Heroin is a highly addictive and illegal opioid derived from morphine, a natural substance extracted from the seed pod of the opium poppy plant, which primarily grows in Southeast and Southwest Asia, Mexico, and Colombia. Typically sold as a white or brown powder or as a black sticky substance known as black tar heroin, users commonly inject, snort, or smoke the drug to achieve a euphoric and sedative high. Prolonged use can lead to a severe and life-threatening opioid use disorder. Heroin is one of the primary drugs fueling the opioid epidemic in the United States due to its high abuse potential and overdose risk.

Breaking free from heroin dependence requires professional addiction treatment that addresses the physical, psychological, and emotional aspects of drug abuse. Banyan Treatment Centers, a leader in substance abuse treatment, has heroin rehab centers nationwide. These centers offer evidence-based therapies, supportive environments, and a community of experts dedicated to guiding individuals toward lasting recovery.

Why Is Heroin So Addictive?

Heroin profoundly impacts the brain's reward system, making it highly addictive. Once used, heroin swiftly converts into morphine, which interacts with opioid receptors in brain regions like the nucleus accumbens, triggering a massive release of dopamine associated with pleasure and reward. This dopamine rush creates an intense, euphoric high, leading users to repeatedly seek the drug. Heroin addiction also has a significant physical component: prolonged use builds tolerance, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effects, and withdrawal symptoms occur when the drug is absent. Fear of these withdrawal symptoms perpetuates the addiction cycle, making heroin one of the most addictive drugs known.

Why is Heroin Illegal?

Heroin is outlawed due to its severe harm to individuals and society. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies it as a Schedule I substance, indicating high abuse potential and no recognized medical use. Heroin abuse devastates addicts, their families, and communities, and the associated drug trade fuels violence, crime, and corruption. To protect public health and safety, governments globally prohibit the manufacture, distribution, and use of heroin, while narcotic enforcement agencies work to curb its street trafficking.

Can You Die from Heroin?

From 1999 to 2016, overdose deaths involving heroin surged dramatically, rising from 1,960 to 15,469. Moreover, heroin use often precedes the consumption of more potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

Although quitting heroin itself doesn't directly cause death, the withdrawal process can induce severe physical and mental strain, presenting various health risks that may prove fatal. Complications such as organ strain, electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, respiratory distress, cardiac issues, seizures, and infections can arise, particularly during prolonged or unsupervised withdrawal.

To mitigate these risks, it's crucial to manage heroin withdrawal carefully under the guidance of medical professionals. They can offer essential advice, monitor vital signs, manage symptoms, and address emergent issues, significantly reducing the likelihood of fatal outcomes and ensuring the individual's safety and well-being throughout the process.

Recognizing Heroin Use & Addiction

Heroin use affects the central nervous system by attaching to opioid receptors, blocking pain, and stimulating the brain's reward system to induce euphoria and mood elevation.

 If you suspect that someone is abusing heroin, look out for the following signs:

  • Physical Signs:
    • Constricted pupils
    • Drowsiness and nodding off
    • Needle marks or bruises (if injecting)
    • Slow or shallow breathing
    • Slurred speech
    • Track marks on arms or other body parts
  • Behavioral Changes:
    • Excessive weight loss
    • Isolation from family and friends
    • Loss of interest in activities
    • Neglecting personal hygiene
    • Sudden mood swings
  • Psychological Symptoms:
    • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
    • Euphoria
    • Confusion
    • Going on the nod (in and out of consciousness)
    • Impaired cognitive function
    • Increased irritability or agitation
  • Withdrawal Symptoms:
    • Dehydration
    • Diarrhea and vomiting
    • Dry mouth
    • Insomnia
    • Muscle and bone pain
    • Nausea
    • Restlessness
    • Shivers and goosebumps

Long-term effects of heroin include insomnia, collapsed veins in people who inject the drug, infection of the heart lining and valves from the cutting agents in heroin, constipation, stomach cramping, and more. Despite these severe side effects, a person with heroin addiction will struggle to quit without the support of a professional heroin addiction treatment program.

Recognizing these signs is crucial for getting individual help as soon as possible. Heroin use can lead to serious health consequences and addiction if left untreated. If you or someone you know is exhibiting these signs, Banyan has numerous heroin addiction treatment centers located across the country where individuals with substance use disorders can get help.

Heroin Addiction Treatment Programs

Seeking heroin addiction treatment is essential for recovery. Many individuals delay treatment due to denial or fear, increasing the risk of permanent health issues. Acknowledging the need for help is the first step toward lasting sobriety.

