You are ready to stop using heroin, and you know that the first step to recovery is heroin detox. You probably already know how severe heroin withdrawal symptoms can be. Because heroin is a fast-acting opioid, withdrawal symptoms begin from 6-12 hours after your last dose. Your personal experience with withdrawal may cause anxiety when considering getting heroin help. You should know that heroin detox will be a much different experience than withdrawing without medical assistance.
What Causes Heroin Addiction
Many factors cause heroin addiction, but one of the most important is dopamine. Dopamine is the brain’s reward chemical. A few situations that release dopamine are accomplishing something, exercising, meditating, and eating food. Heroin and most other drugs cause a tremendous release of dopamine in the brain. This is what causes euphoria or strong positive feelings when you use heroin.
This is also what leads to heroin addiction. We are wired to seek out activities that feel good. Heroin provides an intense euphoric feeling, followed by a crash. As the drug leaves your system, dopamine levels fall, and the happiness you experienced gives way to sadness, anxiety, and even depression. Your brain tells you that using more heroin is the only way to feel good again, and the addiction cycle begins.
Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms
Heroin withdrawal symptoms are often severe, which is why a medically assisted heroin detox is so necessary. You should know that you will likely experience some withdrawal symptoms while in heroin addiction treatment. However, these symptoms are well managed, and you will also have a support system to help you get through this time.
Heroin withdrawal symptoms include:
- Intense cravings
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Body aches and pains
- Mood changes
- Headaches
- Fever
What Is Heroin Detox?
When you seek heroin help, you will enter a drug addiction treatment center equipped to treat heroin detox. You’ll have a treatment team with medical staff, a case manager, and addiction treatment staff. You and your team will create a specialized treatment plan that best meets your situation and needs.
You’ll stay at the treatment facility. You may think that since the facility provides a range of medical treatment services, it is similar to a hospital. You may be surprised to learn that the atmosphere is much different from that of a hospital.
Most facilities offer semi-private and private living areas, along with common areas that allow you to socialize with others in recovery. Your comfort is essential in recovery, and the atmosphere will be cozy and homelike. You’ll be able to participate in a wide range of activities that can help you form friendships and begin to feel like yourself again.
What Type of Treatment Will I Receive?
There are a few different types of treatment you’ll receive when you seek heroin help. Medication-assisted treatment is a group of medications that are used in withdrawal treatment.
The treatments recommended for heroin withdrawal are methadone and Suboxone. These medications significantly reduce withdrawal symptoms because they act similar to opioids in the brain. Unlike heroin, they will not provide euphoria. Instead, they help you to feel normal while in recovery. In addition, they reduce heroin cravings. Long-term medication-assisted treatment has been shown to increase long-term recovery rates significantly.
Drug addiction is more than physical dependence. There’s a psychological aspect as well. Addiction therapy will help you learn to cope with life’s struggles without using drugs. It can address depression, anxiety, and PTSD, which commonly co-occur with addiction. You may also undergo family therapy, which can help you rebuild relationships that became strained when you were in active addiction.
Seek Heroin Detox at Midwest Detox
If you are near Maumee, Ohio, you can find heroin help at Midwest Detox. We are a medical detox center. We also provide addiction treatment so that you can address all aspects of your drug addiction. Start the road to recovery with the support that you need for success. Contact us today at 833.647.0392, or contact us online.
