What to Expect from Heroin Treatment

When seeking treatment, finding a facility that understands what you are dealing with is important. Understanding heroin addiction means understanding the risks associated with long-term heroin addiction as well as the best ways to treat it. West Coast Recovery Centers aims to be effective in the treatment of every ailment. When someone is getting treatment for heroin use or abuse, they may be nervous about what to expect. Understanding what addiction recovery is and the steps that you take once in treatment will help to not be worried about what to expect from heroin treatment.

Treatment usually begins with detoxing from heroin and joining our inpatient program. There are different treatment programs offered to those who stay with us for heroin addiction. Many of these programs use therapeutic intervention to help our clients understand what makes them use in the first place and make plans to stay sober and avoid triggers. We also offer medical interventions such as medications, psychiatrists, and further care if necessary. While receiving treatment for heroin addiction can be overwhelming, it is important to know that there are options and a plan in place for our clients. 

Knowing the Risks of Heroin Usage

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that heroin is “an opioid drug made from morphine, a natural substance taken from the seed pod of the various opium poppy plants.” It can be a black or white powder or come as a black sticky substance known as black-tar heroin. Heroin is a fast-acting drug that can have long-term consequences. It is important to know that heroin can be dangerous or deadly if used for long periods. Many times it is necessary to receive professional intervention to stop heroin usage. 

The risks of long-term heroin usage include:

• Collapsed veins
• Abscesses (a painful pus-filled pocket of infection)
• Infections in the lining and valves of the heart
• Constipation or stomach cramps
• Liver or kidney disease
• Pneumonia
• Risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from needles

These risks may all lead to a risk of death if someone does not seek medical intervention soon enough. Long-term heroin usage may also have a risk of overdose, as the body becomes more resistant to high dosages. This means that the user is continuing to increase their dose to achieve desired effects, putting them at risk of overdose.

Heroin addiction can be deadly if not treated. It is important to find a treatment facility that can understand how heroin works and make the process of treatment easier. 

Understanding the Process of Heroin Treatment

Treatment for heroin addiction at West Coast Recovery Centers starts with intake to our inpatient program and detox. In detox, our clients are provided with a safe place to work through the effects of withdrawal. We assist our clients as they work through the beginning stages of addiction recovery. After detox, our clients join our inpatient programs.

Within our programs, we provide therapeutic intervention and education for our clients. These therapeutic interventions will help our clients gain the skills that they need to make a difference in their lives. We also offer medication interventions to help our clients as they work through the therapeutic effects of withdrawal and into healthier states of mind.

Knowing what to expect in treatment helps to remove the anxiety behind seeking treatment. While things may seem scary or overwhelming, understanding the steps it takes to get to sobriety will simplify the process. There are different programs available to those who are going through heroin treatment.

Therapy and Medical Intervention in Heroin Treatment

There are different forms of treatment available at West Coast Recovery Centers. This includes traditional treatment such as group therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). These therapies teach our clients the skills that they need to work through cravings after treatment. Therapy can also give our clients an understanding of their triggers and how to avoid them. Using therapy can be an effective tool for understanding how someone has ended up in addiction and how to stay away from it.

Another method of treatment that is available at our clinic is medication-assisted treatment (MAT). At times, addiction may be so severe that people need help to come off the substances. Some people may also need medications to help work through mental health issues. Different forms of medication can help someone in heroin treatment. Three different drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of opioid addiction, helping them work through their addictions.

These drugs are methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. They work similarly to how opioids like heroin work and help to manage the symptoms of detox or cravings. This helps to keep people clean. Another form of medical intervention is psychiatric treatment with medications. Taking medication can help you get into the right state of mind. Through these different forms of treatment, heroin addiction can be overcome. 

Struggling with a heroin addiction is not something that you have to do alone. Finding a treatment facility that offers adequate resources for people who struggle with heroin addiction is integral to maintaining long-term success. Heroin treatment usually starts with detoxing, where a clinical team helps you through the symptoms of withdrawal. After this, you will engage in our therapeutic and medical interventions to learn what will help to keep you sober and healthy. MAT, CBT, and various treatment programs will give you the skills you need to overcome heroin addiction. If you are interested in learning more about obtaining heroin addiction treatment, call West Coast Recovery Centers at (760) 492-6509.