Not everyone who uses it becomes addicted to heroin, but when some is addicted, it can be dangerous to try to stop without help. Withdrawal can be both physical and psychological, making it difficult for the addict to stay away.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Someone who suddenly stops using heroin may experience several unpleasant symptoms of physical withdrawal, including:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Cold sweats
- Diarrhea
- Severe muscle cramps
- Aches
Psychological withdrawal may present with these symptoms:
- Insomnia
- Tremors
- Difficulty concentrating
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
Is Quitting Heroin Cold Turkey Dangerous?
There are several reasons it is better to get help with addiction treatment instead of just quitting cold turkey. One reason is simply that an individual who is withdrawing from heroin may simply be so disoriented and in so much pain that it is better and safer to get medical help to make sure withdrawal is done safely. Also, because heroin withdrawal can cause vomiting and diarrhea, it is possible to become dangerously dehydrated while withdrawing from heroin.
What Are Other Reasons to Get Help With Addiction Treatment?
Quitting heroin is hard, and most addicts will relapse. Getting the help you need in the beginning can not only help keep you safer, but it can give you the tools you need to stay clean for a long time. Most people don’t get the help they need when they try to quit using heroin or other substances, but a comprehensive treatment program can help deal with the physical, psychological, and spiritual reasons the individual is suffering.
How Dangerous Is Relapse?
Heroin is particularly dangerous for individuals who relapse because their tolerance changes when they originally stopped using. That means that they are used to taking a certain amount to get the desired effect, and they try to use that amount during the relapse. Because their tolerance has changed, they sometimes can no longer tolerate that amount, and many people who relapse on heroin overdose by accident.
What Kinds of Treatments Are There for Heroin Addiction?
When the individual is first going through withdrawal, they may need to do a medical detox where they use Methadone or Buprenorphine to help deal with the physical and psychological effects of withdrawal. Sometimes there is a long-term drug maintenance program that helps the individual until sobriety is more secure.
Therapy is an important part of any addiction treatment program, and an individual may engage in several different kinds to meet different needs. Individual therapy focuses on a person’s differences and group therapy offers support and helps people realize their similarities.
12-step programs are a place where individuals can go with being judged so they can share their recovery and get help from people who have already gone through the journey. This kind of support can last for the rest of a person’s life, and real friendships grow in the rooms of recovery as people learn from each other and share their experience, strength, and hope.
A treatment center can also offer assistance in getting back to better health by eating right, exercising, and learning stress reduction techniques. Meditation and yoga are practices that an individual can carry throughout life that will assist in every area of life, allowing the individual to deal with the world in a positive way.
Rise in Malibu offers comprehensive treatment for the recovering heroin addict, including supervision by a medical doctor, holistic therapies, and an extensive aftercare program. This is all within the confines of our luxurious facility where we serve gourmet food in a comfortable environment so you can start building the habits of a lifetime as you become free from your addiction. If you are interested in seeing how we can help, please call and speak to one of our admission specialists today.
