Author: Addiction Blog

How Can I Explain Pill Addiction to My Child?
Addiction is Medical!

Dealing with pill addiction? Are you looking for a way to explain it to your child or a family member? There is a medical way to explain to loved ones how you are dealing with health difficulties such as addiction. But in order to talk about addiction, you must understand it first.

This article gives you the basics on:
1. How addiction influences your system.
2. The reasons behind it.
3. Tips for how to talk about it with your child.
We encourage you to post additional questions in the comments section at the end. We’ll make sure to provide you with a personal and prompt response. Or, if we can answer your questions…we’ll refer you to someone who can.

What Is Addiction, Really?

Addiction, or substance use disorder, is a condition recognized as a brain disorder. It is a chronic disease with severe implications on a person’s health.

When we are addicted to a pill, brain chemistry changes and we start to behave unconsciously and act out of control. This is because many medications can temporarily alter:
- Decision-making centers in the brain.
- Motivation.
- Our ability to feel pleasure.
When we begin to rely on our prescription pills to feel normal, however, we can develop a disorder which can’t simply be overcome with self-help. This is why prescription pill addiction often requires intervention by doctors and addiction professionals, especially when:
- You have tried to quit on your own but can’t.
- Are physically dependent on a prescription medication.
- Experience multiple negative consequences to health, home, work, or social life.
Brain Chemistry Changes

In short, long term prescription use affects brain functions such as:
- Behavior.
- Decision-making.
- Judgment.
- Learning.
- Memory.
- Stress.
Pills and other prescription medications are designed to change brain chemistry to treat physical and mental conditions. They are actually called “psychoactive drugs” because they affect the brain directly. There are several categories of prescriptions which are target of abuse. These can include central nervous system depressants prescribed for anxiety and sleep disorders, opioids prescribed for pain relief, or stimulants prescribed for attention disorders.

Examples of drugs that cause brain chemistry changes include:
- Benzodiazepines like Ativan, Xanax, or Valium.
- Pain killers like Vicodin, OxyContin, or Percocet.
- Stimulants like Adderall or Ritalin.
Our brain functions as a result of a delicate balance of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. When a prescribed medication enters our system, it directly affect the natural balance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Long term use and/or abuse makes the brain adapt to a new, unnatural neurotransmitter balance. And when the desire to take pills becomes a pathological craving … it transforms into addiction.

The Reasons Behind Addiction

We can never say that people become addicts by choice. On the contrary, when the effects from the drug of choice no longer bring pleasure people desperately want to stop…only they are not able to, at least not on their own.

Further, addiction is not a disease caused by a single factor. This is why it’s referred as a complex disease. The word “complex” is associated with the multiple factors which contribute to the foundation of addiction.

According to research and studies by scientists, psychologists, and other professionals in the field of addiction, this disorder has a biological, psychological and environmental background.

Addiction carries a great burden because it’s a compulsive disorder. Recovering from it requires monitoring from professionals and a controlled environment such as treatment centers. Pill addicted individuals can’t quit using by themselves because they often experience strong and unbearable withdrawal symptoms. This discomfort brings them back into the circle of taking pills over and over again to numb the pain and avoid further withdrawal.

Genetics And Environmental Factors

Many scientist and researchers in the field of addiction have questioned themselves why do some people become addicted while others don’t? The results of their studies have proven that there is not a single factor which can predict that a person has the possibility to become a drug addict. Instead, results of addiction studies have discovered that addiction is influenced by a combination of biological psychological and environmental factors.

Biological factors outline the importance of the genes that people are born with. Genetic predispositions carry a 50% risk for addiction. The presence of other mental disorders may also influence risk for drug use and addiction. Knowing your family history of diseases can help you pay an extra care and attention when trying and reaching out for drugs, alcohol and prescription medications.

Environmental factors include everyday influences, from family and friends, social groups, economic status and overall your general life quality. Among the most common environmental factors that can contribute to the occurrence of addiction are:
- Early exposure to stress.
- Parental modeling.
- Peer pressure.
- Physical and sexual abuse.
More on Biological Factors

Before an individual develops addiction to prescriptions, they often pass through several stages of physical change. Some people can develop physical dependence on a drug, for example. This means that the brain adapts to the drug and provokes withdrawal symptoms when doses are lowered to stopped. Others even become tolerant of the effects of medication, needing more medicine more frequently for initial effect.

