Accepting the Need of Heroin Rehab

Heroin is one of the most addictive drugs there are. And while heroin use isn’t as widespread in the UK as it has become in other parts of the world, the effects of heroin are devastating no matter what statistics might say. An addiction to heroin is one that will completely destroy a person’s life if not taken care of. Of the many people who have beat this deadly addiction, getting help at a heroin rehab centre has most likely played an integral role.

Going to rehab to overcome a heroin addiction offers the addict exactly the tools they need to make a successful recovery. Whether you are considering treatment options for yourself or a loved one, there is an option for everyone when it comes to getting help for heroin. Recognising an addiction is the first step. When treatment follows soon after, the likelihood a person will overcome their addiction increases exponentially. Heroin rehab has helped even the most critical cases of addiction to this alarmingly serious substance.

How to Recognise the Heroin Addict?

For many people, becoming hooked on heroin happens soon after they first experiment with the drug. Knowing when you or a loved one’s heroin habit slips from casual use (of which there is virtually none) to a full-blown addiction is extremely important. An addiction to heroin can be deadly. Knowing what to look for can truly save your life or the life of someone you love.

Heroin addiction will start with an increased tolerance toward the drug. A person will need higher doses every time they want to achieve their desired high. Physical withdrawal symptoms are most often very intense and include vomiting, nausea, shaking, sweating, and chills. These symptoms will become apparent when a person stops using the drug. Anxiety, depression, and irritability will also show up as psychological withdrawal symptoms.

What Is Heroin Withdrawal?

The withdrawal a person experiences when coming off heroin can be excruciating. Heroin holds one of the most intense highs and comes with some of the lowest lows. The euphoria a person feels on heroin can make a person feel amazing. The come down though, is often what keeps people addicted to this very dangerous drug. When heroin begins to wear off, the withdrawal symptoms can become unbearable.

People that have developed a tolerance to heroin will immediately notice when the drug begins to wear off. Because heroin use causes significant changes to the way the brain functions, coming off the drug is often terrible. The symptoms of heroin withdrawal are often compared to the worst case of the flu a person has ever had. These symptoms include hot and cold flashes, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, shaking, sweats, and intense bone pain. The intense withdrawal symptoms of heroin can keep a person locked into their addiction for years. Physical symptoms will be more intense depending on how severe a person’s addiction to heroin is.

The intense cravings a person feels when coming off the drug can be overwhelming as well. These cravings can be extremely tenacious and occupy all thoughts in a person’s mind. If you’ve never experienced heroin addiction, the cravings can be compared to the feeling someone might get when lost in the desert without water. Like hunger after you haven’t had anything to eat for days. These feelings are mild in comparison to what a heroin addict might experience. The problem with heroin addiction is the extreme psychological cravings don’t seem to get better with time.

Some things a person might experience when coming off heroin include anxiety, restlessness, and depression. It can be impossible to concentrate and completely destroy a person’s level of focus. The inability to feel pleasure when not using is common, something that will keep heroin users slave to their addiction until they can get the help they need.

Other signs of heroin withdrawal include tearing, excessive yawning, goose bumps, extreme fatigue, runny nose, and abdominal cramps. If you recognise any of these symptoms in yourself or someone you love, it’s vitally important you get help as soon as possible. A heroin addiction can spin quickly out of control and completely take over a person’s life before they even know what’s happened.

Where to Get Help for Heroin Addiction?

Heroin is one of the hardest drugs to overcome once a person has developed an addiction. An acute heroin addiction is one of the most devastating misfortunes that can happen to a person. Due to the nature of heroin addiction, it is particularly hard to overcome. When someone has a heroin addiction, it doesn’t matter if they’ve got all the willpower in the world. Not using is simply not an option for those who have developed a critical case of heroin addiction. The withdrawal symptoms are simply too intense to handle.

Getting treatment for heroin addiction is usually the only way to overcome this unfortunate addiction. Cold turkey doesn’t cut it when it comes to heroin addiction. For those that try to quit on their own, it isn’t long before they’re back on this terribly addictive substance.

What Are the Different Options for Heroin Rehab?

Fortunately, there are several options when it comes to heroin rehab. This addiction most often requires an intensive treatment programme, yet overcoming it possible. Choosing between a residential heroin rehab and outpatient treatment it the first decision someone will make before choosing the actual centre they attend.

