Heroin Withdrawal

If a person who was thinking about using heroin had a good understanding of what would happen when they tried to stop using it, would they ever start?

This is a vital question. Every heroin addict starts using the drug one day—maybe someone they knew was using it and seemed to be having a good time. Maybe they went out looking for a new experience. At the time they may not have thought about addiction and withdrawal from the drug.

One heroin user trying to dissuade a person from starting heroin use described his withdrawal this way: “Diarrhea, vomiting, uncontrollable shakes, cold sweats, goose bumps, hot flashes, aches and pains that will not go away, semi-permanent insomnia, anxiety, muscle spasms and suicidal thoughts.”

Thus heroin withdrawal may seem to some heroin addicts to be a gruesome experience that can’t be faced for the sake of sobriety.

What are the options?

Some drug rehab programs offer alternatives to avoid heroin withdrawal. But unfortunately, they all involve some other kind of drugs. Suboxone and buprenorphine are opioids used to prevent withdrawal symptoms from kicking in, but the person taking them remains addicted to a synthetic form of opium. Methadone is another prescription drug intended to replace heroin but methadone withdrawal is usually much worse than withdrawal from heroin and may last for weeks rather than days.

A person may even be offered “rapid detox” to help them through heroin withdrawal. This process involves the administration of a general anesthetic or a heavy sedative, with a massive cocktail of drugs following. Some of these drugs are intended to quickly bring on every withdrawal symptom and others are supposed to prevent the vomiting and diarrhea or other adverse or hazardous conditions that would normally result from heroin withdrawal. The person remains unconscious or sedated during this process. Some US state health agencies have excluded this process from their recommendations for addiction treatment, citing several deaths that have been reported, the high risks involved and the high cost. Some reports also state that the withdrawal symptoms are not necessarily over when the person comes out of the sedation or anesthesia.

Is there a better method to assist with heroin withdrawal?

The answer to that question is “Yes.” Finally there is a drug rehab that makes it possible to come off heroin in a tolerable manner so that sobriety comes within reach.

This is what is offered as a person begins the Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, available at centers around the world. Discoveries in the field of drug recovery have finally enabled withdrawal to become a tolerable, positive step.

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The withdrawal step at a Narconon center starts with the administration of nutritional supplements in the first hours of arrival at the drug rehab. Since heroin addicts usually neglect their personal needs, it is very common for them to be in nutritionally-depleted conditions when they arrive at rehab. Nutrition such as generous doses of B vitamins, vitamin C and minerals such as calcium and magnesium begin to calm the body down to alleviate muscle spasms and cramps, aches and anxiety. Gentle orientation exercises called Objectives done with staff help a person focus on the objective world (the environment) rather than the subjective world (anxieties and pains) and also provide more strength and ability to get through the entire process successfully.

At the end of a Narconon withdrawal step, those in recovery may be surprised that the experience was so tolerable. This puts recovery in a very positive light.

In fact, the entire Narconon drug rehab program consists of one innovation which enables us to achieve superior results and long-term effectiveness. There is another distinctive plus to the Narconon withdrawal and rehab program: It is all done without of drugs in the rehabilitation process. (Of course, if a person must take a medication for a physical condition, they would continue to do so, as directed by their physician.)

The withdrawal phase is just the beginning step. Following that, a person completes the Narconon New Life Detoxification program which helps flush out drug residues stored in the body. Many report after completing this program they can think clearly once again and their cravings for drugs are greatly reduced.

Full rehabilitation is more than just withdrawal

Now with a clear mind and body, the person begins life skills training where they raise their ability to handle all kinds of situations in their life, situations that led them to drug use in the first place.

If you are struggling with addiction, find out how you can experience this tolerable withdrawal by contacting a Narconon drug rehab counselor today.