Substance use disorders affect millions of American families. Heroin is near the top of the substance list, with an estimated 1 million annual users. When seeking help for yourself or a loved one, heroin withdrawal is a major concern. Many people relapse quickly or fail to make it through the extended withdrawal period that comes with heroin addiction and long-term use when they attempt to quit. Seeking help for your heroin detox is the first, and often most helpful, step in a lasting recovery.
Understanding Heroin Addiction
Heroin, derived from the opium poppy, is similar to morphine but offers a faster, more powerful high and is easier and cheaper to obtain on the street. Due to the ease of acquisition and lower price point, people prescribed painkillers may switch to heroin if they become addicted. Many modern painkillers work similarly, but heroin is a lot more dangerous.
For one thing, it’s shockingly easy to become addicted to heroin. Regular use over just a few weeks can leave someone with a lifelong addiction they’ll struggle with for years. It’s also impossible to know the final composition of drugs acquired on the street. Heroin is often cut with bulking agents to lower the purity and up the profit margin. When you buy heroin, it could be contaminated with:
- Baking soda
- Powdered milk
- Sugar
- Starch
- Antihistamines
- Caffeine
- Laundry detergent
- Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a particularly dangerous addition that makes it much easier to accidentally overdose. It’s unfortunately easy to start heroin and very difficult to stop. You can recognize an addiction to heroin when your drug use starts to impact your daily life. If you’re using daily or can’t control how much you use, that’s a clear sign that addiction is now a part of your daily life. With the right support, however, you can leave it in the past.
Common Symptoms of Heroin Withdrawal
When you stop using this opioid regularly, there are some symptoms that commonly fall under the heading of heroin withdrawal. Expect to have regular bouts of nausea and vomiting for at least the first 2-3 days. Other symptoms may include trouble sleeping, restless legs, diarrhea, pain, chills and jitters. While these symptoms should lessen in severity over time, the craving for more of the drug takes a long time to disappear and may never be totally absent.
The Withdrawal Time Line: What to Expect
Heroin withdrawal symptoms can start within 5 hours of your last dose. As the drug starts to wear off, you may start thinking about taking more or how to get more. As you continue to abstain, you’ll start to feel bad physically. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are common and last for several days. Trouble sleeping might persist for weeks or months. The longer you use heroin and the higher the doses you take, the longer it takes for you to start feeling better when you stop.
Yawning, sweating, hot flashes and chills are all normal for someone going through a heroin detox, but there are options that can help take the edge off. It’s best to seek out a medication-assisted detox program to help with the immediate effects of stopping drug use. After all, many people with long-term heroin addiction also have secondary health issues related to using the drug.
Medical and Therapeutic Treatment Options
Substance use disorder, no matter what the drug of choice, is a medical condition, and treatment options often start with health care providers. If you’re ready to start your recovery plan, your first step is often a medical detox program, where you get through the most immediate withdrawal symptoms under the care of medical professionals who help mitigate the symptoms of withdrawal with prescription medications.
Next is a medication-assisted treatment plan administered in a hospital or clinic. Drugs like methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone can help with cravings and reduce the effectiveness of heroin, making it less appealing. These programs are often most successful when paired with a long-term stay at an inpatient rehab program. A minimum of 30 days is recommended, but longer rehab is directly linked to longer-term sobriety. Stay as long as you’re able to.
With your physical health under control, it’s time to start looking at the root cause of your addiction and find ways to avoid a relapse. Mental health services are the go-to solution for drug addiction treatment. Some of the options include:
- Behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps individuals identify and change harmful thoughts and behaviors related to drug use. Contingency management, another strategy, provides tangible rewards for staying drug-free.
- Group therapy. Support groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous, offer peer support and a sense of community. Most areas have many options for support groups, and there are online groups for those in extremely remote settings.
- Counseling. Individual counseling addresses personal issues and helps develop coping strategies. It’s important to focus on the why of addiction and have proven tools ready to deploy to help stave off a relapse.
Strategies for Long-Term Recovery
Getting sober is just the first step toward recovery. To stay sober is a journey that continues for life. While no one path guarantees success, there are tried-and-true strategies that can help you get and stay sober for years. Staying connected to a community of people who are facing the same struggle is often a critical part of lifelong sobriety. That means continuing with support groups, even when you’ve been successfully sober for a long time.
You’ll also need to keep in touch with your medical professionals for routine follow-ups and create a home environment that supports your sobriety. This often means developing new friendships and cutting ties with the people you were close to while you were involved in drugs.
Call the National Rehab Hotline
It’s hard to face heroin withdrawal and take the first steps to sobriety, but help is out there. At the National Rehab Hotline, we’re here to help you find local options for medical detox and ongoing rehabilitation. If you’re ready to start living sober, we’re here to give you a hand up.