Treatments for heroin involve a detox process along with residential or intensive outpatient programming. Clients benefit from holistic care that includes 24-hour monitoring and support, one-on-one and group therapy, and medications that help manage withdrawal symptoms. At FHE Health, we administer Suboxone® and Vivitrol at our heroin detox center to those who are good candidates for medication-assisted treatment. These medications help to reduce cravings and decrease symptoms for a safe and comfortable withdrawal.
Understanding the Dangers of Heroin
Heroin is a highly addictive substance with one of the highest overdose risks among commonly used recreational drugs. In 2023 alone, the United States saw over 81,000 opioid-related deaths, with heroin accounting for a portion of those fatalities.
Because of how heroin impacts the brain and body, quitting without professional support is nearly impossible. Fortunately, lifesaving treatment is available. Finding the best treatment for heroin addiction begins with knowing your options.
What Are Treatments for Heroin Addiction?
Heroin addiction typically occurs because people chase the euphoric high the drug creates. Because it’s such a powerful opioid, to maintain that high, increasing amounts of heroin become necessary. This taxes the body and creates a risk for overdose. Because of this, it’s common for patients to require a comprehensive heroin addiction treatment plan that includes several steps.
Why Do You Need Treatment for Heroin Addiction?
Heroin is a powerful opioid. It creates an intense dependency, even with limited use. Without treatment for heroin addiction, a person may find it nearly impossible to stop using the drug.
Additionally, the body often needs to recover from malnourishment, stress, and illness. Advanced heroin addiction treatment creates opportunities that might not occur without it.
How Long Does Heroin Addiction Treatment Take?
Individual factors, such as the amount of time a person has been addicted and the state of their health, will affect how long it takes for heroin addiction treatment. It can take up to three months to complete the first steps of recovery: heroin detox, medication management and counseling. In-house treatment allows medical care professionals to modify the care plan and adjust medications as needed.
Aftercare is a vital part of treatment for heroin addiction that reinforces the gains made through medication and counseling. After a residential stay, ongoing outpatient treatment gives recovered individuals many useful strategies for handling stress and dealing with life. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps those recovering from addiction learn the skills needed to manage life without the use of drugs. Recovery is a lifelong process, and 12-step programs and counseling can continue to give support on the journey.
What Therapies Are Used in the Treatment of Heroin Addiction?
Treatment for heroin addiction may include numerous aspects of care. Therapists can select from a range of therapies based on the unique needs of the person. Some of the most common treatments include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: CBT is a therapy process that teaches a person how to spot the way their emotions and thought processes play a role in their use. The goal is to teach them to notice when this occurs so they can change their thoughts to lead to better outcomes.
- 12-Step Programs: Many patients with heroin addiction can follow a 12-step program, a process of uncovering the cause of addiction and then making significant changes in their lives to overcome those risks going forward.
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy: Designed to provide an opportunity to teach people how to make better decisions for themselves, motivational enhancement therapy helps to reinforce those good decisions.
- Contingency Management: This type of therapy is very common in heroin treatment. It involves the use of stimulus control, and, when good results occur, positive reinforcement is used. The goal is to change behavior on a deeper level.
What Is Medical Treatment for Heroin Addiction?
During Detox
The best way to break a heroin addiction is through medical supervision in a residential treatment facility. The first step in treatment is heroin detox. During this stage, withdrawal symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, pain and an intense craving for the drug. Each addicted person will benefit from a personalized care plan that includes the right medications to make these symptoms more tolerable.
Some medications that can help reduce withdrawal symptoms include:
- Loperamide helps manage diarrhea and gastrointestinal distress.
- Clonidine can suppress a range of withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety and agitation.
- Anti-nausea medications and sedatives may be used depending on individual health needs.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers are also helpful for managing discomfort.
During Treatment
Three classes of drugs have proven to be useful in heroin addiction treatment:
- An agonist activates the same brain receptors as an opioid.
- A partial agonist partially activates the same receptors.
- An antagonist prevents opioid uptake by completely blocking brain receptors.
Common medications used throughout heroin addiction treatment include:
- Suboxone®: An opioid partial agonist that, in combination with naloxone, an opioid antagonist, reduces cravings, relieves withdrawal symptoms, and prevent overdose. Close supervision by a physician is needed to ensure the optimal dose.
- Naltrexone: A nonaddictive opioid antagonist that completely blocks the sedative and euphoric effects of opioids. It can only be used after a full heroin detox, isn’t safe to take during pregnancy, and is often used for the treatment of less severe heroin addiction.
- Methadone: An opioid agonist that gives a more subdued feeling of euphoria than heroin while preventing withdrawal symptoms. It also reduces cravings, has low overdose and abuse potential and can be taken during pregnancy. Methadone is used to help patients continue treatment and to prevent relapses.
- Buprenorphine: An opioid partial agonist that works the same way as methadone, reducing cravings and relieving withdrawal symptoms. Close supervision by a physician is needed to ensure the optimal dose.
- Naltrexone: A nonaddictive opioid antagonist that completely blocks the sedative and euphoric effects of opioids. It can only be used after a full heroin detox, isn’t safe to take during pregnancy and is often used for the treatment of less severe heroin addiction.
Additional supportive medications may include:
- Clonidine: This drug is given to control cravings and manage the desire to use.
