There are a variety of effective treatment programs for heroin addiction. The best type of treatment depends on the individual, but methadone, buprenorphine and behavioral therapy are some of the most popular and effective methods of heroin addiction treatment. The most important thing to consider when seeking addiction treatment is to find a drug rehab that specializes in heroin addiction and its treatment programs.
Heroin Addiction Treatment Programs: Detoxification
The first step of heroin addiction treatment is to enter a detoxification program. The primary objective of heroin detoxification is to relieve withdrawal symptoms while the patient adjusts to a drug-free state. These withdrawal symptoms can include extreme fatigue, flu-like symptoms, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, depression, anxiety and severe drug craving. Severely dependent users who are in poor health can be at risk for death if sudden withdrawal occurs. That’s why the detox period will be supervised by trained medical personnel who will monitor your withdrawal and make sure you are safe and as comfortable as possible.
Heroin detoxification alone is not a treatment for addiction, but it is a useful first step when taken before long-term treatment.
Heroin Addiction Treatment Programs: Medication-Based Programs
Certain medications may be used to help minimize withdrawal symptoms, help the patient wean their body off of heroin, and help prevent relapse. The most common medications used for this are methadone, buprenorphine and suboxone.
Methadone treatment has been used effectively and safely to treat heroin and other opioid addiction for more than 30 years. If taken properly, methadone does not produce intoxicating or sedating side effects, and does not interfere with the patient’s daily activities. Most importantly, methadone relieves the intense craving of heroin addiction, which is the major cause for relapse.
Buprenorphine is a new medication for treating heroin addiction and, in many ways, is a more attractive treatment option when compared to other medications such as methadone. The main advantages of buprenorphine over other medications is that it causes weaker opiate effects, is less likely to cause overdose problems, and produces a lower level of physical dependence, which means fewer withdrawal symptoms than methadone.
Another popular medication for minimizing withdrawal symptoms is suboxone. Like methadone, suboxone is a partial opiate that makes it easier for patients who are addicted to opiates to wean themselves off by reducing opiate withdrawal symptoms and craving during addiction treatment. Unlike methadone, however, suboxone is a safer substitute and it is easier for patients to stop using after treatment is over. Suboxone treatment is safe, but only if it’s done under supervised care. Overdosing or taking suboxone with alcohol, sedatives or CNS depressants can lead to severe complications that include disability and death.
Heroin Addiction Treatment Programs: Behavioral Therapies
Medication alone can be very useful when treating heroin addiction, but studies show that pharmacologic treatments combined with behavioral treatments are the most effective approach to enabling patients to stop using heroin and return to a more stable and productive life.
There are many effective behavioral treatments available for heroin addiction, including residential programs and behavioral therapies such as contingency management therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Residential treatment provides round-the-clock care and support in a structured environment that’s free of temptations and distractions. Contingency management therapy uses a voucher-based system where patients can earn points based on negative drug tests and use these points to earn items that encourage healthy living. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is designed to help modify the patient’s thinking and behaviors to increase their skills in coping with stress without turning to drugs.
Heroin Addiction Treatment Programs at Casa Palmera
There are many effective heroin addiction treatment programs. The key is matching the best treatment program to the individual. At Casa Palmera, we understand that addiction is a complex disorder and that there are many reasons why a person uses drugs in the first place. We focus on individualized treatment that’s based on a holistic program that treats not only the physical dependence on heroin but also the emotional and mental issues that have fueled the drug use. In addition to traditional methods of heroin addiction treatment, we also offer a variety of holistic methods such as yoga to help reduce withdrawal symptoms and return the person to a balanced state of well-being.
Don’t let an addiction to heroin continue to destroy your life or the life of a loved one. Call Casa Palmera today.
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