Heroin Detox
The need for helping a person to come off heroin is well known and observable within hours of the last use. The difficulties of withdrawal come on rapidly ( 4 – 6 hours) and are the main reason heroin addiction tends to perpetuate. The physical relief from detox for heroin is both humanitarian and is really the only way to open the door to recovery.
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS:
- Profuse sweating
- Chills
- Cramps
- Deep bone pain, deep muscle tissue pain
- Uncontrollable nausea, dry heaves
- Diarrhoea leading to dehydration
These withdrawal symptoms will peak within a 72 hour period, then will slowly subside over the next week. Heroin withdrawal is of itself not considered life threatening, however where severe health issues (infections, liver failure etc) also compromise the situation, death can certainly result if not medically intervened upon.
IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT HEROIN DETOX:
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A high percentage of detoxes for heroin involve substituting one opiate for another. So one can go into detox a heroin addict, and come out of a one week detox addicted to methadone or suboxone instead. The advantage is that the person is no longer using illegal drugs, and while the addiction to opiates has transformed, it is still an addiction which controls the persons life.
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Another type of opiate detox involves a short term use of a taper friendly substance like suboxone / buprenorphine which softens the withdrawals, and can be easily tapered in a few days to a week, so no further addiction is introduced.
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Another type of heroin detox is called “Rapid Detox”. This is a highly controversial route, involving anaesthesia for 72 hours, and a chemical infusion which neutralizes the opiate molecules in the blood stream. However, the body is left in a state of extraordinary sensitivity to opiates. A relapse at this point could very well be fatal, as what used to be “just enough” might be enough to cause a fatal overdose. Only as a last last resort should this method be considered.
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A bio-physical approach to detox is available where special nutrients are given sometimes intravenously. These soften the withdrawals remarkably well, as the opiate has caused an artificial deficiency of these natural nutrients. In very short order, the body begins to function again, and the person has a gentle landing. Other types of physical pain management can include massage or acupuncture and these are greatly effective to help a person come through it ok.
The importance of a follow up program to rehabilitate a person after heroin detox cannot be emphasized strongly enough. There are many different types of programs and all will have more success after a healthful and restorative detox program.
