Drug detox is the necessary process by which an addicted individual rids themselves of a toxic substance. For those struggling with heroin use, a
heroin detox center is often the best option for proper treatment. Heroin is a highly addictive substance that poses many risks to your health, and adequately detoxing your body from heroin is a critical first step toward recovery.
Do You or Someone You Care About Need a Heroin Detox Center?
Heroin is a powerful drug that quickly alters the physiological processes and brain chemistry of the user. Its power lies not only in the consequences of its use but in the severe risk for addiction. The brain experiences a quick, potent high, and that person becomes physically addicted after just a few uses.
Although heroin use is very quickly addictive because of its intense and pleasurable sensations on the brain, withdrawal couldn’t be further from that. It is a short-acting opioid, so whenever it leaves the system, all pleasant effects are yanked away abruptly, and the person is often left feeling worse than they ever have. Heroin is widely considered one of the most addictive substances known to our society. You may need to attend a heroin detox center if you use heroin and are experiencing symptoms such as:
- Painful headaches
- Mood swings and psychological issues like paranoia, edginess, and anxiety
- Intense, uncontrollable cravings for heroin
- Sleep problems and fatigue
- Chronic constipation
- Weight loss
- Scabs and bruises
- Skin scabbing
- Nodding out during a conversation
- Ignoring your responsibilities and social life to use heroin
After entering treatment at a professional heroin detox treatment center, the process of getting off this dangerous drug begins. Initially, there will be physical assessments and paperwork to fill out. After officially committing to a heroin detox program, the detox process can begin.
Heroin detox usually includes a combination of medication, individual therapy, and group therapy. The detox center will also medically monitor patients’ vital signs, such as blood pressure and breathing, to ensure their safety throughout the process. It is helpful to know what to expect and be familiar with a timeline of heroin withdrawal symptoms to ensure that you are on the right track and making progress.
Timeline for Heroin Withdrawal
A
heroin withdrawal timeline will not be the same for all heroin users. The timeline depends on various factors, such as the amount used, length of time used, and all mental or physical conditions that could affect the withdrawal timeline. The painful side effects of withdrawal most often happen within 6-12 hours of the last use. The withdrawal peak is within 2-3 days and can last up to 10 days, but even longer in some cases. Typically,
heroin withdrawal symptoms peak between 2 and 3 days, but some last up to 2 weeks. A minority of people experience symptoms for months. The mental effects of a brain that has experienced heroin addiction can be lifelong.
The First Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms
In the initial hours after your body misses its next expected heroin dose, changes often begin to take hold, such as:
- Depression
- Rapid mood swings
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Panic attacks
After twenty-four hours, sleep problems start, and the mood symptoms worsen. At this point, uncomfortable physical symptoms occur, including:
- Muscle aches
- Spasms
- Flu-like symptoms
- Extreme fatigue
After two to four days, new psychological symptoms often appear as others worsen. These include severe concentration deficits and restlessness. Cravings intensify as the body adjusts. At this point, a person would be the most likely to use heroin again to get away from side effects. In addition to the symptoms already being felt, new symptoms include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Shaking, tremors, and shivering
- Severe stomach pain
- High blood pressure
With the most severe cases of heroin use, long-term symptoms can take much longer to subside. The psychological consequences of heroin addiction can be lifelong, including changes in brain function, thinking and behavioral patterns, and intense cravings.
Seek Treatment at a Heroin Detox Center Today
When you choose to stop using heroin, detox is necessary, and heroin is one of the most challenging drugs to stop using on your own. After you have stopped using it for a short time, the body quickly becomes acclimated to using less. If a person relapses using the same amount of heroin they used to get high before their detox, the risk of death is significantly increased. Receiving professional detox treatment dramatically reduces the risk associated with heroin withdrawal. For this reason alone, a heroin detox treatment center is the safest chance at regaining control of your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