Initial Assessment

At Banyan Treatment Centers, patients admitted into our heroin rehab program will first undergo a comprehensive clinical assessment by our trained staff members. This thorough evaluation allows us to create an individualized treatment plan tailored to each patient's unique needs and determine the most suitable level of care. Most patients will begin their journey with our heroin detox program.

Heroin Detox Process

Following completion of their health assessment, patients typically proceed to our heroin detox program at our rehab treatment center, where our medical team, licensed to provide proper medication and care, oversees the treatment of withdrawal symptoms. Without this medically assisted detox, patients face uncomfortable withdrawals during recovery, making at-home detoxification perilous and ill-advised. While essential, heroin detox poses its own challenges, with withdrawal symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to serious health risks. The severity and duration of these symptoms vary based on factors such as addiction gravity, polysubstance abuse, and medical history. Detoxification comes with challenges, including withdrawal symptoms that vary in severity based on addiction severity, polysubstance abuse, and medical history.

While these heroin withdrawal symptoms are mostly manageable with help, there are some cases of more serious issues arising during a heroin detox. Especially if someone has underlying physical or mental health problems, a medically monitored detox is recommended.

How Long Do Heroin Withdrawals Last?

Heroin withdrawal typically follows an acute phase lasting 5 to 10 days, with the most severe symptoms occurring early. Individuals often go into the post-acute withdrawal phase, also known as PAWS (Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome), after the acute phase. Individuals may continue to have occasional symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, weariness, and difficulties concentrating during the duration of PAWS, which can extend for several weeks to months. Some people experience lesser symptoms that progressively get better over time, while others may find the symptoms of PAWS to be more persistent and disruptive to everyday life. Both the duration and intensity of PAWS can vary greatly. It is crucial to have support networks in place to help people manage and overcome these obstacles.

After Detox: Residential Treatment and Continuation of Treatment  

Detox is just the beginning. Our rehab centers also provide residential addiction treatment to ensure patients receive the care, attention, and support necessary for their recovery journey and to address secondary issues. This includes learning to manage common problems associated with heroin recovery and receiving individualized attention tailored to their unique needs.

Patients engage in individual and group therapy to understand the roots of their addiction and develop coping strategies. Group settings foster peer support and encouragement.

Our drug rehab facility offers supportive staff who guide patients through their journey. Clients participate in individual and group therapy sessions to explore the roots and address underlying mental health issues of their heroin addiction for long-term recovery, and benefit from peer support, encouragement, and shared learning within the recovery community. This inpatient rehab separates them from environments where they might face temptations, allowing them to focus on recovery.

We utilize a variety of heroin addiction treatment programs to help patients heal both physically and mentally, including therapy programs like:

  • 12-Step Program
  • Biofeedback
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Faith in Recovery
  • Family Services / Counseling
  • Holistic Treatments
  • LGBTQ+ Addiction Support
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Mature Track
  • Psychoeducational Groups
  • Military & Veterans in Recovery
  • SMART Recovery Program
  • Trauma Treatment
  • Vivitrol Treatment

In our Heroin Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), we offer comprehensive therapies tailored to treating heroin addiction. Our treatment programs are patient-centric, focusing on equipping individuals with the necessary tools and skills to lead sober lives. Depending on their needs, some may require a partial hospitalization setting or intensive outpatient program to effectively combat addiction.

The experts on our Banyan teams also understand how difficult the adjustment to life after rehab can be, which is why our heroin facilities also offer aftercare services. Members can join our alumni programs after completing treatment to remain connected with the recovery community, receiving support and advice from our recovery sponsors and others in similar situations.

Specialized Heroin Addiction Treatment for Veterans & Military Personnel

Veterans and active-duty service members can access specialized treatment programs addressing their unique needs that can help them struggle to turn their lives around for the better.

After completing detox, if necessary, clients are placed into one of our levels of care, ensuring they will receive the most appropriate treatments for their unique needs. For instance, one client may require full-time residential care, while others would fare better with less intensive outpatient programs. No matter the case, each of our rehab programs for veterans will aid our clients in overcoming the addictions that they struggle with.

Telehealth Addiction Counseling

Telehealth counseling offers a convenient option for receiving support while maintaining independence. This approach connects individuals with addiction specialists remotely. The Banyan telehealth treatment program is a fantastic option for those who need support while also maintaining a certain level of independence. For instance, this program may not be best suited to someone in active addiction. That is because these individuals face the prospect of dangerous withdrawal symptoms if they were to stop their drug use suddenly. In this case, we highly suggest pursuing treatment with our heroin detox programs.

Get Started Today!

For more information about our heroin rehab centers and other addiction treatment services, contact Banyan Treatment Centers today at (844) 249-2654 to get started.