According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heroin is involved in nearly 20% of opioid deaths in the U.S. Heroin is a powerful drug that can easily cause an overdose, which is why anyone with a heroin addiction needs to get help. At Jewel City Treatment Center, we offer heroin addiction treatment programs that can help you.
Understanding Heroin Addiction
Heroin is a synthesized opioid analgesic that comes from poppy plants. In the bloodstream, heroin becomes morphine, which creates a sense of euphoria and well-being.
In the brain, heroin binds with opioid receptors, which regulate pain and are in charge of the reward system in the body. Heroin abuse can change the function and structure of your brain, leading to the development of tolerance and dependence.
The high risk of developing an addiction to the substance makes heroin a Schedule II drug. You can find it in white powder form, in black or brown powder form, or as black tar heroin.
A few risk factors can make you more likely to develop a substance use disorder, especially one that involves heroin. These include:
- Being male
- Having mental health disorders
- Living with people who have substance abuse problems
- Having experienced trauma
- Having a close relative with drug abuse problems
There are many heroin addiction symptoms to watch for. These include:
- Weight loss
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Lying about drug abuse
- Disorientation
- Irritability
- Hallucinations
- Mood swings
- Euphoria
- Decreased personal hygiene
- Scabs or bruises
- Hostility
- Isolation
- Increased sleeping
- Lack of motivation
- Slurred speech
- Dry mouth
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Shortness of breath
- Flushed skin
- Constricted pupils
- Extreme itching
Heroin addiction symptoms can vary in intensity depending on how long you have had the addiction and your usual dosage.
When a person’s brain builds a tolerance to this drug, they will need to take more of it to achieve the effects they want. This is extremely dangerous because it can lead to an overdose. Heroin overdose symptoms are:
- Cold and clammy skin
- Bluish tint to lips and fingers
- Constipation
- Stomach spasms
- Pinpoint pupils
- Tongue discoloration
- Weak pulse
- Disorientation
- Extreme drowsiness
- Muscle spasms
- Shallow breathing
- Coma
Heroin abuse can be fatal. To get the help you need to prevent an overdose, turn to heroin addiction treatment centers. At Jewel City Treatment Center, we offer heroin addiction treatment programs that can help you stop using heroin and get on the path to better health.
Medical Heroin Detox
At our heroin addiction treatment centers, we offer detox programs to help you begin your recovery.
It can be frightening to stop using heroin because of the risk of developing severe withdrawal symptoms. Heroin withdrawal can be extremely unpleasant, leading people to relapse and potentially overdose.
The heroin withdrawal timeline can vary, but the most common heroin withdrawal symptoms are:
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Severe cravings
- Sweating
- Yawning
- Insomnia
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Diarrhea
- Cramping
- Dilated pupils
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Goosebumps
- Intense muscle aches and pains
- Depression
The heroin withdrawal timeline involves feeling flu-like symptoms for about 12 hours, with the worst symptoms peaking for two to three days before subsiding. You can also experience protracted withdrawal symptoms that last for a few weeks.
To help you avoid these symptoms, you can turn to heroin detox centers like Jewel City Treatment Center. We offer medical heroin detox so that you remain comfortable and safe.
At our heroin detox centers, we carefully select the detox medications that will address your withdrawal symptoms while also offering medical supervision to ensure you have the best chance of getting through this stage of your recovery process.
Partial Hospitalization
At our heroin addiction treatment centers, we offer partial hospitalization for people who need intensive treatments but cannot participate in an inpatient program. This treatment option provides more structure than outpatient treatment but still allows you to return home each night.
Many people cannot take time off work or do not have anyone to help them with child care, which makes partial hospitalization an excellent option.
As part of our services, we offer medication-assisted treatment. Our prescribers can give you medications that target opioid receptors and reduce the intense cravings that many people experience when they stop using heroin.
When you are comfortable, you can focus your energy on your therapies. Behavioral therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you understand your addiction and learn skills for managing any co-occurring mental health conditions.
Medication-assisted treatment is a relapse prevention tool that can make a difference for those battling an opioid use disorder.
Outpatient Treatment
For people who have completed heroin detox programs and who need continued support as they transition back to their lives, outpatient rehab can be an excellent option. At Jewel City Treatment Center, we offer this option for anyone undergoing substance abuse treatment.
Outpatient rehab involves spending a few hours every day at our center, where you have access to medications that can reduce cravings and behavioral therapies with mental health professionals.
You also have access to group therapy, where you can hear from others struggling with drug abuse. Isolation can be a concern for people in the early stages of recovery, which makes support groups a vital component of treatment.
If you struggle with mental health disorders, we also offer help at our center for these concerns. We understand that many people turn to heroin use to manage symptoms of a mental health condition.
With this in mind, many patients find that treating both conditions at the same time offers them the best chance of achieving long-term recovery.
After completing heroin treatment, you can also have access to alumni programs that offer ongoing treatment.
Turn to Jewel City Treatment Center for Heroin Addiction
If you have an opioid use disorder, you can turn to our heroin addiction treatment center for effective assistance. At Jewel City Treatment Center, we offer a wide range of addiction treatment programs and services to support you on your journey to lasting recovery from heroin addiction. Contact Jewel City Treatment Center today.
