Detoxing From Heroin: Why It’s Important
Heroin addiction is a powerful substance use disorder that can have a strong hold over a person due to the physical and psychological dependence that is developed on heroin after engaging in heroin abuse. In the depths of heroin addiction, it can feel challenging to see a way to overcome heroin addiction, but there is hope to find your way into a new life of sobriety, health, and stability. Your heroin addiction did not occur overnight. It progressed over time, and it is important to remember that healing from heroin addiction will take time just as your addiction did to occur. Addiction treatment is a continuum of care that includes many phases of your addiction treatment process including drug detox, inpatient drug rehab, outpatient treatment, and aftercare planning. Addiction recovery is a long-term commitment; ongoing support and guidance are essential for your success in maintaining a sober life.
The first stage in a heroin addiction recovery process is to address the physical addiction that has developed to heroin. Engaging in heroin abuse will cause a person’s body to become physically dependent on heroin to function normally throughout the day. As your tolerance to heroin increases, the amount in which you need to take to reach the same desired effects will increase. The more your heroin use increases, the more severe your physical addiction to heroin becomes resulting in severe difficulty to be able to quit heroin use cold turkey.
What You May Experience When You Detox From Heroin
Entering into a heroin detox at a drug rehab center Los Angeles, will often generate many questions from patients about what they expect while they are undergoing this phase of their addiction recovery journey. The first and most important thing to note is that while you are in heroin detox, you will not be alone during this life-changing process. At times at the height of their addiction, many substance abusers will have feelings that they are alone with no one to turn to. When you choose to detox from heroin within a supportive detox setting, you will have access to ongoing support and supervision from medical professionals and addiction therapists that will work to ensure that all of your needs and safety are being maintained.
Patients in a heroin detox will reside within the addiction treatment center throughout your detox program. During this time of transition and recovery, you must be residing within an environment that fosters healing and personal growth. Patients will be removed from any external distractions or triggers and remain in an environment that is centered around addiction recovery and sobriety. As you begin to experience withdrawal symptoms, you will be monitored by medical professionals who will provide effective, evidence-based therapy methods that will work to reduce the severity of your withdrawal symptoms and minimize any presenting severe drug cravings. As you begin to move through the withdrawal symptoms and regain normal functioning without the presence of heroin within your body, you will be ready to begin the healing process of heroin rehab that will support you in healing from the underlying emotions and deep-rooted traumas that have been contributing to your addictive behaviors.
Heroin Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms
Each person living with heroin addiction has their own unique history with substance abuse. Just as your addiction is unique to you, your time within heroin detox will be unique to you. Depending on the severity of your heroin addiction, you will experience varying withdrawal symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Common heroin withdrawal symptoms are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Increased body temperature
- Severe abdominal pains or cramps
- Chills or cold sweats
- Flu-like symptoms
- Abnormal or rapid breathing rate and pulse
- Abnormal changes in sleep patterns or habits including insomnia
- Elevated blood pressure
- Excessive sweating
- Muscle cramps or spasms
- Extreme pain in your bones or joints
- Severe cramping in your limbs
- Watery discharge from eyes and nose
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Extreme drug cravings
See which foods can help with drug withdrawal here:
Treatment Following Detox From Heroin
Recovering from the physical addiction to heroin is the first step in your addiction recovery journey. To effectively heal from heroin addiction and have long-lasting success in sober living, you must understand what has been driving your addictive behaviors and heal from the underlying emotions and traumas that have been contributing to your addictive behaviors. Heroin rehab can occur within an inpatient rehab setting where you can reside within the addiction treatment center to continue with a structured daily program of addiction therapy sessions and structured group activities. Patients may also choose to engage in an outpatient treatment program where they can return home each night after attending the treatment facility for addiction therapy sessions.
During your addiction treatment program, you will be provided with a treatment program that is centered around your individual needs and specific goals for addiction recovery. Each patient has their own unique circumstances with drug addiction which is why there is not a one size fits all approach to healing. Your addiction treatment plan may include some or all of the following evidence-based therapy methods that will help you overcome deep-rooted emotions or traumas while gaining the tools to maintain a life of sobriety:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment
- 12-Step Recovery Programs
- Medication Assisted Treatment
- Family Therapy
- Life Skills Development
- Relapse Prevention Techniques
- Holistic Therapies
Start Your Recovery Journey Today
At Muse Treatment, we believe that each person with an active addiction has the right to heal within a supportive environment. Patients are more than just a number within our recovery center. You are a person that deserves to be treated with leading addiction treatment methods with respect and dignity. Each patient will be provided with a personalized treatment program that is designed to treat the specific underlying causes of addiction while supporting you to gain the life skills and tools for relapse prevention that will ensure you can achieve and maintain sober living long-term.
You have what it takes to overcome your drug addiction and begin your recovery journey. Our team will be with you every step of the way as you discover the possibilities that life can offer once you are clean and sober. Our whole-person integrated approach to healing allows patients to heal from their heroin addiction within their body, mind, and spirit. Call us at (800) 426-1818 today and start your healing journey now.