Residential Heroin Rehab

One of the most effective treatments for overcoming an addiction to something a serious as heroin is residential rehab. In a residential setting (also known as inpatient rehab), a person will stay at the treatment centre the entire duration they are receiving help for their heroin addiction. All treatment from detox to the moment a patient walks out the door after they’ve completed their programme, is done at the treatment facility.

Choosing to go to residential heroin rehab is one of the best decisions a person can make who is facing an addiction this serious. This is because residential rehab removes a person from their immediate environment where there are endless circumstances and situations that can trigger relapse. When these outside societal and social pressures are eliminated, the chances of successful recovery increase exponentially.

What to Expect at a Residential Treatment

All methods of therapy and necessary treatments are done at the residential facility. After a person completes intake, they will immediately begin the steps to overcoming their addiction to heroin.

Detox

The first step in overcoming any addiction is going through the detox process. As stated, the withdrawal symptoms of heroin can become so intense a person feels they have no choice but to use. Many cases of heroin withdrawal will be done through a medically assisted detox. This is when withdrawal symptoms are so intense that a person needs medication to help them through the process.

The length of time a person experiences detox from heroin is contingent upon the factors that contribute to their addictive state. A person with a heavy heroin habit that has been using for years will experience detox for the longest length of time. In acute cases of heroin addiction, the detox process can last as long as two weeks or more. For milder cases of the addiction, detox might last five to ten days. Peak withdrawal symptoms will be apparent after approximately 24 hours and can last up to three days.

Therapy

Receiving therapy as part of treatment for a heroin addiction is an integral part of the rehab process. Therapy includes regular sessions with a licensed counsellor or therapist and is designed to help the addict come to a better understanding of their addiction. No one starts using heroin with the intention of becoming an addict. Addiction is subconsciously used as something to numb the painful emotions a person feels. Many addiction stem from past trauma, and the therapy a person receives can help someone better understand the reasons behind their current addicted state.

Therapy will not only include daily individual sessions, but will be consist of group therapy meetings as well. The ability to connect with other people who share a similar experience can be unsurpassed in regard to overcoming an addiction to heroin. Heroin abuse can destroy the relationships a person has with friends and family, making the connections forged during group therapy even more beneficial to the recovery process.

Treatments

Different treatments are offered as part of a comprehensive addiction treatment plan that assists a person in overcoming their addiction. The treatment you receive for your addiction will be dependent on the heroin rehab centre you choose. The aim of various treatments is to help a person better understand their addiction, as well as give them the tools they need to stay sober once treatment is over. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), tools to help a person integrate back into society, 12-step programmes such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA), various holistic treatments such as yoga, meditation, and acupuncture, sound therapy, and music therapy might all be used as treatments in an inpatient setting to help a person overcome their addiction to heroin.

Outpatient Heroin Rehab

For the person who cannot take the time away to attend an inpatient addiction treatment, an outpatient setting can give them the help they need while they go about their everyday responsibilities. An outpatient programme is less intensive than inpatient rehab, and a person is responsible for going to scheduled appointments each week. While inpatient therapy will focus an individual’s entire time on treatment, an outpatient centre will offer help approximately 10-12 hours a week.

While outpatient rehab can be extremely beneficial, it’s best suited for those with addictions to heroin that aren’t severe. Because a person isn’t removed from their home environment and familiar surrounds during their treatment, it can be extremely difficult to resist the urge to use. Outpatient rehab is often used as part of a long-term treatment option for those who need extra help once inpatient rehab is over.

Helping You Find the Ideal Heroin Rehab

We understand how difficult it can be to struggle with a heroin addiction. Whether you are dealing with your own issues regarding heroin, or have a loved one who is, knowing your different treatment options can be lifesaving. Heroin is an addiction that can progress very quickly, and once it’s got a person hooked, it’s often impossible for them to overcome it on their own.

We are here to help in you find the best treatment to help overcome the addiction to heroin you face in your life. Whether you are addicted and have questions regarding rehab, or you want to see a loved one get the help they need, we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions you might have. No one deserves to continue to fight an addiction to this dangerous drug. There is an end in sight. Call us now to see how we can help you out of this nightmare and back to the freedom you so deserve.

We are in touch with some of the best heroin rehab centres in the UK and can help find anyone the help they need, regardless of the situation they’re in. From affordable inpatient services to some outpatient centres covered by NHS, there is truly an option for anyone looking to escape the horror of an addiction to heroin.