Heroin Addiction Treatment

Introduction to Heroin Addiction

Heroin is commonly found and one of the highly addictive drugs that is extracted from the opium flowers. These flowers are generally cultivated in Mexico, Asia, and South America. The most dangerous aspect of heroin is instantaneous physical and emotional dependence. About 1.1 million people in the US are struggling with heroin addiction. According to the study, more than one million children are engaged with heroin addiction.
This drug is a semi-synthetic opioid made from morphine, a natural opiate. It's often mixed with other substances, including fentanyl, a powerful painkiller. Fentanyl can be fatal, even in small amounts. The risk of overdose is high with heroin, especially if it contains fentanyl

Causes and Risk Factors

Heroin boosts the dopamine in a human body, which is temporary like the other drugs, but the side effects get permanent after every use. After consumption of heroin, the body gets addicted to this temporary release of dopamine and forms regular cravings for heroin.

Some risk factors for heroin are:

• Regular tobacco use
• Anxiety Disorder
• Unemployment
• Past addiction

Diagnosis of Heroin Addiction

There are certain assessments for the diagnosis of heroin substance abuse and addiction. Various tests are involved in the diagnosis of heroin addiction treatment, like urine tests, blood tests, and interviews to understand the stage of addiction. All these examinations and assessments are done under the surveillance of psychologists, which can also be performed under the surveillance of licensed counsellors.
However, a conversation with a professional counsellor can help a lot with heroin addiction.

Types of Treatment Options for Heroin Addiction

Detox The first step towards heroin addiction treatment is detox, where you learn to avoid any substance and heroin. You have to choose a rehabilitation centre where you get a supportive environment from the medical staff and doctors. Also, you will get all the essential medical care when your body starts getting rid of heroin. In the initial days of detox, you may experience some common symptoms like:

• Pain in muscles and bones
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting

There are some withdrawal symptoms that may be permanent during the detox period, like nausea, regular weakness, restlessness in the mind, etc.

Medication assisted heroin addiction treatment When a person is addicted to heroin or any other kind of opioid, they may need personalised treatment and support to recover. However, medication treatments, which are also known as pharmacotherapies, are used for heroin or other opioid dependence, which includes methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.

Before the treatment program takes place for de-addiction, it is important for the patient to understand what medication treatment is involved in the program. Here, an experienced doctor will be helpful. Moreover, the de addiction medicine will only be prescribed by a prescriber to the person who is heroin dependent.

Behavioral treatment Therapies and counselling play an important role in heroin addiction treatment. In this behavioural treatment, you will learn techniques to control addiction and desire for heroin. Another thing that individuals need to consider during the heroin addiction treatment is coping with all the traumatic events that happened in the past.

Relapse prevention therapies are designed to avoid any relapse and repetition of substance abuse. These therapies are essential for the long-term success of heroin addiction treatment.

Steps of Heroin Addiction Treatment Process

The heroin addiction treatment program is a complex process that involves several crucial steps, which are as follows:

Assessment In most of the heroin addiction treatment centres, the beginning of the treatment starts with several questions. The medical expert or counsellor examines your overall health condition and determines all the essential techniques that can be used for your treatment. Assessment is used to make personalised plans, so make sure about being honest with all the questions that are asked during the assessment phase.

After assessments, urine tests and other examinations are organised to determine the toxicity and substance presence in your body.

Detoxification After the completion of the assessment process, the next step is to remove all the substances from your body. This removal process is termed detoxification, which also involves several withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms indicate how your body responds and readjusts to sobriety. However, medically assisted treatment is also given to recover the individual from these withdrawal symptoms.

Treatment Now, after detoxification, you are ready to remove heroin addiction completely from your life. Furthermore, you have to consider the type of treatment that you want to continue. Some treatments that you can choose are:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Motivational talks
• Counselling
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Aftercare Once treatment is in its final stage, there are certain things that need special care and attention to complete the heroin addiction treatment. In this process, you will learn techniques about relapse prevention and how to avoid all the withdrawal and triggering symptoms.
Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre provides proper planning for aftercare treatment and support. We focus on providing multi-model care treatments that can contribute to the individual's addiction treatment.

Related learning: How to Quit Porn Addiction?

