heroin withdrawal symptoms

Heroin Holdout: What Are the Main Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms?

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More than 130 people die every day in the United States from opioid overdose. That’s one of the thousands of reasons we’re overjoyed that you or your loved one has made the courageous, life-saving decision to give up an addiction to heroin.

We want to support you fully in this decision, so we’ve written this guide to help you through the first stage of treatment: detox.

When detox treatment begins, the most immediate problem to deal with is withdrawal symptoms. Heroin withdrawal symptoms are often compared to an intense flu, plus powerful cravings to start using again.

To learn all you need to know about heroin withdrawal symptoms and how long they last, read through this list.

What Causes Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms?

Withdrawal symptoms are a result of your body’s natural adaptability.

When certain substances that have a powerful effect on the mind and body, such as heroin, are used regularly, the body builds up a tolerance for them. That means your body gets used to receiving the substance and reconditions itself accordingly.

In other words, your body gets itself ready to keep receiving the substance. It now recognizes the use of the substance as “normal.” To keep things “normal” it will signal you when it “needs” more of it to maintain balance.

So now, according to your newly-conditioned body, ceasing use of the substance is regarded as “abnormal.” When you stop using the substance completely, your body is then missing something that’s “supposed” to be there.

It can’t function the way it “normally” does and many bodily processes are interrupted. Then it’s forced to adapt once again to learn how to function in a substance-free environment.

Withdrawal symptoms are the result of your body trying to figure out how to function under extremely different circumstances than it’s used to.

How Long Does Heroin Withdrawal Last?

The good news about heroin withdrawal symptoms is that they don’t last very long, only about a week.

Heroin is a short-acting opioid. This means it takes effect quickly and also wears off quickly. And so do the withdrawal symptoms.

Patients usually begin seeing symptoms within 6-12 hours of the last dose taken. These symptoms will peak in about 2 or 3 days and then begin to fade.

The total duration of withdrawal symptoms will normally last only 5-7 days. Withdrawal symptoms from more extreme heroin addictions may last up to 10 days.

Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms

Here’s a general overview of heroin withdrawal symptoms followed by a timeline of when they occur.

Mild withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Abdominal cramps
  • Nausea
  • Chills
  • Sweating
  • Goosebumps
  • Runny nose
  • Tearing
  • Muscle and bone aches
  • Excessive yawning

More moderate symptoms include:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Tremors
  • Restlessness
  • Agitation
  • Trouble concentrating

The most intense symptoms are

  • Strong drug cravings
  • Insomnia
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Difficulty feeling joy or pleasure
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Hypertension
  • Impaired respiration
  • Muscle spasms

In general, the effects of heroin withdrawal tend to be the opposite of how the drug affected the individual. If the use of the drug caused elevated mood, reduced heart rate, and calm, then withdrawal will likely cause low mood, rapid heart rate, and anxiety.

In very extreme cases, unsupervised withdrawal can cause coma and/or death. It’s always safest to have the detox process monitored by medical professionals.

Heroin Withdrawal Timeline

The specific timeline of withdrawal symptoms varies from person to person. To give you a rough idea, here’s what an average heroin withdrawal timeline looks like.

Days 1-3

Most heroin withdrawal symptoms begin within 24 hours of the last dose taken. It’s very important to the recovery process to remember that these symptoms will pass soon. Within one week, the heroin and the dependence on it will have completely left the addicted’s body and brain.

Most patients begin experiencing excessive sweating, tearing, yawning, and a runny nose in the first 3 days of detox. Other early symptoms are insomnia, muscle aches, loss of appetite, and stomach problems.

Mood-related symptoms begin in this phase as well. Irritation, aggression, anxiety, and panic attacks are all common during the first 3 days.

Symptoms should peak on or by the third day.

Days 3-5

By this point, symptoms should be waning. Some residual stomach problems often occur including diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, and vomiting. Less intense muscle aches may also remain.

Chills, shivers, and goosebumps are also common during this phase, as is fatigue and pupil dilation.

Heroin Withdrawal and Detox Medications

So what effect do detox medications have on these symptoms? It depends. Let’s look now at the various medications rehab professionals may prescribe to aid the detox process.

Methadone

Methadone is a long-acting opioid that affects the same brain receptors as heroin. Methadone acts as a substitute drug and fills your body’s “need” for heroin. When successful, taking it greatly alleviates symptoms and reduces cravings.

But like heroin, methadone is habit-forming. The treatment itself may become a new addiction. The main risks associated with methadone treatment are methadone addiction and overdose.

