Heroin Addiction Treatment Nashville

Heroin Addiction Treatment Nashville

The reasons why someone develops a heroin addiction vary from person to person, but ultimately they are all suffering in the same way because of an inability to stop using. Those suffering from substance use disorder (SUD) may spend a lot of time and money searching for heroin. But with proper, professional treatment, anyone has the ability to treat their substance abuse disorder and achieve long-term sobriety.

Heroin is an extremely addictive opioid and can take a lot of hard work and time to treat. Fortunately, there are many heroin addiction treatment options in Nashville and sobriety is achievable. The first step is recognizing you have a dependency on heroin and that you need help.

Signs of Heroin Addiction

Every addict can exhibit different signs that point towards addiction and abuse, but there are certain ones that are clear tell-tale signs of heroin addiction. Signs and symptoms include both behavioral and emotional. Some of the signs include:

Short Term Effects of Heroin Abuse

The short-term effects of using heroin can have many negative effects, both mental and physical. These can include:

Long Term Effects of Heroin Abuse

When a person is regularly using they are at risk for developing long-term effects, including the physical symptoms of heroin addiction which include:

An elevated risk of respiratory depression and overdose death

Heroin Withdrawal: What to Expect

With prolonged use, a person can develop opioid dependence, which means their brain has become dependent on the substance. When the brain is adjusted to regularly having a certain level of the drug, it has a very hard time functioning without it. When the person stops using or significantly decreases the amount they use, they can experience withdrawal symptoms.

These symptoms can be uncomfortable and dangerous. The symptoms start within 6 to 12 hours and can last 5 to 10 days. Some of the physical symptoms include diarrhea, achy muscles and bones, chills, nervousness, agitation, muscle spasms, and vomiting. Some people have a harder time quitting because they are tempted to use again in order to prevent or stop the withdrawal symptoms. How severe symptoms get depends on how long heroin was abused, how it was abused, and how much was taken each time.

More severe symptoms include rapid heart rate, difficulty feeling pleasure, drug cravings, insomnia, depression, hypertension, and impaired respiration. Heroin withdrawal is not considered life-threatening but some of the psychological symptoms can have complications. For example, depression from withdrawal can lead someone to consider suicide. Heroin should be stopped with the support of medical and/or health professionals.

Medical Detox for Heroin

Medical detox is done under the supervision of physicians and mental health experts and can help make the withdrawal process the most comfortable. Medical detox often starts before heroin has left the body completely and can take from 5 to 7 days, sometimes up to 10 depending on the severity of the addiction. During medical detox, the person can be prescribed medications to help make the withdrawal process more comfortable. This is still just the first phase of treatment. After detox, it is a good idea to continue with a longer period of treatment either in an inpatient or outpatient setting. Medical detox can help a person complete the withdrawal process as well.

Types of Heroin Addiction Treatment

There are many levels of addiction treatment available and which one is best for a person depends on many factors including the severity of heroin abuse, how much time they can take away from their lives, and how motivated they are to get clean.

The most intense form of heroin addiction is inpatient or residential treatment, where the person resides in a facility and receives treatment 24/7. This type of treatment is best for those with strong addictions or without a supportive home environment. There are also outpatient programs, including partial hospitalization programs (PHP) and intensive outpatient programs (IOP) which allow people to get help for their addiction while living at home or in a sober living home outside of treatment hours. No one type of treatment is right for everyone and the program will be customized for each patient.

Both of these types of programs will include some similar therapeutic approaches. One of the most common types of therapy offered at addiction treatment centers is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps patients learn to think differently about drugs and learn new skills to prevent future relapses. CBT helps to figure out why the person is using heroin and how to cope with these triggers without the use of drugs. Some places will include family behavioral therapy, to help loved ones learn to set boundaries and how to work through problems that may be triggering for the addict.

One of the key parts of effective treatment is aftercare and routine follow-ups with treatment providers. Most people relapse within a year of rehabilitation treatment. Proper follow-ups and constant work help impact the success of rates of treatment. Having a support network of people during recovery helps maintain abstinence from drugs. Aftercare helps reinforce the lessons learned during treatment while also helping to work through problems and other triggers that arise once they are out in the real world.

Heroin rehab program always starts with detox that lasts about 5 to 10 days. How long the rest of the program depends on severity and treatment program. Inpatient programs can last between 30 and 90 days on average, or sometimes more.

Medications Used to Treat Heroin Addiction

There are several medications that can help treat people with heroin addiction and can even help lower the risk of relapse. During withdrawal, opioid agonist medications can help stabilize someone. Two medications that are commonly used in the treatment of heroin addictions are methadone and buprenorphine.

Methadone binds to and activates opioid receptors in the brain similar to heroin and other opioids but will not cause euphoria. This can help relieve some of the withdrawal symptoms and cravings while working on recovery. Methadone is administered in specialized facilities.

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist which can be used alone or with naloxone. Just like heroin and other opioids, it binds to opioid receptors in the brain but only activates them partially compared to full opioid agonists. Buprenorphine helps control heroin cravings and help with withdrawal symptoms. This medication can be prescribed by specially qualified physicians and nurses in any setting.

Opioid antagonists work by blocking opioid receptors’ ability to become active by another drug. If a person uses heroin while on these drugs, they will not get the euphoric effects. An example of one is naltrexone which can be administered daily in pill form. There is also a once-monthly shot called Vivitrol for those who prefer that method.

Every person is different and no medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program will be the same for everyone. Besides these medications to help with withdrawals and cravings, there are also other medications that may be used. For example, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications may be used for someone with co-occurring disorders.

Heroin Addiction Treatment at Resurgence

Heroin addiction is a chronic addiction that can become progressive if left untreated. Heroin can cause a strong physical dependence along with psychological and behavioral dependence, which needs professional help for a real shot of long-term sobriety. There is no cure to addiction, but it can be managed.

At Resurgence Behavioral Health, we successfully have helped many reaches and maintain sobriety from heroin addiction. We offer a wide range of levels of care including medical detox, inpatient program, an outpatient program. Whichever program you choose, we will tailor your treatments to your unique needs which may include dual diagnosis treatment, medically assisted treatment, dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, 12-step group therapy, and rational emotive behavioral therapy.

If you or someone you love is looking for addiction treatment near Nashville, Tennessee, please give us a call today and one of our addiction specialists will be happy to answer any questions you may have or get you started with addiction treatment.

Looking for top rated heroin addiction treatment for residents of Nashville? Reach out to the experts at Resurgence today!#heroinaddiction #nashville #addictiontreatmenthttps://t.co/fzzLGPQRDd

— Resurgence Behavioral Health (@RBHRecovery) February 2, 2022