When explaining tolerance and dependence, it is important to know that they are referred to the physical consequences of drug use. In contrast, addiction is a term referred to the need of engaging in harmful, abusive behaviors. Moreover, addiction develops when a person becomes physically, psychologically and emotionally dependent to pills.

As the brain adapts to the presence of prescription pills over time, chronic users may begin to respond to their prescription differently than those who have used it in accordance with physician’s guidance. They may start to:
- Increase dosing.
- Increase frequency of use.
- Doctor shop.
- Hide or lie about Rx drug use.
- Prioritize the drug use above other activities.
Addiction: A Brain Disease – Not A Choice!

Prescriptions drugs and substances influence the brain’s “reward circuit” by interfering with the quantity of neurochemical messenger called dopamine. Dopamine neurotransmitters influence our centers for pleasure together with the reward system and motivates individuals to repeat behaviors in order to keep their level of happiness. The natural activities which increase our level of dopamine are: eating, sleeping, having sex, spending time with loved ones…etc. Abusing prescriptions over stimulates the reward circuit causing the intensely pleasurable “high” that often times leads people to repeated drug abuse.

As a person continues to abuse their prescribed pills, the brain readjusts to the new state of excess dopamine by producing less of it. This is how abusers feel a reduction in their ability to experience high and feel pleasure in comparison with when they first started taking prescription— effect known as tolerance. They might take more pills, trying to achieve the same dopamine high.

Not only that…. prescription drug users feel a reduction in the effects from their pills, but they also lose their ability to enjoy every day activities which use to bring them natural pleasure such as food or social activities. Depression can appear shortly afterwards.

Explaining Pill Addiction to a Child

Deciding to talk to your child about your pill addiction already shows a great level of courage and consciousness. In fact, your child may have already noticed you are not well. They are probably curious and concerned about why you are not feeling yourself.

Honesty can be the best place to start. Before you begin, you’ll need to consider the age and maturity of your child before talking to them. Keeping the conversation age appropriate is important because younger children simply can’t understand the meaning of the term “addiction”, so you may need to replace the term with “illness” in order to bring this subject closer to them.

As for teenager and older kids it’s best to be completely honest and say what going on directly. Teenagers and older kids value honesty. Telling them the truth will make them feel as if you feel they are old and mature enough to know about addiction.

Here are some suggested tips of what to have in mind when you want to approach your child and explain your pill addiction:

TIP #1. Use comparison with other illnesses in order to bring closer the subject of pill addiction to your little child. You might want to compare your illness with a very bad headache, or a stomach flu that just doesn’t go away. For older children, you might compare drug use with smoking. Whatever you choose, make the model tangible and relate-able.

TIP #2. Listen to your kids. Ask them what they’ve observed in your behavior. Be prepared to answer their questions and concerns regarding your condition. Encourage them to tell you what they think.

TIP #3. Make sure to provide your children with a strong support system. Or, set up family counseling sessions with a child psychologist who has experience in family addiction issues. They need to have someone to lean on when you leave for recovery. And professional help can guide you through the entire process.

TIP #4. Take away any guilt. Make sure that your child understands that s/he is not responsible for your pill addiction.

TIP #5. Prepare your recovery plans in advance and share them with you child. Share the plan with them. If you are leaving for an inpatient rehab stay, outline the visiting days. Talk about rehab like a camp for adults.

Who else might you advise?
- A licensed addiction counselor.
- A licensed clinical social worker.
- Family psychologists.
- A psychiatrist.
Seriously consider the process of family counseling. With the help of family therapy, members revalue the way they communicate and react to one another. Together, you and your child(ren) can look at how you conduct yourselves in ways that are hurtful or helpful. During family therapy, members also learn how to modify their behaviors to support each person. You’ll learn how to better communicate with each other, and practice new ways of talking, relating, and behaving.

Now, Your Questions

Do you have additional questions about explaining an addiction to your child? Please share your questions and/or experiences with successful (or not) communication in the comments section below. We’ll try to respond to you personally and promptly.

Reference Sources: NIH: Understanding Drug Use and Addiction

NIH: How Do Prescription Drugs Work in the Brain?

All About Counseling: Telling Your Kids About Your Addiction

Huffington Post: As a Mom in Recovery, How Do I Explain My Addiction to My Kids?

View the original article at prescription-drug.addictionblog.org
6 June 2018
Innovative Discharge Planning for Addiction Treatment Aftercare
Harold C. Urschell III, MD, MMA – Chief Medical Strategist at Enterhealth

Successful Solutions to Long-Term Recovery

Treatment for drug or alcohol addiction isn’t finished when a patient leaves a residential or outpatient treatment program. In reality, life after treatment is when a person’s recovery genuinely begins. After all, this is when the skills learned in recovery are really put to the test.

