Heroin Treatment: Understanding Causes, Signs & Treatment for Heroin Addiction

Understanding Heroin Addiction

What Is Heroin Addiction?

Heroin addiction occurs when an individual repeatedly uses heroin, even when it is affecting their daily life.

Addiction is a disease that impacts the brain and body, causing intense cravings that result in repetitive substance abuse.

How Addictive Is Heroin?

Heroin is highly addictive and a rapidly acting opioid.

As a result, many individuals find themselves quickly becoming dependent.

Is Heroin Addiction Common?

Yes. Heroin addiction impacts approximately one million individuals a year. 

Heroin addiction is a severe form of substance use disorder that requires a comprehensive treatment plan from a treatment center such as Wellbridge.

Is Heroin Addiction an Opioid Use Disorder?

Yes, heroin addiction is an opioid use disorder.

Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid that is made from morphine, a prescription painkiller.

Causes of Heroin Addiction

What Causes Heroin Addiction?

Heroin affects the production of dopamine in the brain, making the user believe they need the drug to feel pleasure, leading to repeated use and the development of addiction.

Heroin is a highly addictive substance that impacts the brain and body. As an individual uses heroin, it binds to receptors in the brain that initiate the process of releasing a significant amount of dopamine, which causes the high associated with heroin abuse.

Over time, this process hijacks the natural processes in the brain that reward healthy behavior, causing dependence and heroin use disorder.

Can Using Prescription Opioids Lead to Heroin Use?

Yes, using prescription opioids can lead to heroin use. 

Prescription opioids bind to the same receptors in the brain that heroin binds to. Individuals who begin to abuse prescription opioids become dependent, and over time, can look for alternatives, which include heroin.

How Do Mental Health and Trauma Affect Addiction Risk?

Mental health and trauma increase the risk of developing substance use disorder.

Individuals with a history of mental health disorders and trauma often look for coping mechanisms to manage mental and physical health symptoms. This can lead them to heroin and other substances.

Mental illness and trauma impact how the brain functions. Because of this, it is important to seek interventions that address both addiction and mental health. At Wellbridge, we address mental health disorders and substance abuse in a cohesive program.

How Do Social Pressures Influence Heroin Use?

When an individual is in a social circle where heroin use is normalized, they are commonly expected to use the drug and are pushed by others to continue to use. 

How Do Environmental Factors Influence Heroin Abuse?

A social environment that normalizes and encourages drug use, physical availability of heroin, and an environment high in stress and/or trauma all increase the risk of heroin abuse. 

Signs & Symptoms of Heroin Addiction

What Are the Signs of Heroin Addiction?

Heroin addiction is a type of substance use disorder that causes intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms when an individual stops using heroin. 

The most prominent sign of heroin addiction is a continued effort to stop heroin use, without being able to. This often results in behaviors such as stealing, lying, or an inability to meet responsibilities at home or in the workplace.

What Are Symptoms of Heroin Addiction?

Symptoms of heroin addiction include changes in mood and focus, and increased paranoia. 

When an individual begins abusing heroin, the cravings begin to impact their decisions. As a result, they may make choices that are riskier and more focused on their continued use of heroin. This commonly means changes in social groups and normal behavioral patterns.

How Does Heroin Affect the Body?

Over time, the physical symptoms of heroin abuse may include weight loss, dry mouth, and watery eyes. 

Heroin abuse can also cause changes in sleep patterns and sores at injection sites in intravenous users.

How Does Heroin Affect the Brain?

Heroin is a depressant, which means it slows down functioning in the brain. 

As a result, individuals experience decreased concentration, working memory, and the capacity for sound judgment. Additionally, dopamine directly impacts mood, resulting in increased anxiety, paranoia, and mood swings.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Heroin?

Heroin abuse results in negative physical and mental long-term impacts. 

Long-term physical effects include damage to the kidneys, liver, and heart. Additionally, infections such as HIV or Hepatitis can occur. Heroin abuse also increases an individual’s risk-taking, which can result in physical injury or trauma.

Lasting impacts on mental health include the onset or worsening of symptoms from mental health disorders. Additionally, long-term heroin abuse decreases white matter in the brain, which impacts decision-making, and grey matter, which affects memory.

