Heroin Detox
Detoxification does not address the emotional causes of addictive behavior, but rather eliminates the toxins in the body that underlie the physical addiction, a necessary early step toward sobriety recommended by most rehab centers. The goals of detox are:
- Providing a safe withdrawal from the drug of dependence
- Establishing a process that is compassionate and confidential
- Preparation for the next phase of treatment
Heroin Detox Treatment
Not at all heroin treatment centers vary in how they handle the difficult withdrawal symptoms associated with the drug. Some heroin detox centers, for example, offer “rapid detox” or “detox in a day” services that are downright dangerous. Rapid detox centers often use general anesthesia as part of their speedy detox, but that methodology led to multiple patient deaths in a 2005 Columbia University study.
Heroin withdrawal symptoms can be nasty. The good news is that high-quality heroin detox or opiate detox programs at a drug abuse rehab will give clients medication designed to ease these symptoms. Still, recovering addicts may experience one or more of the following during detox:
- Nausea
- Body Pain
- Insomnia
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Sweats
- Cold Flashes