At Enterhealth, our individualized programs are designed to teach our patients the skills necessary to stay cognizant of their own behaviors (the good and the bad), better recognize and regulate their emotions and, ultimately, prevent relapses before they occur so that the person can live a healthy, fulfilling and independent life in recovery.
So, what should an innovative addiction treatment discharge plan include? Ideas here. Then, we invite your feedback or comments at the end.

When does discharge planning start?

Discharge planning begins early in the beginning of treatment and is a critical component of a patient’s personalized treatment plan. It’s basically a roadmap for how they are going to live life after inpatient or outpatient treatment, and it includes things such as:
- Additional or ongoing therapies
- Ongoing medication management
- Drug testing
- Support groups
…and more. Due to the fact that each patient will have their own individualized treatment plan, Enterhealth’s discharge plans are also unique to each patient.

But even more, treatment needs to account for a person’s need for physical, emotional, and social support. In this light, some of the more successful lifecare (our version of aftercare) treatment components include:

Transitional Living or Sober Living

Transitional housing – also commonly referred to as “step-down housing” or “sober living” – is a type of living arrangement which helps patients (typically those who go through inpatient treatment) slowly ease back into life at home, school and/or work. With staff onsite 24 hours a day, patients are carefully monitored and must adhere to curfews and random drug testing. Transitional living homes also typically provide things such as emotional support, life coaching and other supportive elements and programs. patients are also required to re-engage with society again, whether through employment, volunteer work or education.

Medication Management

Many of those in recovery require maintenance doses of anti-addiction medications to help curb and control cravings both during and after treatment. These medications – when taken properly – are safe and effective. We have to remember that addiction is a lifelong disease of the brain, and many people will require medication to keep this disease under control. Others will have the ability to taper off their medication as their brain begins to heal over the course of many months/years.

Other patients take medications for psychological/behavioral issues such as anxiety, ADHD, insomnia or depression. It is critical that patients are taught the risks and benefits associated with any prescription medication, as well as ways to prevent misuse and abuse.

12-Step and Support Groups

In order to develop a robust support system and learn practices to improve and maintain their recovery, 12-step meeting and support groups are extremely helpful. Groups such as these provide a new sober group of peers, encouragement, and help individuals find the motivation to stay in recovery for the long term.

Some of the more popular 12-step meeting and support groups include Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery and SMART Recovery.

Whenever possible, family involvement should be a major component of a patient’s circle of support. Whether they are involved in family counseling through Enterhealth or another psychiatric treatment provider, or even with groups such as Al-Anon/Alateen and other Al-Anon Family Groups, family support can be a major component to a successful recovery.

Recovery Coaching and Sponsorship

Sponsors and recovery coaches are usually individuals who are in recovery themselves. Their primary function is to help people new to recovery transition to life after treatment. Not only are they a friend to lean on in recovery, but they’re also someone to hold the individual accountable and help them make wise choices, attend their outpatient treatment appointments and stay on their recovery plan. It is also common for recovery coaches or sponsors to attend various support meetings with the person they are mentoring in recovery.

How to Best Approach Discharge Planning

Enterhealth believes that an evidence-based holistic approach to drug and alcohol addiction treatment is the best way to ensure that patients receive the best care and get the best outcomes for recovery, and this approach extends to our discharge planning as well.

A successful recovery is most often the result of multiple components working together to treat not just the addiction, but also the underlying psychological issues, physical ailments and real-life stressors which may have shaped the addiction in the first place.

For this reason, board-certified psychiatrists and therapists should combine their expertise to create treatment and discharge plans that address each patient’s needs from start to finish. They should also try work closely with the family (when possible) to get them involved in the discharge process as soon as possible, as they can be instrumental in keeping a patient on the right track for recovery.

Your Questions

We hope to have provoked some thought about critical components of aftercare for addiction treatment. But you may still have questions. Please leave any questions or comments in the section below. We love to hear from our readers! And we’ll try to respond to you personally and promptly.