It is possible to heal many of the short-term and long-term impacts of heroin abuse through treatment options at Wellbridge.

Overdose & Heroin Addiction Treatment

Can a Person Overdose on Heroin?

Yes, opioid overdose is common and life-threatening. 

Heroin is a rapid-acting drug that acts as a depressant, slowing down the brain and body. If an individual takes too much, they risk overdose. According to the Health and Human Services (HHS), 47% of drug overdoses involve both opioids and stimulants.

What Are the Signs of a Heroin Overdose?

Heroin overdose commonly includes a loss of consciousness and an incredibly low respiratory rate.

As a depressant, heroin causes systems in the body to slow down. When an individual overdoses, these systems slow down to a life-threatening rate.

Other signs of overdose include lack of responsiveness, being awake but unable to speak, limp, vomiting, or fingernails or lips turning blue or grey.

How Is a Heroin Overdose Treated?

Heroin overdose is treated with medications such as naloxone that reverse the overdose. 

What Medications Are Used for Heroin Addiction?

Naltrexone and similar medications are commonly used within a heroin treatment program. 

Medications like Naltrexone reduce cravings by binding to the same receptors as heroin without producing a high.

At Wellbridge, we use medication-assisted treatment (MAT) as part of our evidence-based opioid treatment program. Naltrexone and other medications are used to decrease cravings in the short or long term as a way to help patients reclaim their lives after addiction.

Heroin Withdrawal & Treatment

Will I Experience Heroin Withdrawal?

Yes, heroin withdrawal is very common, and if you are struggling with opioid use disorder, you are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms. 

Due to the addictive nature of heroin, the brain and body quickly become dependent. As a result, when an individual stops using the substance, their body and brain react with cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

What Are Common Withdrawal Symptoms?

Common withdrawal symptoms include intense cravings, muscle and bone pain, cramping in the abdomen, and intense sweating. 

Additional withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, mood swings, agitation, depression, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting.

Do I Need Detox for Heroin?

Yes, heroin detox is a necessary first step in treatment to protect your physical health and prepare you for further treatment. 

Through medical detox, individuals protect their health in the short term and long term by having medical staff to monitor their symptoms.

At Wellbridge, we prepare patients in our detoxification program to transition to inpatient treatment programs, which help them heal from the root causes of substance abuse and build skills that promote long-term recovery.

What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment for Withdrawal?

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a treatment approach that combines medications and therapy as a way to decrease cravings and withdrawal symptoms. 

At Wellbridge, medications are used as a way to decrease the negative effects of detox, protect patients’ health, and help them build a solid foundation for long-term recovery.

Will I Need Medication?

Medications are commonly used in detox and inpatient treatment.

It is important to work with a trusted treatment center that understands the severity of your symptoms to determine the best course of treatment, including or excluding medication.

At Wellbridge, we provide individualized treatment to reduce health problems that result from detox. While we commonly use MAT, we work with each patient and incorporate treatment modalities to support their path to long-term recovery.

Programs & Therapies

What Programs Treat Heroin Dependence?

Detox followed by inpatient treatment is commonly used to treat heroin dependence.

At Wellbridge, patients struggling with heroin dependence commonly go through detox followed by our inpatient treatment program. Through detox, they address the physical dependence, and through inpatient treatment, they address the root causes of addiction and build skills that protect them from relapse.

What Are Some Treatments for Heroin?

Treatment for heroin addiction commonly incorporates MAT, behavioral therapies, and holistic treatments. 

The use of medication in heroin treatment can help reduce cravings, making the transition into sobriety smoother. Combined with behavioral therapies, patients learn about patterns in their thoughts, feelings, and actions, and build new, healthy patterns that support their sobriety.

What Therapies Help Treat Heroin?

Behavioral therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), individual psychotherapy, group therapy, and support groups are used in treatment for heroin dependence.

At Wellbridge, we understand the need for treatments that address each patient’s unique needs. We offer multiple therapeutic modalities to address each patient’s behaviors and risk factors.

Aftercare & Support

Is There Aftercare Support for Heroin Addiction?

Yes, at Wellbridge, we offer aftercare support to help patients transition back to life after rehab. 

