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If you or your loved one suffer from heroin use, you need professional help from professionals who care about your physical and mental well-being. It begins with recognizing the issue but has to include a comprehensive and integrated heroin addiction treatment program focusing entirely on your short-term and long-term health.
The professionals at AToN build their treatments on six foundations, including maintaining motivation, coping with cravings, managing emotions, nurturing relationships, balancing your life, and living with a higher purpose. The simple goal: helping our residents find their direction through an integrated drug addiction treatment model at a premium heroin addiction treatment center in California.
What is Heroin?
Heroin originates from morphine, which grows naturally in the seed pods of poppy plants in Asia and South America. You’ll likely encounter it in the form of a white or brown powder. In some cases, you’ll also encounter so-called ‘black tar heroin,’ a black and sticky substance. Most of our residents end up in heroin rehab due to smoking, snorting the powder, or mixing it with water to inject it into their bloodstream.
Its natural origin doesn’t diminish the potentially devastating effects of heroin. This is a highly addictive opioid that, when ingested, rapidly moves to your brain with potentially devastating consequences. With repeated use, the human body develops a natural resistance to its effects, requiring more and more drugs to achieve the same effects.
The ultimate results of this vicious cycle can be devastating. Every year, more than 13,000 people in the United States die from heroin overdoses. But there is some good news: between 2019 and 2020, that number decreased by 7%, showing that early recognition of the symptoms and treatment can make a significant difference.
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Symptoms and Side Effects of Heroin Addiction
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, heroin can be tempted by the immediate rush a user experiences shortly after the heroin enters the brain.
However, that rush is typically accompanied by more negative physical side effects as well:
- Flushing of the skin, similar to hot flashes
- Feelings of dry mouth and lack of saliva
- A heavy feeling in the extremities, which become more difficult to move
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe itching that seemingly occurs under the surface of the skin
In the period after the initial rush, drowsiness tends to set in, making it more challenging to think cohesively. Heart function and breathing also slow down, which can be life-threatening at their most extreme or lead to permanent brain damage.
External signs of addiction to heroin abuse are just as vital to keep in mind. These signs help loved ones understand that there might be an issue while helping the individual affected begin heroin treatment in a timely fashion.
The most common long-term external symptoms are:
- Depression
- Unexpected euphoria and mood swings
- Anxiety and avoiding others, even loved ones
- Irritability and hostility toward others
- Unexpected or extreme weight loss
- Delusions, disorientation, hallucinations, and paranoia
- Slurred, forced, and pressured speech
- Scabs and bruises from scratching the itch, or wearing long pants and shirts to hide those bruises or track marks
- Apathy and a lack of motivation are often connected with increased sleeping and periods of extreme exhaustion
- Loss of responsibility toward personal or professional obligations and performance
- Heroin dependence
Of course, other signs may also become evident to loved ones. Evidence of the drug, often poorly hidden at home or in the car, can be a giveaway. So can the possession of a pipe, burned spoon, or needles needed for the injection. Lying about being dependent on heroin, or even using the drug itself, also becomes increasingly apparent.
The Symptoms of Heroin Withdrawal
When a heroin addict stops using heroin after being addicted for an extended period of time, it’s common for them to experience a wide range of physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. The severity of these symptoms will vary depending on the individual and how long they have been using heroin. However, some of the most common symptoms include insomnia, nausea, vomiting, sweating, headaches, muscle aches and pains, increased anxiety and depression, irritability, restlessness, cravings for the drug and even hallucinations in extreme cases during heroin detox.
How Long Does Heroin Withdrawal Last?
The length of time it takes for someone to go through withdrawal will depend on several factors such as the strength and length of their addiction. Generally speaking though, most people will start experiencing withdrawal symptoms within 6-12 hours after their last use and those symptoms can last anywhere from one week up to a month or more in some cases. It’s important to note that while withdrawal can be very uncomfortable at times, it’s not usually life-threatening unless there are underlying medical conditions present.
Treatment Options for Heroin Withdrawal
Most people who are going through heroin withdrawal should seek professional substance abuse treatment programs in order to ensure a successful recovery. Treatment options typically include both medication assisted treatment which helps reduce cravings for the drug as well as counseling sessions with a qualified therapist who can provide emotional support during addiction recovery. It’s also important to note that many treatment centers offer programs specifically designed for those going through heroin withdrawal so it’s best to research your options before making any decisions regarding an opioid treatment program.
How AToN Treats Heroin Misuse
At AToN Center, we believe that treatment for heroin misuse and other opiates has to be holistic. Simply taking the drug away can be almost as devastating as continued use. Our integrated addiction treatment program helps residents suffering from heroin addiction recover with a short-term and long-term focus.
It begins with a detoxification process in which our staff will closely monitor, manage, and help residents who suffer from the initial withdrawal. That includes 24/7 access to a medical doctor and immediate transfer to a local emergency room if needed.
From there, residents enter our Residential Treatment program that moves from detox to other means of fighting the dependence and freeing themselves from the heroin.
Programs include:
- Medical detox
- Medication management
- Individual therapy
- Couple or family counseling
- Addiction education
- Skills development
Finally, residents can benefit from comprehensive aftercare to ensure long-term health and prevent relapses.
This type of comprehensive drug addiction treatment program is essential to truly fight the potentially devastating long-term effects of heroin. They help to ensure that the resident can return to a full and fulfilled life, closing the door on the chapter that was heroin misuse.
What to Expect at the AToN Center
At AToN, you can expect a person-centered approach to treatment for heroin addiction. That means we don’t shame our residents or use stigmatizing language. Instead, every member of our team, from medical professionals to intake coordinators and personal wellness staff, will always have the resident’s best interest in mind.
That person-centered approach builds on our philosophy, with which we ensure that no one ever calls our residents by anything but their names. Instead, we will pool all of our efforts to find your path to recovery and find direction.
That process may look different for every resident at our substance abuse treatment center. While other heroin addiction treatment centers near San Diego, CA, may claim that their one treatment modality is best, we believe that the person and situation should dictate that modality. That’s why we offer many treatment methods integrated into a larger plan to capture your unique needs and find your best path to recovery.
Come Heal in San Diego at AToN
People suffering from heroin misuse need a helping hand. We will extend that hand, helping you heal and rebuild your future in the process. We offer a variety of treatment options for people struggling with substance use disorder. It is our aim to support patients as they start the road to long-term recovery.
Call us today at 888-329-1154, or text 619-648-1954 if you don’t feel comfortable chatting on the phone.