Heroin Rehab Southern California

Heroin Rehab Southern California

Battling a heroin addiction is akin to walking around with a ticking time bomb attached to your ankle.  With long-term use leading to adverse health risks combined with inconsistent purity levels of the drug, the dangers of dying due to heroin dependency are very real.  Another growing risk involves whether the heroin has been mixed with another potentially fatal drug, such as fentanyl, which increases the possibility of overdose.

The Centers for Disease Control recently released data from 2016 citing alarming statistics regarding heroin and other opioids.  According to this report, deaths from heroin tripled from 8% in 2010 to 25% in 2015.  A sense of urgency exists today regarding the staggering increases of heroin and opioid abuse and addiction, and the related fatalities.  For this reason, seeking treatment at a heroin rehab Southern California is the first step towards breaking the grip of this deadly addiction.

About Heroin Dependency

Heroin is in the opiate family of drugs, derived from morphine, a natural byproduct of certain poppy plants abroad.  Heroin is a highly addictive drug that involves a rapid increase of tolerance, leading to increase dosage and usage in an effort to relive the euphoric high first experienced.  Heroin use causes a powerful reaction in the brain’s chemistry, attaching to opioid receptors in the pain and pleasure centers.  A resultant flood of dopamine leads to the “rush” that is felt upon injecting, snorting or smoking heroin.

This powerful drug makes lasting changes in brain cells, causing the heroin to eventually take the place of naturally occurring dopamine.  Without the drug, the user eventually is unable to experience pleasure at all, causing a constant increase in dosing.  When chemical dependence takes hold, any attempt to stop taking heroin results in highly uncomfortable flu-like withdrawal symptoms.  At this point the user takes the drug to avoid experiencing withdrawal.

What to Expect in Heroin Rehab Southern California

It is important to understand that overcoming a heroin addiction is a long-term effort that must be first undertaken at an inpatient treatment facility.  Just detoxing is not sufficient to achieve lasting sobriety.  Heroin addiction treatment is a two-pronged method that typically involves both pharmacological treatment (medications) and evidence-based behavioral therapies such as contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy.

The initial phase of treatment is the detox and withdrawal stage.  Managing withdrawal symptoms, such as fever, body aches, nausea, vomiting, sweating, insomnia, and anxiety, is done through various prescription and over-the-counter medications.  Mitigating both withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings for the drug is intrinsic to successful detox.  Without these interventions, most users would relapse back into heroin use to stop the suffering.

After about a week, withdrawal symptoms subside and active treatment can begin.  These treatment elements usually include psychotherapy, group therapy, non 12-step or 12-step participation, family group, and continuous drug education.  In addition, many inpatient programs also include adjunct holistic therapies to promote stress reduction and relaxation.  These therapies include yoga, meditation, equine therapy, art therapy, and other holistic practices.

The Treatment Specialist Leading Locator Service for Heroin Rehab Southern California

The Treatment Specialist offers resources for heroin rehab and detox. Take the first step toward freedom from heroin and contact a treatment center today at (866) 644-7911.