To learn more about drug and alcohol addiction treatment or to inquire about using Enterhealth’s services for you or a loved one, please be in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

View the original article at addictionblog.org
1 June 2018
What is the Relationship Between Addiction and Mental Illness?
Addiction and Mental Illness Require Treatment

Much research has shown that there is an extremely complex relationship between addiction and mental illness. According to a renowned addiction psychiatrist at New York University by the name of Dr. Stephen Gilman, approximately 55 percent of people who are suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction will eventually develop a mental disorder. On the other hand, roughly 20 percent of people with a mental condition also have a serious addiction problem. The numbers are expected to be significantly higher when people are diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses like:
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
Since substance abuse problems and mental health conditions are only exacerbated when ignored, healthcare professions must understand the relationship between these two disorders so that they can be properly diagnosed and treated.

Drugs And Alcohol May Mask Symptoms

Many professionals believe that those with a psychiatric disorder are prone to engage in high risk activities like drinking excessively and experimenting with illegal drugs. Dr. James Garbutt, who is a distinguished psychiatric professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, suggests that those with a mental health condition may have a compromised judgment, which ultimately results in higher drug and alcohol consumption. These risky behaviors can quickly result in substance abuse.

On the other hand, many people with a mental condition may use alcohol and drugs to pacify the troubling symptoms. These are some of the most common mental illnesses that result in substance abuse.

Depression: Although females are more likely to struggle with depression, males can also have a hard time dealing with this disorder. Both males and females have been known to mask their low energy levels and sadness with depression.

Schizophrenia: With disturbing symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, those with schizophrenia may use substances to help them cope with this illness.

Bipolar Disorder: Some people with bipolar disorder may rely on substances to control their unpredictable depression and high moods.

Anxiety: Males and females who are suffering from an anxiety disorder often resort to alcohol or drugs to calm their nerves.

Addiction and External Factors

Not everyone is using drugs and alcohol to deal with their difficult symptoms. In some cases, substance abuse in those with a mental condition could be out of their control. Here are some other factors that could cause the correlation between substance abuse and mental illness.

Genetics: When substance abuse and mental illness occur at the same time, genetic factors could be the cause.

Brain Chemicals: Studies have indicated that a deficiency in the important brain chemicals called serotonin and monoamine oxidases could be a reason why substance abuse and psychiatric conditions often coincide together.

Environment: The environment in which a mentally ill person is raised could increase his likelihood of engaging in drug and alcohol usage.

Substance Abuse May Cause Mental Illness

While people with a mental illness could resort to substance abuse, the opposite is also likely to happen. In other words, those with alcohol and drug addictions may be at risk of developing a mental health disorder or make symptoms of an existing condition considerably worse. This is especially true when drug or alcohol interacts with certain prescription pills like mood stabilizers.

The inverse relationship between addiction and mental illness could be due to substance abuse causing changes in the brain and withdrawal symptoms from unsuccessfully stopping drug and alcohol usage. In addition, males and females who abuse drugs and alcohol tend to become depressed and anxious over time.

Doctors Must Diagnose Addiction And Mental Illness Simultaneously

Most professionals agree that diagnosing addiction and mental conditions is often difficult, but it’s extremely important that the symptoms from these two disorders be properly accessed at the same time to prevent further complications and determine the causes of each disorder. In most cases, doctors can evaluate the symptoms effectively when a person has been free of drugs and alcohol for at least two weeks. But even when the addiction and the mental symptoms are treated simultaneously, some doctors still misdiagnosis and mistreat the conditions.

When diagnosing those with possible substance abuse, the doctor may observe signs of guilt or shame regarding substances, relationship problems, frequent trouble with law enforcement, and history of going through prescription medication at a fast rate.

The signs and symptoms of a mental health condition can differ drastically from a substance abuse problem. For example, the symptoms of depression may include:
- Insomnia
- Low energy
- Loss of interest in regular activities
- Feelings of worthlessness
The signs of anxiety may include:
- Dizziness
- Fast-beating heart
- Concentration problems
- Nausea
- Constant worry
The Best Treatment For Addiction And Mental Illness

Depending on a patient’s specific conditions, the doctor may recommend separate treatment for the mental health and substance abuse problems. While treatment for the mental illness may consist of medication, weekly counseling sessions, lifestyle and diet changes, and meditation, substance abuse treatment often involves a comprehensive detox program, behavioral therapy, and sobriety support groups.

During the journey to healing and recovery, experienced healthcare professionals will advise patients to do the following:
- Adhere to a consistent exercise routine.
- Manage overwhelming feelings of stress.
- Regularly engage in activities and interests.
- Stay connected to family and friends.
- Understand certain triggers.
A licensed healthcare professional may also encourage patients to learn as much information as they can about alcohol and drugs and the role they play in their life. Once they have identified why they seek out substances, they can recognize the triggers that lead to destructive behaviors.

