The Texas Heroin Epidemic: Opioid Overdose Deaths On The Rise

Drug Epidemic in America

Officials have estimated that this increase in drug use and deaths correlates to the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, with almost 100,000 people dying from drug overdose between May 2020 to April of 2021. There are many pandemic-related issues that have contributed to this high death rate:

These factors created a perfect storm of issues that have created this new wave of the drug epidemic in America, which is affecting hundreds of thousands of Americans today.

Growing Opioid Epidemic in Texas

In Texas there have been incredible increases in the number of opioids, especially those laced with fentanyl, being found by law enforcement agents. In 2021, US Customs and Border Patrol reported that there was a 1,066% increase in fentanyl seizures in south Texas, with nearly 88,000 pounds of narcotics seized over the year.

Because opioid drugs like oxycodone, fentanyl, morphine, and heroin affect the brain’s reward system, they create chemical changes that create a tolerance that quickly leads to physical dependence. Users may soon feel like they need the drug just to feel normal and have withdrawal symptoms or strong drug cravings when they try to cut back or quit. Opioid addiction is a serious substance use issue and must be treated through a professional rehabilitation program.

Opioid Related Overdoses in Texas

Texas is seeing an increase in opioid-related overdoses, mainly due to the fentanyl content of these drugs. Fentanyl is incredibly potent, and because it is synthetically manufactured by people who do not use quality control measures, there is never a guarantee of a “safe” amount of fentanyl in your drugs.

Heroin Rehab in Texas

Some signs you may have an opioid addiction and need drug rehab include:

If this sounds familiar to your situation, you may want to enter drug rehab. At Resurgence Behavioral Health rehab, we can help you stop using heroin and get your life back on track through a combination of medical care, therapy, and other treatments and programs.

Rehab for Opioid Addiction

Opioid addiction unfortunately is an addiction that takes more than “just quitting”, and requires a full program of detox, followed by extended rehabilitation. Drug rehab for opioid addiction does not have to be scary or intimidating. At Resurgence Behavioral Health, we will work alongside you, using trauma-informed care to ensure you are safe and comfortable in a welcoming environment. Through our integrated spectrum of care, we can help you not only stop using opioid drugs but improve your overall health and mental well-being, creating a new, sober future for yourself.

Heroin Addiction Treatment at Resurgence

Detox

The first step to rehab for opioid addiction is detoxing. Opioid detox is where you stop taking the drugs so that your body can remove the toxins from your system and your brain chemistry can adjust over time, allowing you to adapt to not having the drugs in your body. This process takes a different amount of time, and symptoms can range from moderate to extremely difficult to handle, depending on factors like:

Opioid withdrawal is both physical and psychological, and can include symptoms like:

During the peak of your detox, usually between 24 and 72 hours after your last use, your drug cravings will become so intense you may feel you cannot think of anything except using the drug again. This is the part of detoxing in which many people will relapse, but if you enroll in a medical detox program, you will be provided with maintenance medications like methadone that can stop these cravings. You will also be physically removed from temptations and people like drug dealers and enablers, which will get you through this stage without needing to suffer. After the 72 hour mark, most people begin to feel a little better every day.

Most withdrawal symptoms will only last a week or two, but some may return unexpectedly or last for weeks or even months after you quit, which is why a full rehabilitation program that provides information about relapse prevention, as well as a continued connection to a sober support community and groups is important for those quitting opioid use.

Going into rehab for opioid addiction may seem intimidating, or you may worry that the program will force you to suffer through your withdrawal symptoms. At Resurgence Behavioral Health Rehab, we can help you through your detox with a medically assisted treatment (MAT) detox plan that includes medical care and FDA-approved prescription medications to help you safely taper off your drug use, along with therapy and counseling to help you begin healing the underlying causes of addiction and deal with difficult emotions and mental health issues.

Rehab

Heroin drug rehab Texas is the next step after detox is complete. Opioid rehab may require a longer time spent in inpatient rehab, followed by outpatient rehab, as certain withdrawal symptoms like drug cravings and flu-like symptoms can return for months after detox has completed. It is best to be surrounded by strong support with professional care when this occurs to avoid a relapse.

Inpatient Rehab

When you enter inpatient rehab at Resurgence, you will move into our facility full-time, living in a comfortable room with a full-sized bed and a TV, not a hospital room. We strive to keep you as comfortable as possible, with a home-like feel as you rehabilitate through our combination of therapy, counseling, group work, educational and life-skills programs, and more. You will work through underlying trauma and emotional pain, get to know others in the same situation as you, learning recovery skills that will last you a lifetime. We will help you access your inner strength as you find new ways to live without drugs or alcohol.

Outpatient Rehab

Outpatient rehab is a general term for many types of rehab that you can partake in while living outside of our facility. The types of rehab programs we offer at Resurgence are:

PHP

The Partial Hospitalization Program at Resurgence is a short-term program for people who are transitioning from inpatient detox and/or rehab programs into an outpatient program. This is a day program, meaning you will commute in for full days of treatment, up to seven days a week if you like, to ensure you are fully supported as you begin taking on life’s responsibilities incrementally. This program is designed to ensure our patients do not become overwhelmed with sudden freedom after inpatient care.

IOP

The Intensive Outpatient Program at Resurgence is a customizable and flexible option for our patients in which you live at home or in a sober living home, return to responsibilities like work or school, and schedule your treatments outside of your day-to-day life. Most patients work their full- or part-time jobs and come in for treatment on evenings and weekends, but we will collaborate with you to figure out the best schedule for your individual needs.

Aftercare

After you have completed your IOP, we do not cut ties with you. In fact, we recommend staying in our outpatient and aftercare programs for as long as you need. We can provide you with continued access to the same doctors and therapists you already know, ensuring you remain healthy, and we also provide references and access to support groups, alumni programs, and other sober activities. Staying connected to a sober support system is very important for those quitting opioid drugs, and we can help you when you feel like you are about to hit a bump in the road.

You can do this, and we are here for you every step of the way. Contact us for more information on medically assisted detox, opioid rehab, or any questions you may have about heroin rehab Texas residents can trust.

Opioid related deaths are on the rise, lean more in our blog below! #opioidrelateddeaths #overdose https://t.co/v5ZlL1JOTd

— Resurgence Behavioral Health (@RBHRecovery) January 25, 2022

David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.

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