Every heroin addict’s addiction is going to be a little different. The way it affects their lives will be different, and the way they deal with it is going to be different. None of this is lost on an addiction treatment community that is well versed in dealing with these differences. It’s for that very reason that the top addiction treatment centers like ours maintain a full arsenal of addiction treatment options.
Many of these treatment options can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each client. Keeping this in mind, heroin addiction is by far one of the most difficult addictions to treat. It doesn’t take long for a new heroin user to develop a physical dependence on the substance. Nor does it take long for things to progress into a full-scale addiction. On a normal basis, the treatment process for a heroin addiction sufferer would be the same as it is for any other kind of substance abuse problem. The client would enter rehab and go through an intake interview. During the interview, the rehab’s administrative staff would be collecting information they can use to decide on a course of treatment. In all likelihood, treatment would start with a stint in a detox program.
Given the toxicity and withdrawal symptoms associated with heroin abuse, most clients need help getting through withdrawal. Take a look at these potential withdrawal symptoms, and you will see why helps is necessary:
- Racing heart and dangerous increase in blood pressure
- Difficulty breathing
- The onset of body convulsions and tremors in the arms and legs
- Hallucinations and nightmares
- Severe muscle cramping in the midsection
- Loss of motor control and the ability to concentrate
- Psychosis
In a formal detox program, medical professionals monitor the progress of each client. Should a client start to show signs of distress, medical intervention would be the call. After detoxing, clients head into the treatment phase. They begin working with therapists to gain an understanding of their addiction. This understanding will eventually become the basis for developing better coping and life skills. With better coping and life skills, each client has a real fighting chance to avoid relapses and stay in recovery.
Is a Palm Beach Drug Rehab Prepared to Treat Serious Heroin Addiction?
In the Palm Beach area, there are a number of top rehab facilities, ours included. Each of them is manned by addiction treatment professionals that are well versed in treating clients with heroin addiction problems. That includes clients who come into rehab with what would be classified as a severe addiction. An individual with a severe heroin addiction problem is at higher risk than someone whose addiction can still be treated normally. Yes, that infers that the treatment process would certainly be different for a client with a severe addiction.
The primary difference would be what happens during the detox process. With severe heroin addiction, the withdrawal symptoms are amplified, which makes them potentially life-threatening. Instead of allowing such a client to go through a normal detox program, the right call would be some sort of a tapering program. As part of a tapering program, clients are given a medication that contains opioids but doesn’t produce the same level of dependence. The most commonly used treatment medications for tapering off heroin are methadone and buprenorphine. The medical professional’s job is to administer these types of medications in such a manner that they fulfill the body’s need for heroin. Gradually, the medical professional with start decreasing the amount of medication they administer until the client has safely been weaned off heroin.
This process could take a few weeks instead of the one week it would take to detox off heroin under regular circumstances. As for therapy, a client coming off a severe heroin addiction might need several months of therapy before they are ready to leave rehab. It’s up to the rehab’s administrative staff to decide when that time should be. If you are dealing with a severe heroin addiction, we encourage you to seek help right away. Any delays could put your health or life at risk. When you are ready to ask for help, we can assure you we will be here ready to provide it. All we need from you to get started is one phone call. You can reach out to one of our representatives 24/7 by calling our facility at the following number, 833-846-5669
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