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Of all the drugs out there, heroin and other powerful opioids are among the most addictive. Its high is incredibly euphoric but the inevitable comedown is emotionally and physically excruciating.
Detoxing from heroin should always be done under trained medical supervision. Our Orange County heroin detox program offers a safe place to recover from the withdrawal symptoms of heroin addiction.
Beyond extreme discomfort and a high risk of relapse, withdrawal from heroin and other opioids can even have life-threatening consequences. Detoxing alone at home or going through a “cold turkey” approach is exceptionally difficult and typically results in unsuccessful recovery. By undergoing a professional heroin detox in Orange County, an addict can get the support that they need and minimize the risk of self-harm or relapse.
What starts as doctor-prescribed pain management can quickly turn into substance abuse. According to the American Psychiatric Association, “2 million people in the United States have a substance use disorder related to prescription opioid pain medication.” After building a liking towards opioids such as Vicodin or OxyContin, some may move on to a more powerful and more affordable street drug — heroin.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that Opioids, like heroin, are currently the leading cause of drug overdose death in the US. Opioids were involved in 47,600 overdose deaths in 2017, which accounted for over 67% of the overall overdose deaths.
In the early stages of drug abuse, a user might not immediately notice its side effects. It’s not like a painful morning after heaving drinking; its early users will most likely think back of their usage as a simply pleasant memory. And considering the street price and availability of heroin, it’s easy for people to get hooked.
Unfortunately, what usually starts as experimental or occasional heroin use can rapidly develop into a life-threatening habit. Once the cycle has begun, users usually take in more, building a strong physical dependence in addition to a psychological one.
An addict will then take increasingly higher dosages of heroin to attempt to experience any positive effects. As the dosage increases, so does the likelihood of fatally overdosing. Because of the inconsistency in the strength of different batches of heroin, a user may not know how much of the abused drug they’ve taken until it is too late.
There are a few different strategies in approaching a heroin detox. They often include the assistance of medicines to make the processes more bearable. Medications are prescribed for both inpatient and outpatient detoxification with the supervision of a physician.
However, outpatient detox is not recommended since opioids have such a high rate of relapse. It’s largely recommended by doctors that patients detox at an inpatient treatment center and continue addiction treatment for a minimum of 28 days.
Our treatment program’s trained medical professionals are also mindful of psychological symptoms like anxiety and depression. Patients throughout inpatient addiction treatment are given comforting amenities, especially during the detox stage.
All opioids produce similar withdrawal symptoms, including heroin. You may hear this referred to as opioid withdrawal syndrome. Sometimes the symptoms of withdrawal are so uncomfortable that an addict will relapse and begin using heroin or opiates again just to avoid their symptoms.
The timeline for heroin withdrawal depends on the physiology and the severity of their addiction to heroin. Typically, the initial comedown from heroin will last between eight to twelve hours after the most recent usage.
The worst symptoms of withdrawal will usually occur one to three days into the detox process. The process of heroin withdrawal generally ends about a week into abstinence from heroin but can last up to three weeks.
Though these severely unbearable symptoms aren’t always dangerous. However, if left alone, dehydration and immobility from diarrhea and vomiting can potentially be fatal. These manifestations are also detrimental to a person’s brain and mental state.
As stated above, many opioid withdrawals are treated with medicines. Such medications are approved by the FDA, deemed safe and effective. There is no point in needless suffering. Despite some beliefs, there is no correlation between suffering from opioid withdrawal syndrome and subsequent avoidance of opioids.
Known as the medication form, Suboxone® is better during the detox stage and is used for relatively rapid heroin detox programs. Its high binding affinity on opioid receptors can overpower heroin and other common opioids. Because of this, it can cause withdrawals if given to a patient who has recently used heroin.
Methadone is a long-acting opioid that produces much less of a high than one would get from heroin. In detox, it is typically dosed from 5mg to 10mg and lessened over 3 to 5 days. It’s only prescribed during the withdrawal phase, but may be used in opioid replacement therapy if one has failed treatment twice in a 12-month period.
Clonidine has been used for heroin detox since 1978, and unlike the other medicines used, it is not an opioid. It’s sometimes used “off label” for severe withdrawals. It’s not FDA approved for opioid withdrawal, however, it is approved for hypertension.
Realign Detox is highly dedicated to helping people heal from physical and mental dependence on heroin. We are one of the premier drug and alcohol detox centers in Orange County, California. We oversee addicts with a 24-hour team of licensed and experienced clinicians that can oversee the safety of our patients.
Our medical detox services in Southern California are a mixture of clinical treatment, addiction medicine, and uniquely, Nexalin therapy. With this comprehensive treatment, we address mental health as well as heroin abuse.
Recovery is a process that starts with a desire to get sober and the key to recovery is patience. Heroin addiction takes a great deal of personal commitment, effort, and time. Every addict on the road to recovery faces several challenges, but addiction can always be overcome with proper help.