The Future Is Promising

Recovering from addiction and a mental health condition can be a roller coaster, but doctors and mental health professionals are committed to making it a smooth process with proper diagnoses and treatments. If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction or a mental health disorder, reach out for help today. With the medical treatment of licensed healthcare professionals, you can lead a happy and healthy life.

View the original article at addictionblog.org
1 June 2018
Is it Hard to Quit Heroin?
ARTICLE OVERVIEW: Coming off heroin can be very difficult. Many heroin addicts who have tried quitting on their own experienced severe complications which included frequent relapses and life threatening situations. But when coming off heroin under a doctor’s supervision and medical care, there is a way out!

TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Addictiveness
- Heroin and Brain Changes
- Dangers
- Side Effects
- Safety Suggestions
Read further to discover what make heroin so to quit and learn HOW TO and HOW NOT to try quitting. Feel free to use the section at the end for all your questions and/or personal experiences with stopping heroin.

How Addictive Is Heroin?

Heroin is one of the most addictive opioids. You can get addicted to heroin even from a single dose! In fact, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) enforces the classification of heroin in the group of Schedule I drugs. This means that heroin is NOT used for medical purposes and has a HIGH potential for abuse.

The addictive potential of heroin comes from:
1. The speed with which this drug produces dopamine.
2. The intensity of dopamine effects.
Heroin crosses the blood brain barrier 100 times faster than morphine. It has very high activity on opioid receptors, which results in intense dopamine effects. Many users reported physical dependence upon heroin after only a few days of regular use.

Brain Changes on Heroin

Each time people consider trying heroin they wonder why getting high on this drug makes stopping so difficult? The answer to this question lies in the way heroin affects the brain.

When heroin enters the brain, it transforms into morphine. Morphine binds to the opioid receptors in the brain responsible for recognizing and regulating pain and reward. Furthermore, this action causes a sense of euphoria that makes users experience extreme sense of power, pleasure and joy, almost like they are on the top of the world and can do everything. Heroin users describe this state as a feeling of happiness and having a different reality. Unfortunately, this empowerment last very shortly.

Further, scientists found that the use of heroin affects 3 (three) opioid receptors in the brain: the mu, kappa, and delta receptors.
1. Mu opioid receptors (MOR) bond with heroin to produce effects such as: pleasure, acute pain relief, physical dependence and addiction.
2. Kappa opioid receptors (KOR) bond with heroin to produce effects such as: trance-like states, physical dependence, and addiction.
3. Delta opioid receptors (DOR) bond with heroin to produce effects such as: relief from persistent pain, reduced gastrointestinal motility and modulation of mood.
When heroin wears off, the overwhelming feel-good feelings go away and all that is left is the longing for the initial euphoric state. The mini explosions of pleasure induced by heroin combined with the psychological bliss and beauty vanish very quickly.

When the body adapts to the presence of heroin, the new chemical reality brings strong cravings and urges to continue taking it until users reach the point where they no longer feel pleasure from heroin so when they make an attempt to suddenly stop, they are hit by extremely uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

What Makes Stopping Heroin Dangerous?

Quitting cocaine cold turkey, without a doctor’s clearance or medical supervision, lowering doses abruptly… all make stopping harmful! Here is why each of these methods is NOT recommended.

1. Cold turkey heroin detox causes severe withdrawal symptoms.

Going cold turkey off heroin can expose you to serious and severe withdrawal symptoms, including:
- Cold flashes
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Muscle and bone aches
- Restlessness
Additionally, cold turkey, as a quitting method increases your chances of relapse. Instead, going through all of this, it’s best to seek medical advice on how to stop taking heroin safely. Medical aid during heroin withdrawal is consisted of tapering regimens or replacement therapies to lowers the dosage of heroin in your system over a period of time. This way, your body will not experience such intensive and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

2. Stopping heroin without medical supervision can lead to complications.

Quitting heroin without professional counseling is unsafe and can be very uncomfortable. In fact, quitting heroin at home is rarely recommended, and advised only if you get clearance from your doctor. Why?

Getting heroin out of your life is not only a physical journey, in requires behavioral changes, as well. In other words, once you quit heroin you will need to learn how to live without this powerful drug.

