Heroin Detoxification Treatment*
Most people have seen heroin withdrawal dramatized in movies. Those who have actually used heroin describe unsupervised withdrawal as painful, miserable and frightening. Though heroin withdrawal is not usually life-threatening, it is an extremely unpleasant experience and most who attempt it on their own return to opiate use before even getting completely clean from the drug.
If an individual has been using heroin daily, symptoms of withdrawal can set in as quickly as a few hours after the last use. The good news is that withdrawal from heroin can actually be less dangerous than withdrawal from some other drugs like alcohol or benzodiazepines. Research suggests that acute symptoms peak between 48 and 72 hours after the last use. Symptoms vary, but may include:
- Severe craving for the drug
- Abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
- Runny nose, teary eyes
- Chills and sweating
- Insomnia, restlessness and yawning
- Body aches, pain in muscles and joints
- Muscle spasms in legs
- Severe anxiety and depression
Even after these acute symptoms subside, residual anxiety and depression are expected. The lingering psychological effects of withdrawal can be debilitating. While getting through detoxification is the beginning of recovery, remaining free from heroin is difficult and most addicts return to using after a period of abstinence. One client described his experience: “I started out only getting high on the weekends with my girlfriend. Then I got a really ‘good’ connection and I went through some life changes and started getting high every day. Things got out of hand. I was able to kick cold turkey twice in one year and attended a few NA meetings. I accepted the first step; I knew I was powerless over heroin. But I thought I could drink beer. Then I’d end up drunk and somehow start with the heroin again. Toward the end, there was no way I could kick on my own.”
Morningside Recovery provides comprehensive programs specifically designed for individual client needs. For example, when heroin is used regularly, dependence occurs. Dependence is the manifestation of craving for the drug coupled with a host of withdrawal symptoms. Moreover, many heroin users suffer from co-occurring disorders such as depression and anxiety. If underlying disorders exist, properly treating them is critical for recovery since inadequate diagnosis and inappropriate treatment or medication can lead to a client dropping out. With this in mind, clients can go through the detoxification process with the use of Suboxone, an FDA approved medication that relieves the acute symptoms of withdrawal and curbs the intense craving for heroin and other opiates. The monitored start up of the medication by a physician usually begins 12-24 hours after a client has abstained from using opiates and is in the early stages of opiate withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are substantially dampened by the Suboxone. Thus, with the help of the medication, clients are able to participate in the early phases of their recovery without experiencing any severe withdrawal symptoms. When the client has stabilized on a steady dose of Suboxone for 24-48 hours and shows no sign of opiate withdrawal, the dose is then gradually reduced over time, until the patient is completely opiate free. During this time, clients with co-occurring disorders or those withdrawing from potent, short-acting benzodiazepines may take low doses of a long-acting, slowly metabolized anti-anxiety medication such as diazepam. The slow elimination of this drug allows the body to adjust slowly to a decreasing concentration of the benzodiazepines. All clients receive 24-hour care in a comfortable, supportive environment until they are free from both opiates and benzodiazepines.
Once free, clients continue to get the therapy and the reassurance they need to recover, refresh and renew. Detoxification is not just another break from life, it's the start of a new life.
*Detoxification services are not provided at Morningside Recovery facilities. We work closely with local, fully licensed detoxification centers that provide the highest level of care to our clients. If a client requires detoxification and is admitting to any of Morningside's programs, our clinical team will follow the client’s detoxification treatment at these local facilities. If the detoxification period is to exceed 72 hours, we will also begin private therapy and other treatment services at the designated location. Our consulting physician and psychiatrist will also follow each client’s case at this outside center in order to ensure a smooth transition into any of our many levels of care. Although outcome studies have shown significant increase in client success when receiving full or extended treatment services after detoxification, if you require only a detoxification without further treatment, we are happy to refer you to one of the highly regarded and trusted detoxification facilities that we utilize.
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