Suboxone

Suboxone treatment has a very high rate of success among heroin detox patients. It’s now the preferred detox medication for heroin. It’s so effective that, in many cases, it stops symptoms and cravings completely.

Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone. The first drug, buprenorphine, reduces heroin cravings by blocking the appropriate opioid receptors. The other, naloxone, helps to remove the effects of heroin from your body.

However, it is not without its side effects. Like methadone, suboxone is also habit-forming. Although, an overdose of suboxone is somewhat less dangerous than methadone overdose.

Naltrexone

An alternative treatment method is a naltrexone. Rather than aid the initial withdrawal period, it is administered after detox to help keep patients from relapsing.

If a detoxed patient uses heroin again while taking naltrexone, naltrexone blocks the effects of heroin to prevent the habit from reforming. This reduces cravings and prevents the body from reforging a dependence on heroin.

Best of all, naltrexone is non-habit-forming.

Get Help For Heroin Withdrawal and Detox

Quitting heroin is a decision only you can make. But that doesn’t mean you have to go through withdrawal alone, and you shouldn’t. It’s important that those who are detoxing from such a powerful addiction receive professional supervision and treatment.

Attempting to handle heroin withdrawal symptoms on your own will make recovery even more difficult for no reason. Why not make it easier instead? When you’re ready to detox, get the professional help you need from a detox center near you.

Not sure if your loved one has a problem? Read about 10 Opioid Addiction Signs Families Should Know.

heroin addiction treatment

Hope for Heroin Addicts: The 5 Top Heroin Addiction Treatment Programs

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At the moment, opioids and fentanyl are stealing the spotlight for drug-related deaths. Yet, these narcotics don’t negate the terrors that come with heroin addiction. In fact, nearly a million people still abuse heroin — and this number is on the rise.

Even though addiction is progressive, it’s possible to stop the downward spiral before it’s too late. The medical profession has a more comprehensive understanding of this condition than ever before.

If you or your loved one are looking for heroin addiction treatment centers, we can help. We’ve gathered a list of the top five heroin treatment programs in the United States. Whether you’re looking for a classic 12-step program or one offering yoga therapy, we’ve got you covered.

1. Hazelden Betty Ford

The Hazelden Betty Ford Center is probably one of the most recognizable treatment facilities in the country. Best of all, they’re scattered all across the country. You’ll find locations in Minnesota, California, Oregon, Illinois, Florida, Washington, and New York.

They rely heavily on the proven 12-step program while also offering specialized programs for patients battling mental disorders. Most patients stay for a minimum of 90 days to achieve success.

The Hazelden Betty Ford Center boasts an 80 percent rate of recovery. Patients benefit from small group sizes and a low patient-to-counselor ratio.

Betty Ford also offers aftercare services and sober living options. They’re focused on individualized care and go so far as to offer specialized programs for nurses, physicians, families, and children.

2. Phoenix House

Phoenix House is a wonderful option. It was founded in New York City in 1967 by six heroin addicts who were trying to stay clean. Now, it features 11 treatment centers across the country in California, D.C., Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia. They offer both inpatient and outpatient treatment options.

Phoenix House takes a holistic approach to recovery. Each patient receives care from a multidisciplinary team, including psychiatrists, social workers, substance abuse counselors, and other professionals.

Known for being one of the more affordable treatment centers in the country, they understand that addiction is a lifelong, ongoing chronic illness that requires continual support.

3. Ocean Breeze Recovery

This is a lovely option for a luxury rehab facility. Located in South Florida, Ocean Breeze Recovery provides individualized treatment plans for all their clients. They aim to heal every individual, including body, mind, and spirit.

Here, you can explore inpatient or outpatient treatment as well as other enticing offerings, such as yoga therapy. Like Betty Ford, they offer specialized programs for patients who are also battling mental disorders.

The good news is that for such luxury treatment, you’ll find Ocean Breeze accepts most forms of insurance. The staff here understands that addiction is a life-threatening condition affecting the brain. As such, they work hard with health insurance companies to secure the maximum amount of coverage possible.

4. Benchmark Recovery Center

Formerly the Mark Houston Recovery Center, Benchmark Recovery Center offers a 90-day program that relies heavily on the 12-step program. Located in Austin, TX, their 90-day program also focuses on the development of life skills and fitness regimes.

Benchmark boasts a 74 percent recovery rate and is split into two separate facilities: one for men and one for women. Patients benefit from the individualized treatment they receive as it only provides for 58 patients at a time.

