Typically sold as a powder to be injected, smoked, or snorted, heroin is derived from the opium plant. It is known that many need heroin addiction treatment, as this drug has gained significant notoriety due to a large number of heroin overdoses. Most people do not start out by immediately abusing this drug.
Many people will begin by misusing painkillers and prescription opioids. With continued abuse, people become addicted to these pills. Without receiving prescription drug addiction treatment to stop, many of these people will eventually turn to heroin for a stronger as well as a cheaper high. As a result, a number of people are becoming addicted to heroin and struggling to stop without the aid of clinical professionals. Luckily, Clearbrook Rehab Centers offer heroin addiction treatment that can help.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Abuse?
Many addicts mistakenly believe that they can stop at any time. With this mentality, it is not unlikely that they will fall down the slippery slope that is addiction and let heroin slowly come to control their life. The best way to prevent this from happening is to recognize the signs of heroin addiction early and to get the person in need into heroin treatment as quickly as possible.
Signs of heroin abuse include:
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms
- Hiding or downplaying drug abuse
- Prioritizing heroin over anything else
- Neglecting responsibilities in favor of getting high
- Financial and relationship issues
- Unusual behaviors or actions
- Social withdrawal
Whether this sounds like you or a loved one, it is important to get treatment from a heroin rehab program as soon as possible.
Why Is Heroin So Addictive?
Heroin is a highly addictive drug because of its significant impact on the brain’s reward system. After entering the brain, heroin swiftly changes into morphine and binds to opioid receptors, which are primarily in charge of controlling pain and pleasure. This connection results in intense emotions of exhilaration and relaxation, which makes the brain wish to repeat the experience.
The euphoric effects of heroin cause massive releases of dopamine, a neurotransmitter connected to pleasure and reward. The brain is trained to associate heroin use with pleasure as a result of this dopamine spike, which promotes drug use and results in the emergence of severe drug dependence.
The quick rise in tolerance further exacerbates heroin’s addictive qualities. With continuous usage, the brain becomes less sensitive to the effects of the drug and adjusts to its presence, necessitating greater doses to produce the same amount of pleasure. The cycle of growing tolerance and doses can swiftly result in physical and psychological dependence, making it harder for users to operate without the substance and feeding their addiction.
Since withdrawal symptoms are so unpleasant, people who are trying to quit often turn to more of the substance to ease their discomfort, which only serves to fuel their addiction. Heroin is one of the most addictive narcotics known to humankind due to a combination of these neurological elements, posing substantial difficulties for individuals battling its hold. This makes seeking out the proper help for heroin addiction crucial to the user’s physical and mental well-being.
Heroin Addiction Treatment Centers
At both Clearbrook Massachusetts and Clearbrook Pennsylvania, our heroin addiction treatment programs were created to help people pick themselves up from heroin addiction and get their lives back on track. While a variety of heroin addiction treatments focus on overcoming addiction, few are able to set the patient up for long-term success.
At our Northeast addictions treatment centers, we not only want to be with you through every step of the recovery process, but we also want to provide a comprehensive approach to treatment that decreases the chances of relapse. We work with every patient to provide a treatment plan that best fits their needs and gives them their greatest chance of long-term recovery.
For most of our patients, their treatment will begin with a detox. This process is not just uncomfortable but sometimes even life-threatening if not done properly. At our heroin treatment centers, we have trained medical staff supervising the detox process 24/7. They are there to address any problems that could arise and make the process as comfortable as possible for the patient.
After detox, patients will be placed in the appropriate program for their needs and partake in a variety of therapies and treatments to address their addiction issues on a deeper level. Their time in our heroin addiction treatment will include one-on-one counseling with their primary therapist, group therapy, 12-step meetings, relapse prevention, cognitive behavioral therapy, art therapy, and even family therapy. After working closely with the patient and their support systems, our specialists will devise an appropriate aftercare plan to give the patient the greatest chance of long-term success.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, you are not alone. Our heroin rehab program at Clearbrook Treatment Centers is here to help. Contact us today to learn more.
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