Heroin Detox Program In Houston
Heroin is an illicit street substance that is derived from morphine, which comes directly from the opium poppy plant. Right before the start of the 20th century, heroin was branded and marketed as a non-habit-forming medication that could alleviate pain and treat respiratory conditions such as bronchitis and tuberculosis. However, heroin quickly proved to be much more dangerous than beneficial.
Today, nearly 1 million people in the United States are addicted to heroin, and the vast majority of those people (80% to be exact) abused prescription opioids first. This is extremely common today, as countless individuals end up addicted to prescription painkillers like OxyContin, Percocet, and fentanyl before transitioning to heroin. There are several reasons for this switch, such as heroin is much cheaper than prescription painkillers and produces the same high. Also, heroin is much easier to obtain than prescription painkillers, as continuous efforts by lawmakers are making it harder to engage in activities such as doctor shopping (going from one doctor to the next in order to get several prescriptions) and purchasing prescription medications online.
Those who have become addicted to heroin, regardless of why or how, face several different consequences and challenges associated with their substance use disorder. For instance, it is highly common for heroin users to struggle to uphold their performance at work, keep a job, or find employment. Those addicted to heroin are also notorious for experiencing familial conflict on a regular basis, as behaviors such as deception, dishonesty, aggression, and irritability can interfere with the healthy functioning of relationships. Additionally, abusing heroin can lead to several physical and psychological health complications, ranging anywhere from minor depression to a chronic cough to suicidal tendencies and vital organ failure. As always, the more than an individual abuses heroin, the more at risk he or she becomes to overdose on it, which can be fatal.
A major misconception about heroin users is that they do not want to get sober. Several individuals abusing this dangerous drug want to get sober but simply cannot do so on their own and the thought of asking for professional help can be too overwhelming. Those who are dependent on heroin, in particular, really struggle with getting sober, as they know that once they stop using, they will experience any number of painful mental and physical withdrawal symptoms.
Heroin Dependence and Withdrawal
When someone is dependent on heroin or any other addictive substance, it means that their bodies and minds have become so accustomed to having heroin in the system that without it, everything can essentially go haywire. This means that the body will begin reacting through producing distressing symptoms such as abdominal cramping, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as thoughts of suicide, depression, and anxiety. Being dependent on heroin causes most individuals to avoid going without the drug to avoid these symptoms because they are aware of how upsetting they can be. Those who make the decision to stop abusing heroin on their own may have success for a short period of time but can easily find that they go back to using when the withdrawal symptoms become overwhelming. For those who are striving to get sober, getting trapped in this cycle of ending use but then going back to it are at risk for overdosing due to the constant fluctuation of going cold turkey then picking back up.
Thankfully, being addicted to heroin does not mean that individuals have to stay stuck in the back and forth of using and not using. At heroin detox at Taylor Recovery Center, individuals who are ready to stop using for good can get the professional treatment, guidance, and support needed to accomplish that and countless other goals.
Heroin Detox at Taylor Recovery Center
At the beginning of a patient’s detox, we at heroin detox at Taylor Recovery Center do everything within our power to ensure his or her comfort for the duration of his or her time spent in this part of treatment. We are understanding and empathetic to the challenges that detox can present, therefore we put forth the most comprehensive plan possible, which includes both medical and psychological elements.
Medical support
Withdrawal symptoms kick in quickly for most who are dependent on heroin. For some, it takes only a matter of hours to start experiencing painful symptoms. When a patient enters into detox at Taylor Recovery Center, he or she is probably right at the brink of going into withdrawal or already experiencing it. As soon as they get here, we get moving in doing everything we can to make them comfortable while detoxing. Not only does this include providing quiet, clean, and secure spaces to reside in, but it also includes the provision of continuous medical support.
Some of the top withdrawal symptoms that heroin users experiencing while in heroin detox at Taylor Recovery Center include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, muscle aches and sweating. Not only do we offer over-the-counter medications that can help better manage these symptoms, but we also provide medication-assisted treatment.
Medication-assisted treatment is when a prescription medication designed to help minimize the strength of withdrawal symptoms and cravings is incorporated into a patient’s overall treatment plan. When it comes to heroin withdrawal, the most common prescription medications implemented are methadone and Suboxone.
Each one of these medications is designed to trigger activity in the opioid receptors in the brain without causing the patient to get high. Essentially “tricking” the body into thinking that there is heroin still being consumed allows for withdrawal symptoms to be lessened in their intensity, making detox that much easier on the patient. Plus, both medications also help fight off all-consuming cravings for continued heroin use, allowing the patient to place his or her focus on the process of detox and what his or her next steps are.
Psychological support
While the majority of the detox process includes physical challenges, there are certainly several psychological issues that can present themselves when a patient is detoxing from heroin.
For starters, the stress of physical withdrawal symptoms can become distressing enough to cause a patient to become highly agitated and irritable. These behaviors can make it difficult for a patient to see or embrace positivity in their recovery at this time, as well as cause him or her to be standoffish to those who could otherwise help him or her. More commonly, however, are the development of symptoms associated with anxiety and depression.
As heroin is leaving the body, it is normal for a patient to feel overly anxious for a number of reasons, one of which being that he or she is not confident in living life without the presence of heroin. The patient might also be anxious because he or she is uncertain of what the near future holds and if and when he or she might have to focus on the events and experiences that caused and/or developed in response to the heroin addiction. Plus, the constant feeling of being out of control can easily offset several panic attacks and a general, overarching feeling of anxiety.
Patients who have stopped using heroin are likely going to experience some level of depression at some point in their recovery process. This is usually because heroin was either being used to help numb feelings, emotions, and pain that the user did not want to face, and/or because heroin has damaged the neurotransmitters that allow for the flow of dopamine within the brain. That depression can make it hard for patients to find the inner motivation to continue on with their recovery.
At heroin detox at Taylor Recovery Center, we have a team of psychological professionals who can help all of our patients get through the mental aspects of detoxing. These individuals will offer their expertise by being available on a regular basis to all patients, providing helpful coping skills and strategies to help see them through their detox. In some instances, patients may be prescribed medications necessary to treat their depression or anxiety, but usually when it is clear that one or both of these mental health conditions are not related to temporary withdrawal symptoms.
With a complete, full-circle approach to detox, we at heroin detox at Taylor Recovery Center help all patients who go through the process of detox feel prepared to move forward with additional treatment that suits their needs best.
Get Professional Help Right Now
If you are addicted to heroin, know that you are not alone. You are one of countless people in the United States who are struggling with the challenges that come along with the disease of addiction. Continuing to abuse heroin and ignoring the need for professional treatment, however, will only lead you down a path of even more destruction and possibly even death.
At Taylor Recovery Center, we know how intimidating it can be to even consider reaching out for professional help. We understand how scared you may feel when thinking about never being able to use heroin again. But we also know that there is life after heroin addiction.
By reaching out to us right now, we can help you gain your footing in recovery so that you can stop abusing this deadly drug and begin living a life that is worth living. Do not wait any longer. Call us right now.