Heroin is an opioid derived from morphine, a substance found in the seeds of poppy plants. Most people take heroin by injecting it into their arms through a needle. Heroin quickly reaches the brain and produces extreme feelings of pleasure, which is why it becomes addictive so quickly. But, the symptoms of heroin withdrawal can be painful and even deadly.
If you’re having trouble with withdrawal symptoms from heroin, Fort Behavioral Health can help. Our heroin detox program provides comprehensive and compassionate care that gives people a head start in recovery.
What Causes Heroin Withdrawal?
The longer you use heroin, the more your body builds up a tolerance to the drug. That means people have to take larger amounts to produce similar effects. Taking too much heroin to chase a high can lead to an overdose. If you try to stop using heroin, your body goes into withdrawal.
Long-term heroin users may have more intense withdrawal symptoms. They’re produced by the body trying to recover from no longer getting a steady supply of heroin. You can start experiencing withdrawal just by trying to cut back on the amount of heroin you normally take.
What Are the Symptoms of Heroin Withdrawal?
Heroin withdrawal symptoms usually last about a week. However, the experience is different for everyone. Factors that play a role in how your body reacts to heroin withdrawal include how long you’ve abused heroin, the amount you take during each dose, and how you ingested the heroin. Your symptoms may also be affected by underlying mental health issues or a prior history of opioid abuse.
One reason heroin can be dangerous is that it suppresses the normal functions of the central nervous system. It can affect your breathing, blood pressure, and body temperature. Since heroin binds to opioid receptors in your brain, you can end up with changes in brain chemistry that affect how you experience pleasure.
When you go through withdrawal, you experience sensations that are the opposite of the highs you previously enjoyed. Your heart rate can slow, and you may feel depressed or anxious.
Other symptoms of heroin withdrawal include:
- Nausea
- Abdominal cramps
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue
- Problems concentrating
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Drug cravings
Bouts of heroin withdrawal rarely end up being fatal. However, you could experience medical side effects that threaten your health. Psychological fallout, like feelings of depression, can have you feeling suicidal. Most addiction specialists recommend going through heroin withdrawal under the care of medical professionals.
How Can a Detox Center Help?
Heroin moves out of the bloodstream quickly. That means that withdrawal symptoms can set in as soon as six hours after your last dose. Symptoms of heroin withdrawal usually pat during the second or third day. Most people come into a detox center still having heroin in their system. Stays in a detox program can last as long as ten days, depending on the severity of your symptoms.
Medical detox offers clients the chance to take medications that can reduce or even eliminate the symptoms of heroin withdrawal. The medical staff at Fort Behavioral Health makes sure vitals like your blood pressure and heart rate remain stable while you complete your detox.
Clients also receive therapy to help them deal with the ramifications of their behavior and work on what’s driving their heroin addiction. You receive a full physical and mental evaluation to help the doctors and addiction therapists develop potential long-term treatment options.
Therapies and Services at Fort Behavioral Health
Getting over an addiction to heroin is difficult. Fort Behavioral Health offers heroin addiction treatment for individuals who want to change their pattern of behavior. The therapies and services offered at our Texas facility include:
- Detox program
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- 12-Step programs
Invest in Yourself with Heroin Addiction Treatment at Fort Behavioral Health
Heroin addiction may seem to be insurmountable, but the truth is it can be overcome with the right tools and support. The heroin addiction treatment program at Fort Behavioral Health may be exactly what you or someone you care about get the help needed to deal with heroin addiction. Contact us today by calling 844.332.1807 or complete our online form for more information.
