Heroin addiction can feel like a prison. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize this when they begin using. They may try the drug once or twice just to experience its effects. However, this can lead to the development of a life-changing addiction.
If you or someone close to you is abusing heroin, it is important that you get professional substance abuse help. Reach out to Northpoint Washington at 888.450.2153 today to learn more about our heroin addiction treatment programs.
What Is Heroin?
Heroin is a highly addictive drug that is derived from morphine. Morphine is a natural substance that comes from the seed pod of the Asian poppy plant. Heroin can have many street names including dope, smack, H, junk, scag and others. It is typically sold as a white or brownish powder or as the black sticky substance known on the streets as “black tar heroin.” It can be injected, snorted or smoked.
What Happens When You Use Heroin?
People who use heroin report feeling a surge of euphoria (“high”). However, heroin is both psychologically and physically addictive. Psychological symptoms include anxiety, restlessness, irritability, and insomnia. Physical symptoms include watery eyes, fever, vomiting, and severe itching. Heroin can be highly dangerous particularly when used intravenously with needles. The use of unsterile needles may result in the contraction of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis B or C. After an initial “rush,” the user experiences a state of drowsiness, followed by nodding in and out of consciousness. Heavy heroin use causes suppression of the immune system making the body more susceptible to diseases.
If you or someone you know is suffering from a heroin addiction, it’s important to seek professional help as soon as possible for a full recovery.
Inpatient Heroin Addiction Treatment
Inpatient heroin addiction treatment allows addicts to focus solely on recovery without being distracted by daily activities like work or school. With the support of staff members and therapists, they’d be able to concentrate all their efforts on overcoming drug dependence.
What Can I Expect in an Inpatient Heroin Addiction Treatment Program?
In an inpatient program like the one at Northpoint Washington, individuals struggling with heroin addiction typically undergo the following:
Intake assessment
Professional staff members evaluate each patient to determine appropriate treatment and care. During the intake assessment, patients complete a medical and psychosocial history and provide information on their past and current drug use. They also provide urine samples for routine drug testing.
Initial assessment
This is an interview with a counselor or therapist where the patient discusses the reasons for their drug use and how it has affected their lives. They also learn about chemical dependency, denial, triggers and relapse prevention to help them better understand addiction.
Treatment plan development
Based on the initial assessment, patients will write their own treatment plans. The plan would include treatment goals and objectives, as well as details of how they’d like to achieve them.
Therapy sessions – Patients will participate in individual or group therapy sessions with counselors or therapists who are trained to work with heroin patients. These might include motivational interviews, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), contingency management, 12-step facilitation therapy, behavior modification techniques, or others. They are also encouraged to attend educational lectures on topics such as the dangers of drug abuse and strategies to prevent relapse.
Recovery support
This is an essential part of heroin addiction treatment. Individuals in recovery need continued emotional support from friends and family members who have also sought help for their heroin addiction or who are in recovery themselves. Family therapy sessions can help them resolve any conflicts with each other so they can support the patient’s recovery efforts. A supportive environment also helps prevent relapse.
Aftercare
Individuals struggling with heroin addiction benefit from continued support after they leave treatment by attending either individual or group therapy sessions. This helps them maintain their sobriety, prevent relapse and develop the coping skills they need to deal with stressors that might trigger drug use in the future.
Intake assessment
Professional staff members evaluate each patient to determine appropriate treatment and care. During the intake assessment, patients complete a medical and psychosocial history and provide information on their past and current drug use. They also provide urine samples for routine drug testing.
Initial assessment
This is an interview with a counselor or therapist where the patient discusses the reasons for their drug use and how it has affected their lives. They also learn about chemical dependency, denial, triggers and relapse prevention to help them better understand addiction.
Treatment plan development – Based on the initial assessment, patients will write their own treatment plans. The plan would include treatment goals and objectives, as well as details of how they’d like to achieve them.
Therapy session
Patients will participate in individual or group therapy sessions with counselors or therapists who are trained to work with heroin patients. These might include motivational interviews, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), contingency management, 12-step facilitation therapy, behavior modification techniques, or others. They are also encouraged to attend educational lectures on topics such as the dangers of drug abuse and strategies to prevent relapse.
Recovery support
This is an essential part of heroin addiction treatment. Individuals in recovery need continued emotional support from friends and family members who have also sought help for their heroin addiction or who are in recovery themselves. Family therapy sessions can help them resolve any conflicts with each other so they can support the patient’s recovery efforts. A supportive environment also helps prevent relapse.
Aftercare
Individuals struggling with heroin addiction benefit from continued support after they leave treatment by attending either individual or group therapy sessions. This helps them maintain their sobriety, prevent relapse and develop the coping skills they need to deal with stressors that might trigger drug use in the future.
If you or someone close to you is battling heroin addiction, it is important to get professional help. Reach out to the compassionate, expert staff at Northpoint Washington today at 888.450.2153 to learn more about our inpatient heroin addiction treatment programs.
Learn More About Heroin Addiction Treatment at Northpoint Washington
When you suffer from an addiction to a drug like heroin, it’s normal to feel as though you’re going to be suffering from it forever. You may have heard that heroin is a difficult addiction to overcome, or perhaps you’ve tried to stop using it on your own, but you weren’t able to be successful. So many others have had the same experience. However, there are also those who have been able to stop using heroin very successfully with the right kind of support.
“Once an addict, always an addict” is a myth. And with the proper type of treatment, you too can kick your heroin addiction for good.
At Northpoint Washington, we’ve had the privilege to help a countless number of people overcome their heroin addictions. We understand how difficult it can be, but we have the tools you need to be victorious over this addiction. If you would like to learn more about how we can assist you, reach out to us at 888.450.2153 right away.