Even after patients leave the facility, they receive 12 months of aftercare monitoring. Keeping those in recovery engaged in this way increases the likelihood they’ll maintain their sobriety.

5. Sober Living by The Sea

As for the west coast, Sober Living by the Sea is one of the best facilities in the state of California. They’ve been around for over 25 years and combine a traditional and holistic approach to this disease. You or your loved one can explore their detox program, residential treatment program, partial hospitalization program, or outpatient program.

The staff at Sober Living by the Sea words hard to uncover underlying mental disorders that may trigger patients’ struggles with substance abuse. As treatment continues, patients enjoy therapy that’s paired with an array of activities, including hiking and swimming.

To start, you can call them for free insurance verification. They work with AETNA, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Optum, United Healthcare, and other insurance providers.

Heroin Addiction Treatment Starts Today

Heroin addiction treatment can begin today for you or your loved one. Addiction is a serious condition with devastating effects. That means a patient should be cared for in the same manner as someone battling cancer or any other healthcare crisis.

With the support of medical professionals, a rehab facility, and loved ones, this problem can be conquered.

Here at Suboxone Near Me, we believe in the healing powers of Suboxone. It’s a safe drug that was approved by the FDA in 2002. When taken as prescribed, Suboxone is safe and effective. It allows you to recover from heroin addiction without going into withdrawal; you must, however, work closely with a physician.

When you or your loved one has their initial intake with any one of these rehab centers, ask if their medical staff administers suboxone or any alternative medications that ease the withdrawal symptoms.

Recovery starts today. Why not walk through these steps in the company of not only trained professionals but also others who are fighting the same battle?

Where there is hope, there is progress. We hope you’ll begin today.

heroin withdrawal

The 3 Things You Must Do When Dealing with Heroin Withdrawal

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Heroin withdrawal symptoms are an agonizing ordeal–if you try to handle them by yourself, that is. If you’re willing to accept the help of others, your withdrawal period will be far more bearable and how long does it take to sober up.

If you’re wondering where to start, we can help. We’ve listed the 3 major tips for managing heroin withdrawal in detail below. Specifically, it’s a list of all the help you’ll need when recovering from a heroin addiction.

You may disagree with these steps or have your own ideas of how you’d like your treatment to go. But isn’t going it alone what got you into this in the first place?

If you truly want a successful recovery, it begins with giving up control and relying on others. Start by seeking the help you need according to this list.

1. Get Professional Help

The first thing you must do to get clean is to get an assessment by drug rehab professionals. Licensed medical professionals who specialize in drug rehab are the only ones who can prescribe a proper withdrawal management strategy.

They’ll describe your various treatment options, their predicted rates of success, and which strategies are best for your situation.

Outpatient Care

Even if you’re set on detoxing at home rather than an inpatient setting, you must still go in for an intake assessment. There you can negotiate a personalized treatment plan with the doctor.

Further, you must keep medical professionals in the loop regardless of if you decide to detox at home. You’ll still need their ongoing help as you voyage the uncharted waters of life without heroin.

Rehab professionals will track the treatment’s success, monitor your mental and physical health, and assess your fluctuating needs during this life readjustment.

Inpatient Care

It’s always best to detox in an inpatient setting.

Inpatient care provides the cleanest, safest environment for detox. You’ll have no heroin available during inpatient care so there’s no chance of relapse while detoxing. You’ll have a much higher chance of a successful detox in a professionally controlled inpatient setting.

If you do need anything at all during your debilitating withdrawal period, it will be provided for you. You’ll be offered medication that can relieve your physical symptoms and cravings. And you’ll be provided expert counseling or therapy for mental or mood-related symptoms.

Most of all, this makes inpatient care your safest option. If the mental or physical symptoms of heroin withdrawal put you in any kind of physical danger, the surrounding doctors and healthcare professionals will immediately come to your aid.

Ongoing Treatment

By checking into a rehab center, you acquire a team of dedicated health professionals who will monitor the progress of your treatment and offer personalized assistance through the entire process.

Most importantly, full recovery from heroin addiction takes more than detox treatment. That’s only the first week. Learning how to cope without heroin and how to prevent relapse may require additional treatment for months or years to come.

After detox, you’ll likely need training on coping strategies through cognitive behavioral therapy or other psychotherapeutic treatment. You may also benefit from long-term medication-assisted treatment with drugs like methadone or naltrexone. And most recovering addicts enjoy the understanding and encouragement that comes from engaging with a support group.

