Heroin addiction is an illness. It is not sexist, racist, or concerned with the amount of money you make; it can affect people from all walks of life. We imagine the junkie on the corner or passed out in the alley, but it can just as easily be the woman in the business suit sitting next to us on a plane. Whoever it is, the road to detox from heroin addiction is not an easy one to stay on.
Understand What You Are Up Against to Detox from Heroin
Because this drug quite literally changes the brain of the addict, withdrawing from it is very difficult. The user is controlled by the need to get the next fix. As time progresses, they require more of the drug to get the same ‘high’ as before. To pay for the drug the addict will beg, steal, borrow and even sell themselves. The need for it consumes their every thought and there is nothing they won’t do to get it.
Symptoms of Heroin Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms of Heroin addiction can begin almost immediately or up to 12 hours after the last ‘fix’. They become increasingly intense and can be overwhelming to the addict. They can include, but are not limited to nausea, vomiting, tremors, severe bone and muscle pain, diarrhea, sweating, extreme agitation and irritation, weakness, fatigue and inability to sleep. There can be hallucinations and psychosis brought on by the symptoms. The addict can become physically violent and verbally abusive. In most cases, unless medical help is obtained, there is a strong possibility that the addict will resume using heroin to stop the withdrawal symptoms as they progress.
Ways to Detox from Heroin Addiction
The best way, if possible, to detox from this addiction is to seek treatment by medical professionals. There are medications that can be given such as methadone or Buprenorphine that are opiate agonists to relieve or reduce the withdrawal symptoms. Counseling and therapy can also help add to success of withdrawal and can be done as either inpatient or outpatient. Usually there is an inpatient stay at a detox center to help through the initial withdrawal.
Rapid Detox using Naltrexone is another option. Although, this type of detox has some serious risks such as acute renal failure, changes in heart rhythm, psychosis, attempted suicide and death.
Many heroin addicts attempt to detox by going ‘cold turkey’ due to not having the means to go to a rehab or detox center. This is not recommended because withdrawing can actually exacerbate other medical conditions as it progresses and can lead to death if untreated. But, if you are going to attempt to detox cold turkey you should not be alone.
Have a close friend or family member there to spot changes that might need medical attention. You and they should be aware of what you are facing and what to expect. Have a plan in place to deal with the symptoms of withdrawal. The plan should include about 5 to 7 days of supervision; this is the amount of time doctors say it takes for the major physical withdrawal symptoms to resolve.
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