Treatment Must Feature Medical Detoxification
Heroin is a powerful depressant drug that significantly alters brain chemistry and functioning. It you are hesitant in pursuing drug treatment, you may feel that you can detox on your own. Without proper medical supervision and care, the withdrawal symptoms you experience will be extremely uncomfortable, painful and potentially life-threatening.
When you enter heroin addiction treatment, you will undergo medical detoxification to rid your body of heroin and other substances. Medication-assisted therapy, nutritional therapy and other interventions will be used to help minimize the discomfort associated with withdrawal. During detox, you will undergo a comprehensive assessment to find any underlying medical and/or mental health issues that can complicate your recovery.
Treatment Needs to Be Customizable to Find Your Needs
A “one size fits all” approach to drug treatment will not work for everyone. You have a unique history regarding your addiction. As a result, your treatment plan must fit your needs and what works best for you. The drug treatment facility you choose must have a wide variety of therapies and programs that will help you address your addiction. Additionally, those treatment programs need to give you the tools and support you need to sustain your recovery once you resume your normal daily activities.
Treatment Should Last as Needed
Many drug treatment programs are designed to last 30 days. This length of time may not be enough to address all of you needs. The most effective treatment programs last 90 days or longer. Longer term programs allow staff to help you work through your issues at your own pace. When you undergo treatment at a facility which offers longer-term programs, you increase your confidence and motivation to stay sober.
Treatment Programs Need to be Fluid
As stated in the previous section, treatment is not one size fits all. You have special needs that require specific attention in a treatment setting. With that in mind, the treatment facility that you attend needs to feature treatment programs that can change as you change. Experienced treatment staff must be able to modify your treatment plan as you progress in drug treatment. If certain aspects of your program aren’t working, treatment staff must be proactive in finding the right therapies and programs that can get you back on track.
Treatment should include behavioral therapies such as individual, family, or group counseling
One of the cornerstones of addiction treatment is counseling. Whether it is individual, group or family counseling, each of these are important in a heroin addiction treatment program as they cover the different needs of the individual. With individual therapy, you will be able to address those issues that may be tremendously private. This aspect of opiate addiction treatment is very important because it allows the recovering person to address past traumatic events that led them to using heroin or other drugs.
Group therapy is also an important part of heroin addiction treatment. Group therapy allows participants to receive support and guidance from those going through similar situations in their own recovery. In group therapy, the counselor’s role is to simply keep conversations on track.
While not often talked about, family therapy is also an important part of the treatment process. During family therapy session, each member of the family unit has an opportunity to talk about how a loved one’s addiction has impacted their life. The family can work together to heal and create a healthy home environment. Not only does the addict recover, the whole family recovers.
The Importance of Dual Diagnosis Treatment
For many people who use heroin, they do so because they are trying to deal with deeper issues. It is common for people addicted to drugs to have an underlying (and often undiagnosed) mental disorder. For those with co-occurring disorders, drug treatment becomes more difficult since it is difficult to discern what came first.
If you or a loved one are dealing with mental illness along with heroin abuse, the drug treatment center you choose needs to have a dual diagnosis treatment program. In addition to therapies needed to address heroin addiction, these facilities also feature mental health professionals who will work with you or a loved one in tackling the deeper issues that manifest as a mental illness.
Treatment Should Include Holistic and Traditional Therapies
Heroin addiction treatment programs should feature a wide variety of therapies that can help you address and overcome your addiction issues. While holistic treatment options such as yoga, art and music therapy may not necessarily come to mind as essential therapy choice, these therapies can help treat the entire individual will include some of these services. Holistic and alternative therapies offer the ability to reach patients in a way that traditional therapies may not reach clients.
Do you have more questions on what to look for in heroin addiction treatment? Call us toll-free right now and let our experienced team work with you to find the right treatment options for you.
