Detoxing From Heroin
There are several methods for detoxing from heroin. Some people choose to €go cold turkey.€ This means that they simply try to muster as much willpower as possible and simply quit taking the drug completely. This approach is rarely successful, due to the fact that heroin is such a highly addictive substance. Other addicts choose to check themselves into a specialized addiction treatment center. Not all drug and alcohol treatment centers are equally equipped to deal with detoxing from heroin, however. Many addiction treatment centers only offer generic substance abuse problems that focus primarily on alcohol treatment. They simply aren't able to offer the intensive treatment needed to help someone successfully detox from heroin.
The first part of detoxifying one's system from heroin causes severe symptoms of withdrawal. These can include diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, and severe pain. There are drugs that can help ease these symptoms. The drugs that are used to help people through this difficult time of withdrawal act on the same part of the brain that the heroin once stimulated. Some common drugs that are used to ease the transition from heroin use to being drug-free are: Buprenorphine, Methadone, and Naltrexone.
Perhaps almost as important as the drugs that help stave off the withdrawal symptoms is the therapy that most recovering addicts receive. Whether they are inpatients at a drug and alcohol rehab treatment center or being treated on an outpatient basis, these individuals will be much more likely to kick their heroin addiction if they have regular access to group and/or individual counseling.
Studies have shown that detoxification from heroin is best handled by a combination of medication and therapy. Including both medication and therapy as part of drug treatment programs helps to return the addicted person's brain to its normal state sooner. This in turn results in a quicker return to more €normal€ behavior, a better chance at getting and keeping a job, a lower risk of contracting serious diseases, and puts recovering addicts at a lower risk of resorting to illegal activities to support their addiction. Of course, some drug rehab centers choose to try to treat heroin detoxification with only one of those two options (therapy or medication alone). Admittedly, some drug rehabilitation clinics have had some success with such a €one-pronged€ approach. However, clinical trials have shown that for most addicts, a combination of medication and therapy is the most useful treatment process.
The first part of detoxifying one's system from heroin causes severe symptoms of withdrawal. These can include diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, and severe pain. There are drugs that can help ease these symptoms. The drugs that are used to help people through this difficult time of withdrawal act on the same part of the brain that the heroin once stimulated. Some common drugs that are used to ease the transition from heroin use to being drug-free are: Buprenorphine, Methadone, and Naltrexone.
Perhaps almost as important as the drugs that help stave off the withdrawal symptoms is the therapy that most recovering addicts receive. Whether they are inpatients at a drug and alcohol rehab treatment center or being treated on an outpatient basis, these individuals will be much more likely to kick their heroin addiction if they have regular access to group and/or individual counseling.
Studies have shown that detoxification from heroin is best handled by a combination of medication and therapy. Including both medication and therapy as part of drug treatment programs helps to return the addicted person's brain to its normal state sooner. This in turn results in a quicker return to more €normal€ behavior, a better chance at getting and keeping a job, a lower risk of contracting serious diseases, and puts recovering addicts at a lower risk of resorting to illegal activities to support their addiction. Of course, some drug rehab centers choose to try to treat heroin detoxification with only one of those two options (therapy or medication alone). Admittedly, some drug rehabilitation clinics have had some success with such a €one-pronged€ approach. However, clinical trials have shown that for most addicts, a combination of medication and therapy is the most useful treatment process.
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