Heroin Detox

At Windward Way, you’ll see the difference both our committed staff and also our dually accredited program make to create a real change for men, 18 to 45. In fact, the life of recovery our staff champions is only exceeded by the care we take to put an end to your addiction to heroin. Since we are well-acquainted with as many addiction types that people grapple with, you also can feel confident that you will be attending the most informed, highest value heroin rehab center that exists for young adults. What’s more, we employ all the latest and most effective treatment modalities to confront a heroin addiction and stop it in its tracks.

A heroin detox doesn’t have to be an uncomfortable experience. Instead, Windward Way alumni frequently share that the time they spent at our comfortable detox facility was just the new beginning they needed to begin to embrace long-term recovery.

Find your new beginning; gift yourself—or another person you care for—the freedom from the deadly grip of heroin, this very moment: (855) 491-7694.

Heroin is perhaps one of the most powerful opiate narcotics. Its intensely addictive nature is a consequence of the fact that the human brain is wired to respond to the chemicals that this drug contains. As soon as the brain’s receptors get a taste of heroin, the path to addiction is set.

According to The National Institute on Drug Abuse, out of the people that try heroin, 23% become addicted to it. And that’s not all. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention warns that those addicted to the substance are also likely to abuse other drugs, such as cocaine or prescription painkillers.

Heroin is not only highly addictive but also extremely dangerous:

• Overdose deaths have more than quadrupled since 2010, states a CDC report;
• Heroin overdose death rates increased by roughly 20% between 2014-2015 ( 13,000 deaths in 2015);
• Males aged 25-44 had the highest heroin death rate in 2015;

However, not all hope is lost for people addicted to heroin. With treatment and counseling they can live a normal life.

As a short-acting opioid, heroin will take effect quickly after being consumed, and leave the bloodstream just as fast. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that withdrawal symptoms can occur as soon as 6-12 hours after the last dose. Symptoms are likely to peak in 2-3 days and can last up to ten days.

Not all patients going through heroin detox will experience the same symptoms. Withdrawal intensity depends on a variety of external factors such as:

• The severity of the addiction (how much heroin has the patient abused and for how long);
• What other substances they were taking;
• Family history of addiction;
• Other medical conditions;

However, there are a few common symptoms patients might experience:

• Agitation;
• Anxiety;
• Insomnia;
• Severe perspiration;
• Abdominal and muscle cramping;
• Diarrhea;
• Dilated pupils;
• Nausea;
• Vomiting.

What Are the More Serious Issues Caused by Detoxing from Heroin?

Typically, heroin withdrawal symptoms don’t impose any dangers on a patient’s life, though their intensity may vary depending on the factors presented above. As such, some of the more problematic symptoms include:

• Depression;
• Rapid heart rate;
• Hypertension;
• Muscle spasms;
• Breathing difficulties;
• Drug cravings;

The first step of a drug detox is to flush the substance out of the system. In the case of heroin addiction, the detox process lasts up to ten days. However, heroin withdrawal is known for having some side-effects that can stick with the patient longer.

Typically, the more severe symptoms are the ones that can affect a patient, long-term. For instance, if a patient becomes depressive as a result of a heroin withdrawal, then their treatment does not stop at the ten-day mark. Especially in the case of physiological disorders developed as a result of heroin withdrawal, patients may be required to seek treatment for months, even years after they’ve eliminated the drug out of their systems.

While it is possible to detox from heroin at home, doctors recommend to do it under close supervision. Given its extreme side-effects, heroin detoxing can prove to be a rather complicated process and often dangerous for the patient. The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends a combination between a medical detox and therapy treatment as the best and most effective approach.

At the peak of withdrawal, patients usually experience intense drug cravings. That is the moment where they are in danger of relapsing. By checking into a detox center, patients have a higher chance of overcoming their addiction.

Patients must receive detox medication and remain under medical supervision throughout the entire detox cycle. Rehab centers also offer additional therapy treatments to help people overcome their affliction and prepare them for rehabilitation.

Heroin addiction is an issue that affects more and more people each year. The best chance at complete rehabilitation is to seek the help of a specialized rehab center. Heroin addicts need the supervision of medical personnel to get through withdrawal safely and avoid relapse. The first step towards recovery starts by asking for help in the right place.