Aftercare frequently involves resources for support groups and alumni events. It may also include referrals to outpatient treatment options.

At Wellbridge, we encourage patients to stay engaged in our robust aftercare program to support their continued recovery.

Will I Have Support for Relapse and Overdose Prevention?

Yes, we offer relapse prevention and overdose prevention support from the first day of treatment. 

At Wellbridge, our goal is to help patients build a foundation on which they can rebuild their lives. We understand that relapse and overdose are severe and life-threatening issues related to heroin addiction. Therefore, we help patients to build skills that support long-term recovery, reduce their risk of relapse, and educate them on overdose prevention.

How Can Loved Ones Help With Recovery?

For individuals who have a loved one struggling with heroin addiction, helping them coordinate and get treatment is essential. 

Family support is an important part of recovery, and at Wellbridge, we encourage family involvement within treatment. We incorporate loved ones into the healing process through our family program, which helps patients and their loved ones heal relationships.

Additionally, family support through treatment educates family members on how they can best support their loved one in their recovery journey.

FAQs

Who should not take Suboxone?

Suboxone should not be taken by individuals with an allergy to naloxone or buprenorphine. 

Additionally, it is not recommended for individuals with liver damage, and should not be taken in conjunction with alcohol or other drugs. Working with a medical provider is essential to determining whether Suboxone is safe and effective for you.

At Wellbridge, our team of providers helps patients learn which medications are best suited for their recovery. We offer multiple types of medication to ensure we can provide safe, effective care for every patient.

Who should avoid methadone?

Individuals with severe respiratory issues and other health concerns should avoid methadone.

If a patient has respiratory depression, acute asthma, sleep apnea, liver disease, or kidney disease, methadone is not safe. Additionally, individuals with head injuries or a known allergy should avoid using methadone.

Working with a healthcare team is essential to effectively use MAT as part of a treatment program.

At Wellbridge, our team helps you identify medications that reduce cravings and the severity of withdrawal symptoms. As part of our admission process, we ask about mental, physical, and behavioral health challenges to ensure we provide effective care throughout treatment.

Is buprenorphine a form of heroin?

No, buprenorphine is not a form of heroin.

Both buprenorphine and heroin attach to the opioid receptors in the brain. This is due to similar structures in the attachment area.

However, buprenorphine is structurally different from heroin and does not cause a high. Instead, it fills the space where heroin would attach to, and as a result, inhibits the brain and body from the dopamine dump that heroin causes.

Essentially, buprenorphine and heroin look the same at a single point, but are different in their overall structure. Buprenorphine acts as a substitute and is used as a medication to help reduce cravings for heroin. Therefore, it is often an important part of the treatment process.

What are the odds of recovering from a heroin addiction?

Heroin addiction is considered a chronic relapsing condition; however, recovery is possible. 

Effective treatment that results in long-term recovery is possible through changes in behavioral patterns and social support. Individuals who achieve long-term recovery are able to cope with stress and distress without relapsing.

At Wellbridge, we address the necessary skills for lasting sobriety through CBT, DBT, and other therapeutic modalities. When patients learn to manage stress, they are able to cope without seeking substance abuse.

Additionally, social support and a healthy social circle are important aspects of long-term recovery. This commonly involves activity in peer support groups, aftercare programs, and support and care from loved ones. By engaging in healthy social support, individuals are more able to manage cravings and seek other ways to work through challenges as they arise.

How long after being sober do you feel better?

Physical changes that help patients feel better start within a few days; however, it can take months to feel recovered. 

Heroin addiction impacts the brain and body, causing physical changes over time that affect the body’s ability to create dopamine and regulate itself. This results in intense cravings and symptoms such as depression and anxiety.

The beginning of the detoxification and rehab process is often the most difficult. However, as patients go through detox and with help from MAT, their bodies begin to adjust, and they begin to feel better. These changes mark the start of the recovery process. While this initial change is hopeful, it commonly takes months for patients to feel more normal.

At Wellbridge, we educate patients about the recovery process. This helps them know what to expect in terms of how they will feel at each part of the recovery process. The goal is long-term change, and at Wellbridge, patients receive health care that addresses their long-term well-being.