In 2020, around 902,000 people had reportedly used heroin within the last 12 months. These numbers only included people over the age of 12 years old. Heroin addiction is more common than most of us would like to acknowledge. That is why heroin detox is so important when you see signs of a heroin addict.
This is a very serious drug addiction that requires specialized treatment. Rehab and aftercare are going to be the best options for long-term results.
Keep reading to find out more about what a heroin detox includes and heroin addiction symptoms.
What Does a Heroin Detox Include?
Before going in for a heroin detox, you probably want to know what to expect. This can be a scary step to take, but it is absolutely necessary for your future.
The symptoms of heroin addiction are very severe and life-altering. To live a normal life, you will need to beat this addiction so that you can live the life that you deserve.
Your road to recovery is going to start during your addiction treatment program. This is going to be something that helps you to detox and get clean so that you can move forward.
Detoxification
Any drug addiction program should include a detoxification stage. This is going to be the stage that is going to be the hardest since you are going to be struggling with heroin addict symptoms.
During detox, you are going to be experiencing all of the symptoms under supervision. A detoxification program should provide medical withdrawal management in a controlled environment.
You will be surrounded by trained professionals who are there to help you get through this stage. They will also be there to make sure you are handling the symptoms safely.
Inpatient Care
Once you have made your way through detoxification, you will become a residential inpatient. You will move into the facility and live there during this part of the program.
You will be fully clean by this time and will start a program that is catered specifically to you. This will usually include different forms of therapy and forms of lifestyle treatment.
You will live in the facility with other residents and with the staff. You will always have access to experts if you need help, and they are there to guide you during this process.
Aftercare
Once you have finished your heroin addict rehab, you will leave the facility. But this does not mean that your treatment is entirely over just yet.
Aftercare comes next since this can be the most critical part of your rehab. You should have an aftercare plan already set up that you have discussed with the experts.
They will be there to help you if you find yourself struggling after leaving the facility. You will also be set up with your sobriety goals to help you stick to the right path.
Heroin Addiction Symptoms
Heroin detox is very difficult and something that makes many people nervous. The heroin addiction symptoms are quite severe and can be very difficult to manage.
Everyone is going to be different, but there are certain symptoms that you can expect to have. This would include common detox symptoms such as:
- Bone pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Cold flashes
- Mood swings
- Muscle cramping
- Depression
These are just a few common symptoms that many heroin addicts experience. Although, there is no way of knowing exactly what you are going to feel like during this process.
Part of what makes heroin recovery so important is that you are surrounded by experts. These people will be available to help you during your detox so that you stay safe.
They will also be there for moral support to help you if you struggle to manage the symptoms.
How Long Does Heroin Detoxification Take?
If you want a heroin detox, you probably want to know how long this process takes. Detoxification can take quite a while, but it is going to be a bit different for everyone.
For most people, severe symptoms of detoxification last a week or a little less than a week. General detoxification lasts for up to two weeks for most.
You can usually expect detoxification to last 2 to 3 weeks before you moved to the next step. That being said, this does not mean that you won’t feel the after-effects of this addiction.
Some people continue to feel the after-effects of heroin addiction up to a year after being clean. This is because it has such a direct impact on your body that is not going to go away immediately.
What to Expect During Detoxification
If you are going to rehab, you want to try to prepare yourself for what’s going to happen. Everyone has a different experience, but you should prepare yourself for a mental battle.
It is going to be both a mental and physical battle to get through your heroin addiction. You will need to be willing to accept help from others and work through your internal issues.
The only way detox will be effective is if you embrace it completely. You will want to be prepared for all the negative effects of detoxification with the knowledge that it is for the greater good.
If you have any fears, these are things that you can discuss with the treatment facility before detoxification. They will be able to answer all of your questions and help to ease your mind.
Importance of Heroin Addiction Treatments
If you need to go through heroin detox, you may not know what to expect. As scary as this step can be, it is very important to seek out support systems and treatment for this addiction.
Do you need a support system for recovery? Contact us today at Altitude Recovery Community for treatment options.
