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Are You Wondering If Your Loved One Needs Heroin Treatment?

Recovery Centers of America

Authored by Recovery Centers of America

What kind of drug rehabilitation center is best?

If you’re concerned that your loved one is abusing heroin, then you likely have a lot of questions. What exactly is heroin? Or how does it affect users? Is it really like it looks on TV? How do you treat heroin addiction? Is there a drug rehabilitation center nearby that can help?

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially when you don’t know exactly what you’re dealing with. It’s okay. You have to start somewhere, right? And we’re here to help you. With this article, you’ll learn all about heroin addiction and heroin treatment in a drug rehabilitation center. Let’s dig right in.

What is heroin? How does it affect users?

Heroin is an opioid, which is a highly addictive drug derived from the Asian opium poppy plant. There are three methods for users to administer the drug to their bodies: users can inject, snort, and sniff the drug. Heroin travels at a rapid pace to the individual’s brain, resulting in an intense, but brief, euphoria. While using heroin, the individual’s mood can change often, their behavior may be inconsistent, and there will be a sense of withdrawal from daily life. Due to sharing needles, many users are at higher risk of contracting terminal illnesses such as AIDS. Over time, heroin use may cause liver or kidney disease, abscesses, pulmonary complications, and heart infections. Heroin overdose affects the user’s ability to breathe and may result in brain damage, a comatose state, or even death.

Is heroin abuse really like it’s portrayed in the media?

Television shows, movies, and even the news portray a certain image of heroin users. There is a stigma that heroin users are depraved people who constantly make bad decisions with no regard for others. It has also been illustrated that there is little to no hope for treatment.

Society often fails to see the true damage this type of drug dependency can inflict. A person’s addiction affects the user along with family friends and colleagues. In some cases, family members have to watch a loved one’s mental and physical state disintegrate before their eyes. Additionally, society often overlooks the widespread use of heroin. America is facing a heroin epidemic, and those affected by substance use disorder come from all walks of life.

Above all, the media fails to portray the successes of drug (specifically heroin) rehabilitation. There are programs for treating heroin available across the country.  Rehabilitation it is a difficult journey, however, there are many treatment options, and countless users have found their way to sobriety.

How do you treat heroin addiction?

Recovering from heroin addiction is physically and emotionally challenging. When someone stops using heroin, he or she can experience numerous withdrawal symptoms. For example, they can experience bone and muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and restlessness.

Furthermore, with the risk of extreme withdrawal symptoms, it is best to seek medical assistance when discontinuing use. Medication is available to help our patients through detox at our drug rehabilitation center. These medications may ease physical or mental symptoms and prevent unnecessary complications.

Is there a heroin treatment facility nearby that can help?

Recovery Centers of America uses a neighborhood-based model, with locations placed in communities most in need of addiction recovery. We believe that it’s beneficial for our patients to stay in their communities, be near to their families and friends while undergoing treatment, and near their doctors and a clinical support system when treatment is complete. Also, it is more cost-effective to rehabilitate locally, for both our patients and any visiting loved ones. For a list of our current and upcoming drug rehabilitation locations, please visit our website.

Our comprehensive continuum of care includes behavioral treatments along with pharmacological treatments. We are comprised of the best medical and clinical professionals who will ensure a comprehensive recovery program. We believe that our dedication to evidence-based, fully customizable care is an important step for your loved one.

For more information regarding treatment for heroin users, please contact us at 1-800-RECOVERY.

Authored by

Recovery Centers of America

Recovery Centers of America

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