- Loperamide: This drug is used to control diarrhea and gastrointestinal complications that are very common in heroin use disorder.
- Pain Medications: Most often, over-the-counter pain medications are used to help control pain and to limit access to opioids.
- Suboxone: Often used in detox and, in some cases, later, it works as a lessened form of heroin, creating some of the same benefits to the brain, allowing for less shock to the system when heroin is removed.
A health care provider will assess the risks and benefits of each drug and decide whether they’re appropriate for an individual’s recovery.
What Is Holistic Treatment for Heroin Use?
Holistic treatment for heroin use addresses the individual’s physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. Rather than focusing only on the symptoms of substance use disorder, it treats the whole person.
Some options may include:
- Massage therapy
- Yoga or Pilates
- Meditation
- Acupuncture and other alternative medicines
- Experiential treatment, such as hiking or equine therapy
How Can You Achieve Lifelong Recovery From Heroin Addiction?
As with any substance-use disorder, people receiving heroin addiction treatment need to maintain some support for the first few years after leaving inpatient or outpatient care. Support groups and 12-step programs can continue to help people stay grounded and provide a solution for any relapse-risk situation. Patients work with mentors and, eventually, may become mentors to others to help support their recovery.
Heroin Detox at FHE Health
Help is available to you or your loved one. Learn more about FHE Health‘s heroin detox options in Florida by contacting us today.
Heroin is a lethal substance that creates intense dependency and a high overdose risk. In 2022, 5,871 people in the United States died from an opioid overdose, many of those from heroin, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Heroin rehab programs, including heroin detox, are available and can save your life or that of a loved one.
Treatment for heroin addiction through detox and ongoing counseling is often necessary to help break the physical and chemical dependency this drug causes. Numerous heroin addiction treatment options are available. Finding the best treatment for heroin addiction begins with knowing your options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heroin Treatment
Q: Why is it nearly impossible to quit heroin without professional help?
A: Heroin is an incredibly powerful opioid that quickly creates an intense physical dependency. When you try to quit alone, the withdrawal symptoms, including intense pain, vomiting, and overwhelming cravings, can be so severe that they become unbearable and pose a high risk of immediate relapse or medical crisis. Our professional program manages this physical dependency safely.
Q: What is the very first step in treatment, and what does it involve?
A: The essential first step is heroin detox. This medically supervised phase allows your body to safely eliminate the drug. During detox, our team provides 24-hour monitoring and the right medications (like Clonidine or anti-nausea meds) to make the physical withdrawal symptoms as tolerable as possible.
Q: What is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and how does it help with heroin cravings?
A: Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) uses specialized, FDA-approved medications to support your recovery. At FHE Health, we utilize medications like Suboxone® and Vivitrol to dramatically reduce cravings and stabilize your brain chemistry. This medical support lessens the shock to your system, allowing you to focus on the psychological work of therapy without the constant physical pull of the drug.
Q: How long should I expect to be in treatment to ensure a lasting recovery?
A: The duration of treatment is personalized, but we recommend a thorough process. It often takes up to three months to complete the initial phases: detox, medication management, and foundational counseling. After this residential stay, ongoing aftercare is vital for reinforcing your progress and integrating new skills into your life, often through outpatient treatment.
Q: What kinds of therapy will I be doing to address the psychological side of my heroin use?
A: We select from a range of evidence-based therapies. Common approaches include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps you spot and change the thought patterns that lead to drug use.
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy: Reinforces your commitment to sobriety and good decision-making.
- Contingency Management: Uses positive reinforcement to help change behaviors on a deeper level.
Q: Is there treatment available for the long-term mental stress and malnutrition caused by heroin use?
A: Yes, our approach is comprehensive. We understand that addiction takes a severe toll on your overall health. We offer holistic care to address malnourishment, stress, and physical illness. This care includes support for healthy lifestyle choices like a balanced diet and also includes options like massage therapy, yoga, and meditation to heal your mind and body.
Q: What’s the difference between the medications used during detox and those used during treatment?
A: During detox, medications (like Loperamide or Clonidine) are primarily used for symptom management to relieve pain, nausea, and agitation. During treatment, medications (like Suboxone® or Naltrexone) are used as a long-term strategy to block the effects of opioids and drastically reduce cravings, helping prevent relapse.
Q: I’m worried about using another addictive substance. How safe are the MAT medications like Methadone or Buprenorphine?
A: We understand that concern. MAT medications like Methadone and Buprenorphine are highly regulated and administered under close medical supervision specifically to prevent misuse. They provide a more subdued, controlled effect that prevents withdrawal and reduces cravings, making them powerful tools for stabilizing your journey toward lasting recovery.
Q: After residential treatment, how will I stay supported to prevent a relapse?
A: Your aftercare plan is a cornerstone of success, often including participation in 12-step programs, ongoing counseling, and connecting with mentors. This continuous support helps you stay grounded and provides reliable solutions for any relapse-risk situations.
Q: Heroin is often associated with high overdose risk. How does your facility ensure my safety?
A: Your life-saving care begins with our commitment to safety. Not only do we provide 24/7 medical supervision to manage withdrawal, but we also use medications like naloxone (often included in Suboxone®), which is an opioid antagonist that can prevent overdose. Our secure, monitored environment is designed to eliminate the risks associated with continued use.
