For those who need treatment for a heroin use disorder, detox is often the first step. During detox, harmful chemicals and toxins in opioids leave the body. However, without professional care at a rehab center, heroin detox may cause potentially severe symptoms and life-endangering complications. Thankfully, treatment from licensed physicians and specialists is accessible to many who wish to overcome addiction. If you’re looking for a heroin detox program in Texas, Fort Behavioral Health can facilitate a safe and comfortable recovery.
Who Needs Heroin Detox?
Heroin is a highly addictive drug that may change brain chemistry and even damage neurological function. When a person stops using this drug, they may experience intense withdrawal symptoms, potentially leading to a relapse. These problems are possible whether a person experiences mild, moderate, or severe addiction symptoms. In a professional detox program, issues are less likely to occur.
- Heroin withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Muscle and joint pain
- Headaches
- Anxiety, agitation, and paranoia
- Intense drug cravings
- Sleep disturbances or insomnia
- Lack of energy and fatigue
You may lower the risk of experiencing these symptoms or significantly reduce their severity by starting heroin detox as soon as possible after your last drug dose.
What Happens in a Heroin Detox Center?
Before starting heroin detox, it helps to know what to expect. Shortly after you arrive, treatment professionals will provide the following:
- A consultation to determine a patient’s specific needs
- Complete physical and psychological assessments
Specialists gather this information to devise a treatment plan that works for the client. It can also help them determine the severity of addiction symptoms and become aware of any co-occurring mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, that might contribute to a person’s substance use disorder.
Heroin detox programs offer medical treatment and oversight to help patients start the recovery process. Services typically include:
Regular monitoring of vital signs
Administration of medication, such as methadone, to ease heroin withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings
Additionally, clients have access to individual and group therapy as part of the detox and recovery process. Counseling options may consist of the following:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Family therapy
Detox provides invaluable support to help clients recover safely and comfortably. It can play an integral role in eliminating opioids from the body and starting patients on the path to a healthy, addiction-free life.
Is Heroin Detox Necessary?
It’s important to note that not everyone who has a substance use disorder needs a detox program. However, due to the damage opioids can cause to the body and mind, treatment specialists often advise seeking heroin detox as a first step. Detox offers comprehensive resources, including mental health and medical care, that enable participants to heal appropriately.
Whether a person has grappled with a heroin use disorder for a long time or experienced an overdose or relapse, it’s best to start with detox. Licensed therapists and physicians at a rehab center can tailor services to a client’s unique needs. Though heroin detox may seem daunting, it is often among the most effective measures for healing and recovery.
Benefits of Professional Detox
There are many advantages to completing heroin detox at a rehab center. Just a few of the many perks of these programs are as follows:
Constant Medical Oversight
As part of the detox process, physicians monitor patients around the clock. They’ll regularly check vital signs, including pulse, respiration rate, and blood pressure. If a person’s levels become abnormal, medical professionals can immediately intervene to prevent patients from experiencing discomfort or life-threatening complications.
Reduced Cravings
Specialists at a heroin detox center may administer medication to patients, known as medication-assisted treatment (MAT). FDA-approved medicines such as methadone and buprenorphine can alleviate heroin withdrawal symptoms. They may also minimize cravings and lower the potential for relapse.
Comprehensive Counseling
As part of heroin detox, patients can access individual and group therapy. Counseling may help clients better understand the causes of addiction and cope with any underlying mental health issues that might exacerbate their substance use disorder. Participants can continue attending individual and group therapy sessions in inpatient or outpatient treatment after detox.
Get Started with Heroin Detox at Fort Behavioral Health
Start your recovery journey by reaching out to Fort Behavioral Health. Our compassionate staff can answer your questions about our heroin detox program. We’ll also let you know what to expect from detox and create a recovery plan that meets your needs.
When it comes to heroin addiction treatment, the only way forward is with professional help. At Fort Behavioral Health, you’ll find a wide range of resources for addiction recovery, including heroin detox and inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. Learn more by calling us at 844.332.1807 or connecting with us online.
