Essential Advice About Heroin Addiction Treatment
If you or a loved one is suffering from heroin addiction, treatment is the best answer. However, you may be feeling some trepidation about what to expect and what you need to do. There are few different things that can be considered essential advice about heroin addiction treatment.
Ask Questions
One of the best pieces of advice anyone can give you about heroin addiction treatment, is to ask questions. This serves a couple of different purposes. First, you will understand your treatment better, making it more effective. Second, you will find it easier to stay engaged and focused, which may result in a more successful recovery.
Know What Medications are Available
Withdrawal syndrome symptoms associated with heroin abuse are some of the worst known. This has resulted in the development of several medications that you should know abut. According to the National Institutes of Health, medications for heroin addiction treatment include:
- Methadone,
- Buprenorphine,
- Naltrexone, and
- Suboxone.
All of these medications can be used to alleviate withdrawal symptoms during detox, or as part of a long term maintenance program.
Participate in Therapy and Counseling
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are numerous behavioral therapies that are beneficial in treating heroin abuse and addiction. These are:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy,
- Contingency management,
- Individual counseling, and
- Group counseling.
All of these psychological approaches are effective, particularly when combined with medications, but it is necessary for people receiving these types of treatments to participate fully.
Get Continuing Care
The detoxification and intensive treatment process can be prolonged and incredibly difficult for those suffering from heroin addiction and leave them feeling “cured”. However, it is important to remember that there is no cure for addiction and the very high risk of relapse creates a need for continued monitoring and care.
Don’t Wait for Treatment
Another very essential piece of advice to those thinking about heroin addiction treatment is to not wait. Every day that you pt off entering treatment you put yourself at higher risk of overdose, disease, and incarceration. None of these outcomes is desired, but all can be avoided by receiving treatment now.
The Best Reasons to Seek Heroin Addiction Treatment
If you or a loved one is suffering from heroin addiction, you may be considering professional treatment. Even so, you are probably unsure if this is the best option, and may be asking yourself what are the best reasons to seek heroin addiction treatment are.
For your Health
One of the most obvious ways that a heroin addiction causes you harm is your health. Heroin abuse can very quickly take a healthy person and reduce them to someone on the verge of death. Some health effects include:
- Brain damage
- Severe weight loss,
- Infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis
- Heart problems
- Kidney and liver disease
These are only a few of the health effects of heroin abuse. Ending your addiction through treatment can lower your chances of suffering these effects and may even reverse some of them.
For your Loved Ones
Heroin is unimaginably destructive, It is not satisfied with taking your health, it must be the single most important part of your life. This damages your relationships with everyone that you know. No one is immune, including:
- Spouse
- Significant other
- Friends
- Coworkers
- Children
- Family Members
All of these people care about and are reliant on you, but are very negatively affected by your heroin addiction. Professional treatment can help you repair these relationships and get you life back.
To Minimize Withdrawal Symptoms
According to National Institute on Drug Abuse, heroin withdrawal has the most severe symptoms of any known withdrawal syndrome. It is equivalent to worst flu that you can possibly imagine having multiplied by 10, accompanied by intense cravings for the drug and the knowledge that just using heroin again will make all of this suffering end. Heroin addiction treatment can minimize or eliminate these symptoms, making it far easier to end your drug use.
Relapse Prevention
While it is very unlikely, it is possible to stop using heroin without treatment. However, doing so makes relapsing all but inevitable. This is very dangerous when you consider that the majority of overdose deaths occur during a relapse. Getting treatment will help you learn the skills necessary to prevent relapse and build a support network to help you in this endeavor.