a rehabilitation facility. This form of treatment includes working with a psychologist, substance abuse counselor, or mental health therapist to get through your addiction. We offer both forms of therapy at our accredited facilities.
How Long Does a Heroin Detox Last?
As a short-acting opioid, heroin will take effect quickly after being consumed and leave the bloodstream just as quickly.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that withdrawal symptoms can occur as soon as 6–12 hours after the last dose. Symptoms are likely to peak in 2–3 days and can last up to 10 days.
The first step in heroin detox is to flush heroin out of your system. However, heroin withdrawal can cause side effects that last much longer. Unfortunately, this is often the case, and severe symptoms can affect a patient long-term.
For instance, if a patient becomes depressive due to a heroin withdrawal, their treatment does not stop at the 10-day mark.
Patients may be required to seek treatment for months, even years, after they have a successful heroin detox. This is usually the case if they have psychological disorders from heroin addiction or withdrawal.
What Are the Withdrawal Symptoms During a Heroin Detox?
Not all patients going through heroin detox will experience the same symptoms. Withdrawal intensity depends on a variety of external factors such as:
- The severity of the addiction (how much heroin has the patient abused and for how long)
- What other substances they were taking
- Family history of addiction
- Other medical conditions
However, there are a few common symptoms patients might experience:
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Severe perspiration
- Abdominal and muscle cramping
- Diarrhea
- Dilated pupils
- Nausea
- Vomiting
In most cases, heroin withdrawal symptoms are not life-threatening. However, they could disrupt life as usual, making a person more susceptible to mental health disorders.
Depending on the above-listed factors, the intensity of withdrawal can be devastating. These are some of the more serious symptoms of heroin withdrawal.
- Depression
- Rapid heart rate
- Hypertension
- Muscle spasms
- Breathing difficulties
- Drug cravings
What Types of Treatment Are Used During a Heroin Detox?
Patients will receive detox medication in a medically supervised program and remain under supervision throughout heroin detox.
The types of treatment you will find in a heroin detox program include:
- Opioid medication taper
- Psychiatric evaluation
- Psychiatric medications as needed
- Medical evaluation
- Individual therapy
- Nutrition
- Group therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Meditation
- Breath work
Heroin rehab centers also offer additional therapy treatments to help people overcome their affliction and prepare them for rehabilitation. The following treatments are all recommended for heroin addiction:
Can you Detox from Heroin at Home or Not?
While it is possible to complete heroin detox at home, doctors recommend doing so under close supervision. Given its extreme side effects, at-home heroin detox can be difficult for the patient.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends a combination of medical detox and therapy treatment as the best and most effective approach. This ensures that your mental health is addressed along with symptoms of withdrawal.
At the peak of withdrawal, patients usually experience intense drug cravings. On their own, these cravings are hard to fight. And the moment they’re experienced, the patient is in danger of relapsing.
However, patients have a higher chance of overcoming their addiction by checking into a detox center. Here, they’ll receive support and tools to help them power through their addiction.
How to Find a Heroin Detox Center Near Me
Zinnia Health offers rehab programs in several states, making it easy to find a heroin detox center near you.
The best way to find the nearest detox facility is through the locations page on our website or by calling our support line.
Zinnia Health rehab facilities offer residential treatment for those looking to detox under full-time care.
Choosing a rehab program isn’t a matter of finding the rehab center that’s closest to you. Heroin addiction impacts everyone differently and finding personalized help for you or your loved one is critical to ensuring long-term success.
Graduates of our heroin detox and heroin addiction programs enjoy successful recovery even after graduation. They often share their successes with new patients to encourage them and help them move forward. Zinnia Health drug addiction programs have given many people a new lease on life.
Withdrawing from heroin is never easy, and we understand the challenges you face ahead. Our heroin detox and addiction rehab programs offer the skills you need to understand your addiction and the tools you need to rehabilitate successfully.
Zinnia Health offers many addiction treatment programs, including heroin detox for people struggling with heroin addiction. If you or someone you know has symptoms of heroin addiction or another addiction like alcoholism, we can help. We offer heroin detox treatment in a safe and supportive environment with clinical evidence-based therapies and medically trained staff. Our intake staff accepts calls 24/7 at (855) 430-9439.
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