Call (800) 570-0298 (
Who Answers?) to find a heroin treatment center and learn more about your treatment options.
Is Treatment for Heroin Addiction Right for Me?
Because heroin is such an addictive drug that often takes over a person's life, heroin addiction treatment can be very necessary for recovery. If you are struggling with heroin abuse, answer the questions below and decide which treatment is right for you.
Should I be Treated for Heroin Addiction
"All heroin users - not just those who inject the drug - risk becoming addicted" (DOJ).
Heroin is a Schedule I substance which means it is illegal and very addictive. If you have been using heroin chronically, you are probably already addicted to the drug. Ask yourself these questions to determine whether you are addicted to heroin:
- Do you feel that you need heroin to get through the day?
- Do you crave heroin when you are not taking it?
- Do you experience withdrawal symptoms when you are unable to use heroin for more than 12 hours?
- Do you only want to spend time with other people who do heroin?
- Do you feel that heroin is causing issues between you and your family or friends but you still can't stop using?
- Do you neglect your responsibilities in order to do heroin?
- Does your abuse of heroin have negative effects on your school, work, or home life but you still can't stop using?
Heroin addiction is a common outcome of heroin abuse. According to the NIDA, "it is estimated that about 23 percent of individuals who use heroin become dependent on it." The longer you abuse heroin, the higher chance you have of becoming addicted and dependent and the harder it will be to quit.
Because of the painful withdrawal symptoms, strong cravings, and high possibility of relapse, those who are addicted to heroin should seek treatment immediately 800-839-1663. Addiction is a brain disease and heroin changes the way a person's brain works over time. Treatment is necessary for any kind of strong foundation for recovery.
Some people attempt to weather withdrawal symptoms alone, but successfully going through withdrawal does not mean that the addiction has been treated. Even when a person goes into a heroin detox center to get clean, "medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long-term abuse" (NIDA).
Choosing A Heroin Addiction Treatment
This is a very important question to ask yourself. If you are struggling with addiction, treatment is the right answer. But there are many treatments available and several can be combined for a higher chance of success. The most important thing to remember is that no one treatment is right for everyone. Here are some of the treatment methods that are used for heroin addiction:
- Methadone Maintenance Treatment
- Buprenorphine and Other Medications
- Behavioral Therapy or Group Therapy
- Mutual-Help Groups
Medication can be used in instances of severe addiction where a person may need more than a year to recover from heroin abuse. Therapy and medication are often used together to provide a person with a stable recovery, and mutual-help groups like Narcotics Anonymous can be important in long-term recovery. Recovery from heroin addiction is a long journey, and the right kind of treatment will give you a good foundation with which to begin.
