What is Heroin detoxification?
This refers to eliminating heroin from the body while also treating the withdrawal symptoms from heroin that arise when a person with an addiction abruptly stops using heroin. To guarantee the health and safety of the person through withdrawal, detox clinics for heroin addiction can be performed in a medical setting. Medications and other forms of therapeutic support may be implemented to cope with signs of heroin withdrawal.
Heroin Detoxing Protocol
To assist patients in safely quitting using heroin and dealing with the withdrawal symptoms that often accompany that process, medical professionals employ what is known as a “detoxification protocol.” It’s worth noting that the exact procedure may change depending on the patient, the extent of addiction, and the heroin detox center.
Indications for the procedure
Detoxification may be a vital step in the healing process, but this must be determined after a thorough evaluation of each case individually by medical professionals. It is often the first step to recovery from heroin addicts’ withdrawal.
Some reasons that indicate a person needs a detoxing are:
- Potential for relapsing
- Physical reliance
- Desire to beat the addiction
- Medical complications
- Prioritizing Safety and well-being
- Psychological dependence
Contraindications
During heroin addiction treatment, there are certain things and situations to pay attention to. These things are known as “contraindications.” Possible contraindications for detoxification include:
- Agedness and significant vulnerability
- Hazardous heroin-medication interaction
- Medical complications
- Apathy towards recovery
- Pregnancy
Rapid and Ultra-rapid Heroin detoxification techniques
To get accelerated heroin detox in a shorter amount of time, rapid and ultra-rapid detoxification treatments have been developed. These heroin detox programs are designed to hasten the transition through the initial stages of withdrawal.
- Rapid Opioid Detoxification (ROD) involves administering opioid receptor antagonists to combat the heroin withdrawal symptoms. The plan is to concentrate the worst of the withdrawal process into a shorter time frame.
- Ultra-Rapid Opioid Detoxification (UROD) aims to achieve quicker withdrawal within hours by administering a high dose of opioid receptor antagonists under sedation to alleviate the intensity of heroin withdrawal symptoms.
Heroin detoxing process
An overview of this procedure is as follows:
- Determining the appropriate method of detoxification requires a medical evaluation of the patient’s current health status and heroin usage history.
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): Methadone, buprenorphine, and clonidine are used to treat withdrawal and cravings. While the patient is unconscious, antagonists are given to bring on heroin withdrawal symptoms quickly.
- It is essential to acknowledge the psychological aspects of addiction through counseling and support groups during the detox.
- Malnutrition and dehydration are two side effects of heroin usage. The healing process must include nutritional counseling and the use of IV fluids.
- To protect the safety of their patients, many of the best heroin detox centers provide round-the-clock medical monitoring.
Preparing the Patient for Heroin Detoxification
The purpose of taking these preceding measures is to prepare, inform, and support the patients as they recover at detoxing clinics for heroin addiction. Steps include:
- In-depth medical and psychological evaluation
- Obtaining a notified consent
- Curating a customized treatment plan
- Educating the patient about the procedure and addressing their concerns
- Respecting the patient’s privacy
Is It Safe to Detoxing at Home?
Doctors do not recommend detoxing from heroin at home, as it can lead to consequences such as:
- Dire heroin detox symptoms
- Potential dehydration
- Probability of relapse
- Severe medical complications
Professional heroin detox centers with mental and medical assistance are suggested for safety and efficacy.
Heroin detoxing time
Detoxing from heroin can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the individual’s level of addiction, the detoxing method they choose, and their overall health. Usually, the acute stage of heroin addiction withdrawal lasts between 5 and 7 days. People go through the most severe withdrawal symptoms during this time. Some moderate symptoms of heroin withdrawal may linger after the acute period for weeks or months, but they eventually get softer. Drug-free status can take months, depending on the person and their recovery commitment.
Heroin detoxification symptoms
Physical and mental heroin withdrawal symptoms might emerge from detoxing.
Physical symptoms include:
- Insomnia or irregular sleep patterns
- Dilated pupils
- Restlessness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Goosebumps or cold flashes
Psychological symptoms include:
- Severe drug cravings
- Loss of appetite
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fatigue
It’s important to note that not all symptoms may be present, but if you notice even one symptom, you should inform a doctor as soon as possible.
Benefits of Rapid Heroin Detoxification
Potential benefits of rapid heroin detox include:
- Patients spend less time in the most extreme phase of their recovery
- Reduce intense discomfort and distress from the symptoms
- Willingness of patients to start recovery knowing it will be quicker
Addiction treatment after the detoxing process
After detox, patients enter either an inpatient or outpatient heroin detoxing program, receiving therapy, counseling, and, in many cases, medication. The heroin withdrawal treatment plan incorporates education, support groups, mental health assistance, etc. For this type of treatment, the patient needs support from family and the community, as well as a plan to prevent the person from being tempted to start heroin consumption again.
The cost of a Heroin detoxing
Costs can range from free to thousands of dollars, depending on where you go, if you have insurance, and how long you stay. Outpatient heroin detoxing is inexpensive, while inpatient heroin detoxing is more costly. However, treatment at clinics like Dr. Vorobjev yields more successful results.
For any additional information, you can call our medical consultants who will explain the treatment process and inform you about the exact cost of the treatment.
Doctor
For the best heroin detox outcomes, our internationally acclaimed doctors will do thorough diagnostics and promptly evaluate the level of addiction upon receiving a patient.
At Dr. Vorobjev’s clinic work experts known worldwide – so don’t worry, come and we will together say “goodbye” to heroin. Healing is possible!
Patents and certificates
For our contributions to public health in heroin withdrawal treatment, in the year 2020, we were awarded the Rose of Paracelsus award in Brussels.
Reviews
- Patient 1.
„I come from Belgium. I’m 19, and my problem was heroin abuse. I sought help at Dr Vorobjev clinic, and the results exceeded all my expectations. While I was here, I had no discomfort or distress from the heroin withdrawal; entirely on the contrary, I believed and hoped the results would stay as they are now.“
- Patient 2.
„I was using heroin for years and didn’t know how to stop. My parents realized I had a huge problem, they found Dr. Vorobjev’s clinic, and brought me there against my will. Fortunately, I had a great experience here, and heroin is now in my past. I would recommend this clinic to everyone because the doctors here do a great job and will help you with everything.“
