Anyone suffering from the disease of heroin addiction knows how difficult it can be to overcome. Though there are treatment facilities that can help, finding one that is effective can be more of a challenge. There are several things to know that help in finding effective heroin addiction treatment.
Why Treatment is Necessary
The first thing to know when trying to fins effective heroin addiction treatment is why that treatment is needed. Heroin is a highly addictive drug and stopping its use once addicted creates a powerful withdrawal syndrome. Symptoms of this syndrome include:
- Extreme cravings
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Muscle and joint pain
- Prolonged insomnia
- Depression and suicidal thoughts
- Anxiety
While many of these symptoms are flu-like, they are so powerful that many sufferers feel like they are dying. This leads them back to heroin. Only professional treatment can help alleviate these symptoms so that it is possible to overcome a heroin addiction.
Proven Treatment Methods
The next thing to know when looking for effective heroin addiction treatment is what treatment methods are proven to work. This is not as difficult to understand as you may think. The most effective treatment programs use a combination of behavioral therapies, medications, and counseling to help their patients recover. The combination of these approaches helps to ensure that all of a patient’s needs are being met. Therefore, effective heroin addiction treatment must contain all of these elements for it to give you the best chance of overcoming your addiction.
What to Look For
Knowing the proven treatment methods only helps so much. You also need to find a facility that offers proven treatment. Things to look for include:
- Medically assisted detoxification
- Individualized treatment plans
- Behavioral therapies
- Counseling services
- Offers of medications such as methadone, Suboxone, or naltrexone
- Treatment programs lasting at least 90 days
- Acceptance of insurance and/or payment assistance
- Provisions or referrals for aftercare
Treatment facilities that offer all of these things are more likely to give you effective heroin addiction treatment.
What to Avoid
Just as there are a number of things to look for in an effective heroin treatment center, there are a few things to avoid. These are:
- Promises of a cure
- Guaranteed results
- Short treatment times
- Detox only treatment
Any facility offering these things is unlikely to provide truly effective treatment. There is no known cure for heroin addiction and even the best treatment is dependent on the addict wanting to change. Short treatment times are far more likely to lead to relapse than longer ones. Detoxification is only the first step in heroin addiction treatment, and other treatment procedures are necessary to stop an addiction.
Having all of the information you need to choose effective heroin addiction treatment makes it much easier. Use that information to make the most informed decision possible for you and your family. Overcoming a heroin addiction is possible with the right help.
