Almost one million Americans use the opioid drug heroin. Well over two-thirds of these people are addicted or otherwise suffer serious harm. A heroin addiction treatment program can help you recover from chronic abuse of this drug. But what should you expect in a heroin rehab program? Not all treatment facilities are the same. However, as a rule, well-designed heroin rehabs follow a sequence of actions to support your return to sobriety.
At Women’s Recovery, we understand the struggles of heroin addiction and can help you navigate what to expect in a heroin rehab program. Reach out to a professional at 833.754.0554 today.
Detox for Withdrawal in a Heroin Treatment Program
If you’re addicted to heroin, you are physically dependent on the drug. And if you’re physically dependent, you are susceptible to opioid withdrawal when your heroin use ends. The symptoms of this withdrawal can vary in intensity from mild to severe. Severe symptoms can leave you in extreme discomfort. However, even mild symptoms may be too much for you to easily tolerate.
This is why supervised heroin detox is so vital. You go through detox at the start of your recovery. The process has three interconnected goals:
- Evaluating your condition for health and safety purposes
- Keeping you stable as your complete heroin withdrawal
- Preparing you for the next steps in your lasting addiction recovery
A thorough evaluation provides the information needed to guide your treatment. Stabilization efforts include medication and general supportive care. Detox medication options help lessen the impact of your withdrawal symptoms. They do so by serving as temporary substitutes for heroin. By preparing you for follow-up treatment in rehab, detox helps you keep your recovery going strong.
Primary Rehab for Heroin Addiction
Rehab for heroin addiction is the natural extension of heroin detox. Why? Detox leaves you in an initial drug-free state. Primary rehab helps you stay drug-free, both short-term and in the future.
Medication and psychotherapy are equally important to your progress in rehab. The medication you receive will help you steer clear of a heroin relapse. This is crucial since powerful cravings for the drug may still affect you. The standard option for relapse prevention is the anti-opioid naltrexone. A form of naltrexone called Vivitrol is FDA-approved for opioid treatment.
During treatment, you may receive one or more forms of psychotherapy. Therapy options known to support recovery from heroin addiction include:
- Contingency management
- Community reinforcement
- 12-step facilitation
You may also benefit from family therapy. Different therapies are used together because each option helps you in its own particular way.
Additional Options for Heroin Abuse Treatment and Addiction Treatment
Comprehensive heroin abuse treatment programs may also use additional methods to promote your sobriety. Women, in particular, may need help for certain kinds of secondary health issues.
Examples of these issues include food and nutrition-related problems and a history of traumatic experiences. You may also need help with diagnosed eating disorders, PTSD, or other co-occurring mental health conditions.
Unless you get help for these problems, your progress in addiction treatment may be stalled. For this reason, your heroin rehab plan may include options such as trauma treatment or nutrient therapy. It may also include dual diagnosis treatment for any additional mental health concerns.
Seek Help From Women’s Recovery’s Gender-Specific Heroin Rehab Program
Have any more questions about what to expect in heroin rehab? Contact the professionals at Women’s Recovery. We’ll provide you with a detailed breakdown of how the process works.
You can also turn to Women’s Recovery for top-quality heroin addiction treatment. We offer the targeted care needed to maximize your recovery efforts. That includes treatment options oriented explicitly to women’s most pressing concerns. To learn more about our gender-specific approach, call us today at 833.754.0554. We’re also available through our online form.