Heroin Treatment

What is Heroin?

Heroin is a commonly abused drug derived from opium and manufactured from morphine. Certainly, it has taken the United States by storm, claiming thousands of lives every year. As a matter of fact, a major contributing factor to the opioid crisis is prescription painkillers. Oftentimes, people addicted to prescription painkillers resort to heroin when they can no longer afford their habit.

Heroin either comes in the form of a brown or white powder or a dark colored, sticky matter. Markedly, it can be snorted, injected, or smoked. With this in mind, once heroin makes its way into the system, it binds to the opioid receptors in the brain, eliciting feelings of pleasure and elevated mood. Subsequently lowering breathing rates and blood pressure. In spite of it producing an enjoyable high, heroin is a dangerous drug that can have life-threatening effects.

It can take only one or two uses before a person begins the never-ending chase of re-creating that first high. That being said, heroin addiction is remarkably one of the most difficult to kick. A medical detox facility is the best place to start the process. Our detox facility at Royal Life Centers provides 24/7 medical supervision and resources to make the withdrawal process as comfortable as possible.

Temporary effects of cocaine use (NIDA):

Dry mouth
Flushed skin
Heaviness in the arms and legs
Nausea and/or vomiting
Itching, sometimes severe
“Track marks” from injection use
Impaired mental function

Continuing effects of cocaine use (NIDA):

Restlessness/inability to sleep
Vein collapse
Heart lining/valve infection
Abdominal/stomach cramping and constipation
Disease of the liver and kidneys
Respiratory issues, such as lung complications
Depression and antisocial personality disorder
Sexual dysfunction or irregular menstrual cycles

Trying to detox from heroin or other opiates on your own may have serious medical consequences. Therefore, medical supervision and medication-assisted treatment at a certified and accredited detox center are essential.

Should I seek treatment for heroin addiction?

Indications of a potential heroin addiction

Engaging in other high-risk behaviors
Prioritizing heroin and planning activities around using it
A disinterest in normal activities/things you enjoy
Lying, stealing, or manipulating others to get heroin
Heroin withdrawal symptoms and/or cravings

If any of the warning signs mentioned above are apparent in your life, or the life of someone you care about, please call 928-910-8708 to inquire about our detox program. Regardless of your financial situation, we are here to help.

Heroin withdrawal symptoms (NIDA):

Insomnia
Severe pain in muscles and bones
Diarrhea and vomiting
Cold flashes, possibly accompanied by goosebumps
Leg spasms
Severe drug cravings

What comes after medical detox

Medical detox is the first step to take in overcoming a heroin addiction. That being said, it is against medical advice to stop treatment without continuing on to our residential inpatient program. The reason being that the success rate of guests maintaining their sobriety is significantly higher for those who receive comprehensive treatment, as compared to those who solely complete medical detox. However, we understand and respect that our guests decide on whether or not they will enroll in comprehensive treatment. We offer all levels of care in the first year of sobriety. To list, our two-week residential inpatient program aims at getting to the root of the substance abuse through individual and group therapy. Additionally, it provides the tools guests need to maintain their sobriety for years to come. If a guest wants to continue care with us, we encourage them to enroll in our nine-week aftercare program directly after those two weeks. Our aftercare program consists of partial hospitalization and outpatient programs to gradually prepare guests for a greater degree of freedom and independence. With the intent that by the time a guest finishes the program, they are ready to manage life, on life’s terms. In addition, guests with a job will be offered a bed in our grad housing after those nine weeks if they express interest in an extended sober living program. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our 24/7 admissions staff at (888) 716-4070 to get help for you, or a loved one, fighting a heroin addiction. Because We Care.

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