Heroin Addiction Treatment Addresses Devastation of the Disease

Heroin addicts and their loved ones have a special challenge when it comes to heroin addiction treatment. The deep denial of heroin users keep them chained to the drug, and there’s little family and friends can do about it.  It is a disease that tells the addict they do not have a disease.

Some tend to blame heroin addicts for their disease and the life they lead as a result of it because they don’t understand the disease.  Consider what the heroin addict is going through: ingestion of heroin creates an immediate high, and the instantaneous and intense euphoria brings users back again and again.. As tolerance is developed, more and heroin is needed to gain the same effect. The intensity of addiction is particularly high with heroin, as the drug quickly moves to the center of the user’s thoughts and actions, eventually causing changes in brain chemistry. Because addiction gets in the way of making good decisions and sound judgments, the heroin addict may experience devastating life consequences. Though heroin users may be in denial that they have the disease, none of this is a conscious choice. Heroin addiction is a debilitating and life-threatening disease.

How Treatment for Heroin Addiction Works

Between use of heroin users may experience early withdrawal symptoms like agitation, insomnia, excessive perspiration, or dry eyes. Once these symptoms materialize, users should be aware that they are addicted and should seek treatment for heroin addiction. At this point, family and friends may be alarmed due to the risky conduct the heroin abuser engages in, as well as the violent mood swings, the tendency to stop eating, and the irresponsible behaviors. It may be time for the heroin user’s loved ones to step back and set boundaries; a family intervention may be necessary.

Later stages of withdrawal may include hallucinations, severe muscle cramps, and acute nausea and vomiting. Because of the severity of withdrawal and the extent of damage done to the heroin user’s body, mind and soul, professional detox is almost always the first step to heroin rehab. Having once experienced the deep relaxation combined with exhilaration, heroin users are particularly challenged when it comes to relapse, so post-treatment is especially important, too, including outpatient group and individual therapy. The key to recovery is a thorough medical and psychological evaluation that results in a personalized effective treatment plan.

Most treatment plans for heroin addiction include medication management that helps diminish the severity of withdrawal. Medical support, a variety of therapies geared to the user’s needs, and encouragement from others who have recovered from heroin addiction, as well as from family and friends, can help a user clean up the havoc caused by his or her reckless addiction behavior and move on to abstinence and a life of recovery.

Anaheim Lighthouse Provides Integrated Heroin Addiction Treatment

We can help with recovery from heroin addiction through our residential detox program, our residential treatment facility, partial hospitalization program and Intensive Outpatient Program. In addition, specific drugs require different approaches to treatment, and our addiction experts know how each drug impacts the brain. For instance, heroin addiction treatment will differ somewhat from alcohol addiction, and cocaine addiction treatment differs from meth addiction treatment. We are expert in all types of drug addiction, including the above, and we provide marijuana addiction treatment,  Xanax addiction treatment, and benzodiazepine addiction treatment, as well. When indicated, we use medication management to ease withdrawal symptoms that can be so difficult with dangerous drugs like heroin, and we are staffed around the clock to assure the safety and comfort of our clients. In addition to drug addiction treatment, Anaheim Lighthouse also provides alcohol addiction treatment.

Our holistic approach assures that the whole person is treated, and not just the addiction and withdrawal symptoms. Diet, exercise, and spiritual healing are important aspects of our integrated treatment plans.

Get in touch with our Southern California drug and alcohol rehab directly. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, call us at (877) 959-5909.