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Types of Heroin Addiction Treatment
Research shows that no single method of treatment is effective for every individual who is addicted to heroin or any other substance for that matter.
Various treatment approaches are required in order to help people overcome their substance use problems and set their lives on a forward path of sobriety and healthy living. The most common forms of heroin abuse help includes:
- Medically Managed Detox
- Residential Addiction Treatment
- Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment
- Medication Maintenance
Medically Assisted Heroin Detoxification
Often times, withdrawal symptoms associated with the abrupt elimination or reduction of heroin use can lead to higher rates of relapse—but these risks are greatly reduced with medically assisted detox. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, medically managed withdrawal is often the first step in any heroin abuse treatment program, and it's also one of the most important steps.
Residential Substance Abuse Help
Structure and control form a foundation for recovery from heroin addiction when patients enter into residential treatment. This type of treatment involves around-the-clock care, patient monitoring, medical intervention, housing and meals, counseling and therapy in a controlled and safe environment where the focus can be 100% on recovery. Residential treatment is often reserved for the strongest addictions, those that have high relapse rates and which are plagued with moderate to severe withdrawal syndrome similar to heroin addiction.
Outpatient Drug Addiction Treatment
Much less structured, with limited monitoring and no housing provided, outpatient heroin use rehab provides patients with counseling and therapy on a day-to-day basis as needed.
Most programs tailor the services offered to the unique needs of the patient and adjust the overall requirements for participation and involvement based on the patient's response and achievement of recovery goals.
Outpatient treatment is generally designed to help patients who have already completed a residential treatment program or who have limited risk of relapse.
Medication Maintenance Heroin Programs
Medication maintenance treatment for heroin addiction often includes the use of one of the following medications which help to curb cravings, prevent withdrawal or otherwise dilute the effects of using heroin or other opiates:
- Methadone
- Suboxone
- Subutex
- Naloxone
- Buprenorphine
The most common medication maintenance program used in the treatment of heroin use is Methadone.
Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) has been proven to help reduce drug use, stop drug seeking behavior, slow criminal activity and involvement, improve recovery outcomes and reduce death rates for those who abuse heroin and other drugs. According to the CDC, Methadone maintenance treatment is both cost-effective and safe when proper care is taken by the treatment provider to ensure appropriate administration of the medication.
