There are currently about 1 million people across the United States struggling with heroin addiction, according to WebMD.com. If you’re one of those, know that there is hope. You can overcome your addiction and get your life back. The fact that you’re looking into heroin rehab options is a positive sign that you’re on the right track.
If you’re thinking about going to rehab for heroin addiction, it’s a good idea to know what you’re getting yourself into beforehand. This preparation ahead of time will get you in the right mindset for treatment and recovery, putting you in a better position to see it through. So what should you expect in heroin rehab?
Signs that Heroin Rehab May Be Right for You
For starters, while some of you may be ready to start making your rehab packing list, we realize that others may be unsure whether rehab is right for them or not at this point. Heroin rehab is meant for people who are struggling with heroin addiction and truly want to heal. If you aren’t ready to quit heroin yet, then rehab’s not for you right now.
However, how do you know if you actually have a substance use disorder like heroin addiction? Believe it or not, someone can develop an addiction to heroin just after using it a few times. That means if you’ve been using heroin regularly, you’re likely addicted to it. Other signs and symptoms of heroin addiction can include:
- Poor hygiene
- Weight loss
- Strange sleeping habits
- Excessive itching
- Strong cravings for heroin
- The inability to stop heroin despite negative consequences
- Mood swings
- Neglecting personal or work responsibilities
- Lack of interest in hobbies or enjoyable activities
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Paranoia and hallucinations
If this sounds like you, you may be motivated to quit your addiction right now. However, ending a heroin addiction isn’t that easy. The chemical dependence the addiction has created in the brain often prevents addicts from overcoming their addiction on their own. They need professional heroin addiction treatment instead. Enter heroin rehab.
The Heroin Detox Center: Your First Recovery Step
Once you’re admitted to heroin rehab, what happens next? The first phase requires weaning off of heroin’s effects on your body. This process is called detoxification (or detox), and it takes place at your rehab facility’s heroin detox center. This may be an onsite center or located at a different partner location. The detox process typically takes three steps:
- The medical staff will determine how much heroin is in your system and evaluate you for the presence of any other mental or physical conditions.
- You’ll receive supervised assistance to help you transition into a medically stable and substance-free state with or without the use of medication.
- Once fully detoxed from heroin, you’ll prepare to begin residential heroin addiction treatment and continue your care.
It’s important you detox under medical supervision due to the drug’s withdrawal effects. As you first begin transitioning off of heroin, your body has to physically adjust to the absence of the drug. This adjustment can often be unpleasant, causing nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, mood swings, increased anxiety or panic attacks, excessive sweating, tremors, and other withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms may be at their worst in the first few days after stopping heroin, but could continue to last for over a week in some cases.
If someone tries to detox on their own, the withdrawal effects may lead them to turn back to heroin to find relief. However, because your body is adjusting to a lack of heroin, taking a formerly normal dosage of the drug can lead to an overdose in some cases. That’s why detoxing under medical supervision is so critical. Plus, your heroin rehab facility will provide an expert team to give you safe, 24/7 care during the detox process, which includes as much withdrawal symptom relief as medically possible.
Heroin Rehab Residential Therapy
Because a substance use disorder goes much deeper than simply getting the drug out of your system, detox is just the first step. Heroin treatment centers provide residential therapy as the next phase of your heroin rehab journey. During this phase, you’re directly addressing the root causes of your addiction beyond just your symptoms so you can achieve actual long-term healing.
In many cases, heroin addiction is often tied to co-occurring disorders like anxiety, depression, or PTSD. If so, heroin may be used as a way to cope with these underlying mental health conditions. That’s why rehab for heroin will offer dual diagnosis treatment to also address your mental health disorder simultaneously. This may look like participating in evidence-based treatment modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy to help you heal mentally and emotionally, as well as develop healthier ways to cope moving forward.
If your addiction is rooted in trauma, heroin rehab will incorporate trauma-informed care to help you feel safe enough to discuss your past and feel empowered to move forward. Beyond talk therapy, heroin treatment centers will also typically offer a holistic component of rehab designed to heal your body, mind, and spirit. These hands-on therapies may include acupuncture, yoga, gardening, and snowshoeing activities meant for enhancing your life skills, as well as improving your stress management and overall health.
Come to New England for Heroin Rehab
If you’re ready to overcome your heroin addiction, have you considered rehabs in Vermont? We invite you to come to New England for heroin rehab at Sana at Stowe, nestled in the green mountains of Stowe, VT. Offering detox and withdrawal management services and residential treatment all in one beautiful place, our heroin addiction treatment program can help you achieve lasting healing and reclaim your life. To get started, contact our team today.
