In our previous posts we have covered what heroin is, the effects of heroin use/abuse, and withdrawal from heroin use. Now, let's discover how to get help and treatment for heroin addiction.
Half a million people may not seem like many in the overall scheme of things but if you are one of the people who has become addicted to heroin, or have a loved one who is addicted to heroin abuse problem this number may mean something different. If you are the user or a loved one, ONE user is too many!
Heroin not only has serious effects on the body, mind, and health, it can result in death. There are also a number of effects on family, loved ones, and society we will not even get into. The important thing is if you or someone you know is using heroin that you know there is help!
Some substance abuse problems can be treated without the use of pharmaceuticals. But, most health professionals agree some sort of pharmacological intervention is needed in order to treat heroin substance abuse. There are two main drugs prescribed to treat heroin addiction: methadone and buprenorphine.
Methadone: Became more widely used in the 1980s and early 1990s by methadone clinics treating heroin addicts. Methadone is a synthetic opiate - made by humans. This medication blocks heroin effects for about 24 hours. Because the body builds resistance to heroin (another opiate) it takes a high dosage of methadone to treat someone with a heroin abuse problem.
Methadone may be used in pregnant heroin users to limit the effects on the fetus. Because methadone is also an opiate it may also be addictive. When administered properly methadone can be very effective part of treating heroin addiction.
Buprenorphine: This drug is also used to treat addiction to other opiates. (Some people treated for heroin substance abuse will become addicted to and then have that treated by buprenorphine.) Buprenorphine is less addictive than methadone. The dosage needed is to treat heroin addiction is not as large as methadone.
Residential treatment facilities are very common for heroin users because they can get supportive medical treatment as well as behavioral treatment. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe physically and emotionally because of that a residential treatment facility is a good choice because they have medical and mental health care available around the clock to help you through detox. These facilities also offer support from others you can relate to because they are going through the same things.
Behavioral treatment is also necessary for recovery. Some behavioral treatments reward you for attending meeting or being a support to others, which reinforces your sobriety. Other behavioral treatment programs teach you how to re-focus, change your thinking, and learn to cope with addiction, and the stress that goes along with it.
Overcoming heroin substance abuse is not easy. However, it is possible to move on from heroin addiction. But it does require integrated treatment - and support from friends and family.
