Treatment for Heroin Addiction
Treating a heroin addiction frequently encompasses medication, support groups, therapy, and lifestyle changes. You can find treatments like this at both outpatient and inpatient facilities. Ali used these methods and is now staying at a sober living, living a life she never dreamed was possible. She didn’t know there was such a thing as recovery until she was introduced to a rehabilitation center.
Heroin is physically and mentally crippling to the abuser, because of the symptoms of withdrawal. Therefore, detox is the first step toward overcoming your addiction to heroin. It is recommended to detox under the supervision of a physician. The withdrawals from heroin can last anywhere from four days to weeks, however, your doctor supervising your detoxification period can prescribe medication to minimize the discomfort and help your body get used to a normal state.
The next step, after detoxification, would be therapy. Therapy will tackle the underlying issues that led to your heroin abuse.
Inpatient Rehabilitation
There are a multitude of heroin abusers who thank rehabilitation, otherwise known as rehab, for their recovery. Inpatient rehab will help remove the social factors that could possibly make it difficult to achieve recovery. Ali moved away from everything to make sure her recovery worked. She ended up making new, sober friends while in rehab.
During your stay in inpatient rehab, you will have a routine that includes support groups, individual and group therapy, and activities. All rehabs are different and won’t offer the same activities. Some rehabs will focus on mental as well as physical health, including exercise into the daily routine. Others will focus on nature and schedule hiking and nature walks. However, there are some facilities that are more relaxed and offer massages and equine therapy.
Outpatient Rehabilitation
Outpatient rehabilitation is recommended for people who have already gone through treatment and using it as an aftercare solution. It is not as intense as inpatient rehab. Outpatient allows you to get the therapy you need while maintaining a personal life.
Preventing Relapse After Treatment for Heroin Addiction
After treatment, aftercare is a must for individuals who want to stay in recovery. It is vital for anyone recovering from an addiction to maintain therapy visits to stay on top of their triggers and weaknesses.
Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous have proved to be effective in preventing relapse for all those suffering from addiction. Ali uses the 12-step program as a way of life and has been sober since.
Tips to Prevent Relapse:
- Keep up with your medications. Individuals who have been prescribed medications like anti-depressants or buprenorphine should not stop taking them until a doctor says otherwise. Stopping medication could cause you to not think clearly, making it difficult to get to meetings and maintain your recovery.
- Continue therapy and 12-step meetings. Support from a 12-step meeting or a therapist can prevent relapse and help you stay on track with where you want to be in life.
- Make friends who are also in recovery. Put yourself out there in meetings. Show people you want friendship and make plans to hang out with them. It will prevent boredom, as boredom can be a trigger for relapse.
Get Help Today
The heroin epidemic is taking over. There are overdoses occurring every day. Get help so that you don’t become a statistic. We are here to help you in any way we can. All you need to do is pick up the phone and give us a call. Recovery is possible. Ali recovered, and so can you.