Choosing to stop using heroin without medical supervision can result in unnecessary pain and suffering. Plus, it will simply lead you back to using. This is why you should not consider trying this method. Instead, doctors and addiction professionals are trained to not only teach you how to manage the strong heroin cravings but to help you develop coping skills and a support system to stay quit,

3. Lowering doses of heroin suddenly and abruptly provokes relapse.

This type of heroin cessation causes severe withdrawal symptoms and provokes relapse. Instead, plan your stopping thoroughly. Talk to a medical professional, or check in at an addiction treatment facility and let be supervised. This will significantly increase the chances of successful recovery.

Quitting Heroin Side Effects

People who’ve used heroin chronically for a longer period of time develop dependence, which makes it difficult to quit due to withdrawal symptoms.

The common physical withdrawal symptoms include:
- Bone pain.
- Cold flashes.
- Goose bumps
- Diarrhea.
- Insomnia.
- Nausea and vomiting.
The more serious withdrawal symptoms include:
- Hallucinations.
- Painful abdominal cramping.
- Severe body tremors.
- Severe diarrhea.
- Severe nausea.
- Suicidal thoughts.
- Vomiting.
Safety Suggestions

Despite all odds and difficulties, when deciding to end your heroin addiction, there are safer and more comfortable ways of quitting such as:

1. Quitting heroin under medical supervision gives you a better chance at recovery.

Heroin withdrawal includes using prescription meds. Pharmacological treatment for heroin addiction includes:
- Methadone to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
- Buprenorphine to reduce cravings and physical symptoms like vomiting and muscle aches.
- Naltrexone to reduce heroin cravings by blocking receptors in the brain that react to heroin. This medication is designed to occupy the nerve receptors so that you basically trick the brain into thinking it no longer needs heroin.
2. Tapering (coming off heroin slowly) make withdrawal less painful.

Tapering includes a gradual reduction of heroin doses over an extended period of time. Tapering off heroin should be done in accordance with a doctor’s suggestions. Your doctor will prescribe meds that will ease the withdrawal discomfort and design a unique tapering plan tailored to your individual needs.

During most detox periods, doctors will test you before and after you quit for drug presence. Based on this, you’ll create a tapering plan, and your doctor should be at your disposal 24/7 in case of emergencies.

3. Heroin detox clinic supervision helps support you emotionally.

Heroin detox clinics provides a safe space to manage withdrawal symptoms. This is one of the highly recommended options for long-term success. Heroin withdrawal can sometimes bring complications and fatal injuries in case you try detoxing on your own such as becoming severely dehydrated.

Is rapid detox appropriate for quitting heroin?

No, rapid detox is not recommended when coming off heroin. Rapid detox is a procedure where you will be basically put under, as if for surgery, and your body will be rapidly flushed of heroin. This is a relatively new procedure and therefore is not yet covered by insurance companies, so the cost is quite expensive, plus the risks are high and therefore it is NOT recommended as an option for stopping heroin!

4. Inpatient heroin treatment for long term success.

Residential treatment centers for heroin addiction require living at a rehabilitation facility for a specified amount of time min 28 days up to 6 (six) months or longer. Your length of stay at the inpatient drug rehab facility will depend on the extent of your heroin addiction issue. During your residential stay you will start with detox and withdrawal shortly after being enrolled.

Because heroin is a strong drug, you make a tapering plan together with your addiction specialist. You will also receive ongoing psychological counseling that will help you to deal with the underlying causes of your addiction. Another advantage of inpatient treatment for heroin addiction is the opportunity to attend group therapy sessions. This type of therapy will provide you with the opportunity to meet others who have already gone through heroin detox and have successfully started down the path to recovery.

Your Questions

Expect certain difficulties and discomfort during heroin detox, but don’t give up! If you still have questions about quitting heroin difficulties, please leave them in the designated section below. We try to answer all legitimate inquiries personally and promptly. In case we don’t know the answer to a question, we will gladly refer you to professionals who can help.

Reference Sources: DEA: DRUG SCHEDULING
Teen Health: Is Heroin A Depressant Or Stimulant?
Rehab International: Fact and Fiction
Quora: How does it feel to be high on heroin?
Beach House Rehab: Heroin and the Brain: What Everyone Should Know about the Drug’s Scary, Long-Term Side Effects

How To Kick Heroin: How Heroin Works
Teen Drug Abuse: The Dangers of Quitting Opiates Cold Turkey

Element’s Behavioral Health: Dangerous Detox: Doing It At Home Could Be Deadly
NIH: What are the treatments for heroin addiction?

View the original article at drug.addictionblog.org
1 June 2018