What You Must Know About Heroin Treatment

Heroin is one of the commonly used and addictive drugs. It can be smoked, snorted, or injected. Most abusers may use heroin up to four times daily; overdosing can be fatal and may lead to death. Treatment for heroin abuse is most effective when started early. There are various behavioural and medical treatments used for treating heroin addiction.

Treatment for heroin addiction must be tailored to your needs. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all treatment programme, so a reputable treatment centre performs an assessment of your condition prior to your admission. For the treatment to be effective, it must include a detoxification period where you completely stop taking heroin. Detoxing from heroin can be unbearable because the withdrawal symptoms can be severe. During detox, it may be best for you to stay in a treatment centre where you can be monitored and assisted by medical professionals when the withdrawal symptoms set in.

Upon completion of the detox period, you may be asked to undergo pharmacological treatment and behavioural therapy. An example of pharmacological treatment is the use of a synthetic opiate such as methadone, which blocks heroin's effects and minimises withdrawal symptoms. Another example is buprenorphine, which can help treat heroin addiction and addiction to other opiates.

Many types of behavioural therapies that can be used for treating heroin addiction, and they can be provided in either an inpatient or an outpatient setting. Cognitive behavioural therapy is one of them, and it teaches you better ways to cope with stress and situations that can trigger drug use. The therapy seeks to help you modify your behaviour towards drugs, too. Cognitive behavioural therapy has been found to be effective when combined with pharmacological treatment.

Some of the best treatment centres offer specialised treatment programmes, too, such as music therapy and equine assisted therapy. These methods of treatment may help you learn more about yourself, understand why you behave the way you do, and face life without drugs.

Some Effective Methods for Drug Addiction Treatment

When it comes to treating drug addiction, many experts recommend checking into a rehabilitation facility where you can undergo a safe and proper detox, and a therapeutic treatment programme that specialises in treatment methods that can help you recover and overcome the addiction. Look for treatment centres that provide non-cognitive treatment programmes to go alongside the medical and cognitive treatment methods for drug addiction. Here are some of them:

Equine Assisted Therapy

This type of therapy involves the help of horses and is designed to make you realise your worth, know yourself, and change the way you deal with personal issues. It is believed that horses can help you realise your authentic self because they do not judge, challenge, or confront you. The honesty, genuineness, and openness of horses can help you feel more at ease with yourself and with people around you. Treatment centres that provide equine-assisted therapy generally won’t require you to have riding skills or prior experience in interacting with horses. You just need to have the desire and willingness to change.

Music Therapy

This is another non-cognitive behavioural therapy that can be offered in a treatment centre. Music therapy seeks to help you learn a better way to be sensitive your own needs and to other people's needs. If applied to the recovery process, it can help you cope with severe emotional states. Music is believed to be nurturing and helpful in soothing your sensitivity and preventing or at least reducing anxiety. Participants in music therapy would usually feel more empowered and joyful, and they can have more compassion for others and themselves, too.

Trauma Reduction

Some drug addictions manifest from an individuals need to self-medicate negative thoughts and feelings, which are often caused by specific types of traumatic experiences in one's life. Trauma reduction therapy can be helpful in making the drug addiction treatment successful. This type of therapy seeks to help identify and deal with traumatic issues from childhood and painful life experiences.