Heroin addiction is a growing problem in the United States. The drug is highly addictive, and withdrawal symptoms can be brutal. In fact, heroin withdrawal is notoriously uncomfortable and leads to a high chance of relapse. For this very reason, detoxing on your own is quite difficult. Professional rehab facilities like Crest View Recovery Center in Asheville, NC have the resources and caring staff to help ease the process of heroin withdrawals. Keep reading to learn about heroin addiction and how to decide if you can quit heroin cold turkey.
About Heroin Addiction
According to the current estimation of Drug-free world foundation, nearly 9.2 million people in the world have an addiction to heroin. The number of heroin addicts is increasing with each passing year. In 2018’s national survey on drug use, 669,000 people in the USA admitted that they use heroin. With the use of heroin becoming prevalent, the number of people who suffer from its addiction is also increasing.
The widespread use of heroin also indicates that the drug is not easy-to-quit. It is because the illicit drug is way more potent than any natural opiate or morphine. Individuals addicted to this drug compulsively seek it despite knowing its legal, social, and health consequences.
It doesn’t end here; heroin addicts are at a high risk of falling for detrimental health complications that include depression, anxiety, and breathing problems. If not treated timely, the symptoms associated with these health complications can exacerbate.
However, the growing problem of heroin addiction can cause brutal withdrawal symptoms. Not only do these symptoms are uncomfortable but they also increase the risk of relapse. That is what makes quitting heroin cold turkey a daunting task. An ideal way to deal with this is to opt for the medical facilities in professional rehab like Crest View Recovery Center.
How Do You Develop Heroin Addiction?
Heroin has many forms. When you inject or use the illicit substance in another way, it enters the brain. The drug then interacts with enzymes and chemicals in the brain that convert it into morphine. It also binds to different opioid receptors in the brain. The continuous use of heroin makes neurons adapted to drug exposure. This is the point where heroin addiction starts taking a heavy toll on you. Because of heroin addiction, your brain only functions in a normal way when it receives the drug. The addiction also stimulates dopamine receptors in the brain that leads to mental and physical comfort.
If the addict stops using heroin abruptly, both physical and psychological symptoms manifest. That means the more you expose your brain to heroin, the higher the risk of becoming mentally and physically dependent on it.
Know that these symptoms are not easy to endure. Many heroin addicts experience a relapse during their recovery process due to strong withdrawal symptoms. While physical symptoms are more like a severe flu case, psychological effects are worse. It becomes hard for your body to readjust and start releasing dopamine again.
Also, it is important to understand that the intensity of heroin addiction is not the same for everyone. The factors like environment, genetics, and personality determine how quickly an individual becomes a heroin addict. For some people, initial withdrawal symptoms last for a few days or weeks. But in severe cases, they may lead to addicts resuming drug use to stop prevent the symptoms.
The rehab center is full of resources and competent staff to help heroin addicts recover easily. Keep reading if you want to find out more about quitting heroin without medication aka “going cold turkey”.
Is Quitting Heroin Cold Turkey a Right Choice?
No matter how sincerely you try to quit heroin, cold turkey, detoxing, one’s self is not an easy process. That is why addiction experts don’t recommend self-detoxification or quitting heroin cold turkey on your own. The sudden discontinuation of heroin may lead to detrimental physical issues in which dehydration is the most common. That means you need professional medical assistance when you want heroin detoxification.
Moreover, abruptly quitting the drug can cause painful withdrawal symptoms like vomiting, insomnia, diarrhea, anxiety, and muscle aches. This discontinuation may also have emotional side effects that lead to compulsive behavioral issues.
In addition to that, it is extremely easy for an individual to overdose if they relapse. The results of a heroin relapse can be life-threatening. It happens because your dependence level is affected when you quit heroin cold turkey. The withdrawal symptoms begin within twelve hours when you stop using drugs. The symptoms begin with a strong craving for an opioid. The intensity of the craving can get more severe if they don’t receive medical assistance on time.
Therefore, quitting heroin cold turkey is not considered ideal.
Heroin Addiction Treatment – What Is the Solution?
If quitting heroin cold turkey is not safe, then what is the best way to deal with this problem? Consulting to medical professionals in rehab centers is, without a doubt, a safe and comfortable way to quit heroin addiction. Addiction rehab centers employ trained staff and medical specialists who are professionals and able to handle individuals experiencing mild or severe withdrawal symptoms.
Patients in rehab centers receive Suboxone-a medicine formulated with naloxone and buprenorphine. The oral intake of Suboxone is great to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. Addicts receive treatment with other prescription drugs such as naltrexone, and methadone to relieve symptoms during detox. However, people who try to detox themselves without any medical supervision do not have access to these medicines.
Rehab centers can help heroin addicts in different ways. From providing 24-hour support service to offering nutritional supplements like those that vitamins and minerals to replenish an addict’s body with nutrient loss, rehab centers go the extra mile to ease the recovery process.
Quit Heroin at Crest View Recovery Center in Asheville, NC
If you are looking for the rehab center that provides quality services and reliable drug recovery options, Crest View Recovery Center is the right choice. Offering the best medical facilities, the rehab center does not only beat your heroin addiction but also minimize the risk of relapse. When you decide to quit heroin cold turkey, we can help you professionally through our comprehensive programs and resources that can help you lessen severe withdrawal symptoms.
Furthermore, our addiction experts can teach you daily life skills to help you improve your quality of life. The services we provide include:
- Rehab treatment
- Reality therapy
- Intensive outpatient program
- On-site psychiatrist
We work through an in-depth wellness approach when it comes to treating the whole person. We will help you work out your problems by teaching you the essential skills you need to overcome them. Our services further include yoga, meditation, nutritional counseling, and recreational therapy.
There is no need to make efforts to quit heroin cold turkey on your own when you can receive the best professional assistance. Call us at 866.327.2505; we are there to support and guide you through the difficult problems.
