Finding Heroin Addiction Treatment in the UK

What Are the Options for Heroin Addiction Treatment?

There are many different options a person has when getting help for a heroin addiction. Before choosing a specific rehab centre, a person needs to decide what type of treatment is most beneficial to their individual needs. Both inpatient and outpatient heroin addiction treatment are beneficial when the programme is taken seriously and strictly followed.

Inpatient Treatment

When a person gets inpatient heroin addiction treatment, they live at the treatment centre while getting the help they need. There is support available 24 hours a day. Inpatient (or residential) treatment is considered the most intensive type of addiction treatment available. A person attending inpatient treatment has access to everything they need while going through the recovery process. From detox to the day their treatment is over, a person will sleep, eat, and receive all therapy and treatments at the addiction centre.

Inpatient treatment is considered so effective because it removes a person from the immediate environment they are accustomed to using heroin in. Because heroin is so difficult to overcome, it poses a very serious risk for relapse. When a person goes to an inpatient centre to get treatment however, all they need to focus on is getting well. When the people, places, and circumstances that lead to heroin abuse are removed from the equation, recovery can be much easier to contend with.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient heroin addiction treatment provides what a person needs to overcome their addiction, but they don’t stay at the treatment centre while getting help. All treatment and therapy is done at regularly scheduled appointment times throughout the week. Schedules for outpatient heroin addiction treatment will vary, but are most often held during the days.

What to Expect when Getting Help for a Heroin Addiction?

Deciding to get help for a heroin addiction can be overwhelming to say the least. While very exciting and something to celebrate, it can be one of the most terrifying experiences to anticipate. If you or someone you love has decided on heroin addiction treatment, knowing what to expect can make a big difference.

Detox: The First Step of Heroin Addiction Treatment

The first step of getting help for a heroin addiction is going through detox. Before a person can overcome the mental and emotional facets of their heroin addiction, they must let the drug run its course in their body.

The physical withdrawal from heroin contains some of the most intense symptoms associated with drug addiction. Those with long-term addictions to heroin will feel flu-like symptoms that can last for weeks, making them extremely vulnerable to relapse when they are aware that a hit of heroin can make the often-unbearable symptoms stop.

In severe cases of heroin addiction, patients will receive a medically-assisted detox. In these instances, individuals receive medication that helps them safely and successfully get through the withdrawal period. Medications used in a medically-assisted detox are typically tapered off until a person is weaned completely off any medication for withdrawal.

How Long Does Detox Last?

The length of time a person detoxes from a heroin addiction depends upon the nature of their addiction. Everyone experiences addiction differently, and detox from an addiction is no different. How long, how much, and how often a person has been using will all determine how long detox lasts.

Withdrawal symptoms typically begin 6-12 hours after a person’s last dose, with the peak of symptoms at their worst happening around 72 hours. They will usually lose their intensity over the next 5-7 days, but may last longer if a person’s addiction is more serious.

Therapy

When a person gets heroin addiction treatment, talking to a professional therapist or counsellor will take place on a regular basis. Addiction therapy is designed to help a person discover the reasons behind their addicted state so they many begin to take the steps to overcome it. Through regular therapy sessions, a person will discover more about themselves and their addiction, as well as learn ways to overcome the problems that have led to their current state. Therapy offers the support and guidance recovering heroin addicts need to successfully overcome their addiction and move on with their lives.

Aside from individual therapy, a person will typically attend group therapy sessions as well. These group sessions can help recovering addicts connect with others that share a similar experience, which can be excellent in the rehabilitation process. Group therapy also allows a person to forge meaningful relationships that can support the healing process.

Treatment

Aside from regular therapy, a person will also receive various addiction treatment daily. The treatment a person receives will be dependent upon the rehab programme they attend. From learning new ways to relax and manage stress to developing new patterns of thinking and behaviour, all the treatment a person receives will help guide them away from the need they feel to use. The various treatments a person receives when getting help for a heroin addiction will offer patients the tools they need to not only overcome their addiction, but to sustain their sobriety when treatment is over.

Aftercare: What to Expect after Treatment Is Over?

Heroin addiction treatment doesn’t end when a person is finished with their programme. Most treatment programmes run 30, 60, or 90 days and are followed by an aftercare treatment plan. Aftercare is an essential part of heroin addiction treatment that is designed to ensure a person is equipped with support necessary to stay sober. A person who takes aftercare seriously exponentially increases their chances for a future free from heroin.

Continued therapy is common as part of aftercare, as it can help a person talk about any issues they are facing once out of treatment. 12-step programmes like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are also popular. These free addiction support programmes have been providing support to those in recovery for decades.

Find the Ideal Heroin Addiction Treatment in the UK

We believe that everyone facing addiction should have access to the support they need. If you or someone you love is battling an addiction to heroin, please call us immediately to see how we can help. We are in touch with several rehab centres offering heroin addiction treatment in the UK. We’re here to answer any questions you have. If you decide that treatment is something you’d like to pursue, we’re here to help with finding you the best rehab centre to fit your needs.