Heroin Withdrawal Treatment
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Heroin is a very strong recreational drug that can cause some serious problems to the user. When a person starts using heroin, it is easy for them to become addicted fast and become dependent on the drug. When a user wants to stop using the drug, they will need help from a treatment center and medical professionals for a successful recovery. Here we are going to discuss the variety of different tools a heroin withdrawal treatment programs can use to help a person overcome their addiction to heroin.
Detox
Detoxification is an important step in heroin withdrawal treatment. Detox is a process to minimize heroin withdrawal symptoms and any other medical complications that can occur. During the detox stage of treatment, the person will need to adjust to a heroin free state. This can be very rough for many users and harder for ones that may have been using heroin for a longer period of of time. The detoxing process isn’t treatment itself, but the first step into the long-term treatment and recovery process. Most people who go through a residential heroin withdrawal treatment program, will be there for about 3 to 6 months.
The most common detox heroin withdrawal symptoms are:
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Slow heart rate
- Muscle spasms
- Nausea
- Itching / rash
- Vomiting
Medication
Buprenorphine is the most used medicine for heroin withdrawal treatment. This medication is used more often than other medications such as methadone, because it has less opiates side effects and is less likely to cause overdose problems. Buprenorphine users also generally have less heroin withdrawal cravings once they stop taking the medication than users who use other medicine such as methadone.
Therapy / Support Groups
Therapy is a very important part of heroin withdrawal treatment. Therapy can consist of either individual or group therapy or both. Therapy and support groups are great resources for the user to learn about their addiction to heroin, to get support during the recovery process and learn how to manage and avoid relapse in the future. Many heroin withdrawal treatment programs, inpatient and outpatient clinics, offer intensive therapy sessions often. Many recovering heroin addicts have said that therapy was the backbone to their recovery.
Exercise
For most users, heroin is an escape from reality and daily stresses. During heroin withdrawal treatment, exercise is a very important activity that the user should take part of. Exercise can help the person overcome their addiction and give them a sense of accomplishment. Many rehab centers have exercise equipment and swimming pools for their patients to use around the clock. Swimming is an activity that is highly encouraged during the recovery process because it is therapeutic and a great exercise.
Educational Classes
There are different types of educational classes that a person can go through during heroin withdrawal treatment. Some different classes are nutritional, life skills and health related. The classes are a resource for the person to learn how to live drug free life, be able to manage daily life and cope with stresses in a positive manner.
Get Help!
It is important that you don’t try to overcome your heroin addiction alone. The recovery rate is much higher if you obtain professional help from a heroin withdrawal treatment program. There has been several people who have went through a treatment program and came out stronger and set free from their heroin addiction.
Resource: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000949.htm
