Various types of treatment exist for heroin addiction since some people will benefit more from one treatment over another. Each person has unique circumstances and factors that contribute to their addiction, so personalized treatment is the best way to help patients overcome their heroin use disorder.
Below are some of the common types of treatment you’ll encounter at a heroin addiction treatment facility.
When a person stops using heroin, they can experience various withdrawal symptoms, including cravings and physical symptoms. Heroin withdrawal can be uncomfortable and, in some cases, dangerous to a person’s health. Long-term dehydration due to vomiting or diarrhea can cause medical complications that require medical intervention, for instance.
A medication-assisted treatment program can help you manage your withdrawal symptoms and make you more comfortable during treatment. You’ll be monitored by medical staff 24/7 to ensure the medication is working and that you’re as comfortable as possible.
Different pharmacologic treatments used during the detox process include Naltrexone, Disulfiram, Methadone and Buprenorphine. An addiction specialist will help you determine which medication is proper for you to help you feel safe and secure during your treatment.
A residential inpatient treatment program helps you recover from heroin addiction in a safe and sober environment. While you may experience cravings as you detox from heroin, you won’t be able to give in to temptation in residential care. You’ll be able to overcome the most challenging part of recovery under the care and supervision of trained medical staff.
Inpatient programs provide patients with a routine that limits the number of decisions they have to make to focus on their treatment rather than their cravings and uncomfortable feelings.
Patients will also have access to a withdrawal management program to help them manage their lingering symptoms. While the physical withdrawal symptoms can fade rather quickly, the psychological symptoms can last much longer. You’ll have access to medication if you need it and counseling to help you manage how you’re feeling.
Patients can also participate in an outpatient treatment program if they need more flexibility in their treatment. Some people have responsibilities in their daily lives, including childcare, work or school. Outpatient care allows people to maintain their responsibilities while improving their overall well-being.
The intensity of your outpatient care will vary based on the severity of your addiction. Some people will attend treatment for eight hours a day, five days a week. Others might attend meetings every other day for a few hours. You’ll also have access to many of the same treatments as people in inpatient care, including withdrawal management and various types of therapy.
Regardless of whether you participate in inpatient and outpatient care, you’ll attend various therapies to help you get to the root of your addiction. Therapy can help you restructure your thinking and improve how you view yourself and your addiction. Therapy will also help you treat any underlying medical conditions or trauma that could be contributing to your addiction.
Some of the psychotherapy and behavioral therapies used in treating heroin addiction include:
Once you enter treatment, an addiction specialist will help you determine which type of therapy is right for you. You’ll likely participate in multiple forms of treatment to get to the root of your addiction and improve your physical and mental well-being.
One of the most critical parts of heroin addiction treatment is relapse prevention, which equips patients with the tools to prevent triggers and cravings from causing a relapse. Substance use disorders are lifelong diseases and don’t go away once official treatment ends. Once a person reenters society, they may encounter triggers and cravings that could result in a relapse.
Relapse prevention helps you create a plan to prevent relapse when encountering a challenging situation. You’ll learn how to utilize coping skills and your support network in reaction to your triggers and stressors. For example, if you experience stress at work, rather than turning to heroin to cope with stress, you’ll learn healthy ways to respond to this situation. You’ll also have access to healthy alternatives to substances, such as yoga, meditation, journaling and hiking.
If you’ve never gone through addiction treatment before, you likely have some questions about the process and what you can expect. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most commonly asked questions to help make the treatment process more approachable.
When you’re detoxing from heroin, you may have concerns about how long the substance will stay in your system. Multiple factors will determine how long heroin will remain in your system, including:
In general, the withdrawal timeline will typically start within 12 hours after taking your last dose. The physical withdrawal symptoms can fade after about a week, but the psychological symptoms can linger. Official treatment will help you manage these symptoms and help you develop the skills to overcome your triggers and prevent a relapse.
Residential inpatient treatment programs follow a specific structure to help reduce stress and limit decisions for patients. While in inpatient treatment, you’ll have a set time to wake up and go to sleep each day. Once you’re up and have eaten breakfast, you’ll start participating in various treatments and activities to help you overcome your addiction.
In the morning, you’ll likely participate in group therapy led by a counselor to help you understand how your addiction started and how you can make positive changes to your behavior and prevent a relapse. After lunch, you may participate in more group and individual therapy, which will vary from person to person. You might be treated for addiction and mental health simultaneously during individual treatment, or you might discuss your traumas with a counselor.
You may have a few hours of free time toward the end of the day to participate in recreational activities, such as yoga, hiking or meditation. After dinner, there may be another individual or group therapy session to help you process everything you learned throughout the day and ask questions if you’re unsure about something.
Thanks to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) passed by the United States government, insurance providers must provide the same level of coverage for mental health and addiction as they would physical conditions. However, it’s important to remember that if you have limited coverage for physical ailments, you will also have limited coverage for mental health conditions and addiction treatment. Despite this, most insurance providers cover some level of addiction treatment.
Gateway Foundation accepts all major insurance providers. Part of the admissions process involves gathering your health insurance information, and an expert can help you understand your specific coverage.
If a loved one is struggling with heroin addiction, the best thing you can offer is your support. Before talking with a loved one, you should get advice from an addiction specialist to approach them in the best way.
When you talk with your loved one about their heroin addiction, it’s essential to remain calm. You don’t want your loved one to think you’re angry with them or accusing them of something. Remember that addiction is a disease, and once a person’s substance use has gotten to that point, it’s nearly impossible to control without professional help.
Be honest about how their addiction is affecting your relationship and their life. Emphasize that you care about their well-being and are willing to help in any way.
Some people might react defensively or angrily when approached with the reality of their addiction. Try not to get angry back at them and stay as calm as possible. If your approach doesn’t work, you can always seek professional help from a counselor to talk to your loved ones about needing treatment.
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