Effective Heroin Addiction Treatment Approaches

Heroin Addiction Treatment makes sure that the person is completely detached from any type of emotional dependence on drugs. However, there are three treatment approaches for heroin addiction treatment:

• Medically assisted treatment: In this approach, prescribed medications are used in the heroin addiction treatment centres. Generally, methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone are used to reduce the effect of substance and withdrawal symptoms.
• Behavioural therapies: An individual needs to leave the heroin addiction not only physically but also mentally. Personalised cognitive behavioural therapies are designed for effective treatment and preventing relapse.
• Inpatient programs: In this treatment, you will experience a controlled environment and support from medical experts and staff of heroin addiction treatment centres.

Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre provides health care solutions, quality care, and therapies that contribute to the quality of life. We serve as the best heroin addiction treatment centre at a very reasonable heroin addiction treatment cost.

Medically-Assisted Treatment for Heroin Addiction

There are several drugs that can be used to reduce the desire for heroin addiction. However, withdrawal symptoms also need to be controlled with the help of medications for a healthy detox process.

• Buprenorphine: This drug is used to treat the cravings of heroin. Furthermore, this drug can make the individual habitual if used for the long term.
• Suboxone: Buprenorphine and naloxone are used to make this drug. This medication helps individuals avoid the overdose of heroin.
• Methadone: this medication blocks all the effects of opioids and decreases the potential of getting high. This can be helpful for people who are struggling to stay away from opioids, as it makes the effect less rewarding to them.

Rehabilitation Programs for Heroin Addiction

Recovery is not the last stage of heroin addiction treatment; individuals have to go through the toughest phase after the end of the treatment. Heroin Addiction Treatment Centres provide a complete plan of aftercare programs that include techniques and ways to prevent relapse.

Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre is also available with inpatient rehab treatment and medically assisted treatment under the surveillance of medical experts and psychologists. We understand the patient's condition and provide personalised treatment approaches for an effective treatment journey.

Latest Trends in Heroin Addiction Treatment

Heroin addiction treatment has evolved significantly in recent years, with several trends gaining traction. Here are some of the latest developments: Integrated Care Models The new concept of integrated care models is getting common nowadays. This integrated care model is efficient, which includes counselling along with heroin addiction treatment.

Telehealth Services After the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth services are getting popular. Telehealth services have increased the accessibility of treatment for all the individuals who are unable to attend in-person sessions.

Trauma-Informed Care Traumas and horrible events that happened in the past are also associated with heroin addiction and increased cravings. After knowing about the trauma that is associated with the reason for addiction, treatment can be done more effectively.

Holistic and Complementary Therapies Yoga, exercises, hobbies, acupuncture, and art therapy are some other treatment options for heroin addiction. All these options help to reduce the emotional and physical dependence on substances.

Personalised Treatment Plans Personalised treatment plans are getting attention because these plans involve an individual's specific needs, preferences, and relevant techniques, which encourage the individual to continue the treatment.

Peer Support Programs Individuals can gain motivation and courage with the help of group support sessions. These sessions involve different individuals discussing their journey of heroin addiction and its treatment.

Harm Reduction Strategies Approaches that focus on reducing the negative consequences of drug use, such as syringe exchange programs and access to naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal drug), are increasingly accepted as part of a comprehensive treatment strategy.

Public Health Initiatives There’s a greater emphasis on public health approaches, including education campaigns about the risks of heroin use and the importance of treatment and recovery resources.

Research and Innovation Ongoing research into new medications and therapies, including non-opioid pain management options and alternative treatments, is promising for the future of addiction care. These trends reflect a more comprehensive, compassionate, and flexible approach to treating heroin addiction, recognising the complexity of addiction and the need for individualised care.

Success Rates and Effectiveness of Heroin Addiction Treatment

The success rates and effectiveness of heroin addiction treatment can vary based on several factors, including the type of treatment, individual circumstances, and support systems in place. Here are some key points regarding success rates and effectiveness:

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Medicines are vital for reducing the effects of substances and cravings. Also, medicines are helpful in managing all the withdrawal symptoms. Success Rates: According to the studies, the success rates of medication-assisted treatment are between 40 and 60%. This treatment gets more effective after combining with behavioural therapies.

Behavioral Therapies Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and contingency management are common approaches that mainly contribute to efficient heroin addiction treatment. Effectiveness: These therapies encourage individuals and provide a supportive, positive environment to improve their behaviour for long-term betterment Integrated Treatment Models

Co-occurring Disorders: There are various integrated treatment models that provide care for substance abuse and mental health disorders. These integrated programs have higher success rates. Success Rates: These integrated treatment models reduce the chances of relapse, and patients get better mental health conditions.

Research indicates that about 30% of individuals with opioid use disorder achieve sustained recovery after their first treatment episode, but this number increases with continued engagement in treatment and support.