Checking into a rehab clinic links you to all the services you’ll need for ongoing recovery treatment.

2. Get Support

As we’ve just pointed out, heroin detox should never be managed alone. And, in addition to medical professionals, it’s also important to get support from more personal relationships.

When you know someone cares about you personally, you truly believe they want what’s best for you. Because of this, you’ll care about their feelings as well.

The support of such a person during your recovery adds meaning and significance to this struggle. Their love and compassion will carry more weight than the impersonal words of your physician.

Friends and Family

Ideally, the deep personal connections you’ve already made (i.e., friends and family) are the best choice for personal recovery support. Unfortunately, a history of drug abuse often makes this problematic.

It’s very often that one’s drug abuse habits have a hurtful impact on one’s family. An addict may steal from their family to pay for a fix.

They may lie to their family and say they’ve cleaned up and need a place to stay. Then they continue the abuse and bring their dangerous habit with them into the home.

Such family relationships may be too damaged for the time being to offer appropriate detox support.

Any of your friends who are still abusing heroin or other drugs are also not a suitable choice for personal support. Even if they’ve already cleaned up or are receiving detox at the same time you are, your memories of past drug use with this person can trigger cravings and make staying clean more difficult.

Like it or not, this person is now automatically associated with your past drug abuse habits in your mind. Seeing them during detox or other early stages of your recovery may make things more challenging.

But if you do have any sober friends and family you’ve never used with before, and they’re willing, invite them to support you.

Support Group

If you know no one who fits the above description, there’s still hope.

Narcotics Anonymous and other support groups like it exist to help recovering addicts make new relationships that can support them. And since the members of these groups share your struggle, they may be more understanding than any of your friends or family anyway.

You will all help each other and share genuine care and compassion for one another. Together, you will belong to something significant, something even bigger than your own recovery. And that’s a big deal.

3. Assess Co-Occurring Disorders

Here’s another reason why professional help is essential to the success of your recovery. And it’s one that’s far too often overlooked.

When receiving your intake assessment, the doctors may discover an underlying mental health disorder co-occurring with your heroin addiction. This phenomenon is usually referred to as a dual diagnosis. And knowledge of any such co-occurring disorders is crucial in providing you effective treatment.

For one thing, the underlying mental health disorder could be the main reason you were self-medicating with heroin. The separate conditions of a dual diagnosis both feed off of and strengthen each other in this way.

If the addiction is treated while the other disorder remains untreated, any progress you make in addiction recovery is unlikely to last. The other condition will continue to cause cravings to self-medicate and usually result in relapse.

Secondly, certain heroin withdrawal treatments could negatively affect the other condition.

If you have or suspect you have any co-occurring disorder, make sure you get co-occurring treatment for it as well. Talk to your rehab doctor about dual diagnosis treatment.

Get Help For Heroin Withdrawal

Maybe you can detox without help. But why would you? Why wouldn’t you accept the help that’s offered you?

There are so many of us who want to help you. You have no reason to try and do this alone.

If you truly want to be clean, you’ll take any steps necessary to increase your chances of success. If you’re ready to quit, seek the above help for heroin withdrawal.

For related help, read your guide to understanding addiction treatment options.

suboxone treatment

Help with Heroin: The 7 Big Benefits of Suboxone Treatment for Addicts

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Throughout the world, approximately 9.2 million people abuse heroin on a regular basis.

Do you have a loved one who is having a difficult time giving up heroin? Are you yourself addicted?

Heroin is a highly addictive drug and can be incredibly difficult to give up. One of the most effective solutions for overcoming heroin addiction, though, is Suboxone.

Read on to learn more about Suboxone and the benefits of Suboxone treatment for folks struggling with heroin addiction.

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a prescription drug that physicians prescribe to treat those suffering from heroin addiction. It may also be prescribed to those who are suffering from addiction to other opioid drugs, such as prescription painkillers.

Suboxone is a combination of two drugs: naloxone and buprenorphine.

Buprenorphine provides patients with a very small dose of opioids (much less than what they would consume when using heroin or other drugs). This small dose allows them to wean themselves off the drug without experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms.

Naloxone shuts down the opioid receptors so that the patient does not experience any kind of euphoria when they consume Suboxone. This helps to minimize the likelihood that someone will abuse Suboxone.

Benefits of Suboxone Treatment

Are you interested in trying Suboxone or recommending it to a loved one? If you’re still on the fence, learning more about its benefits might change your mind.

The following are some of the most well-known benefits of Suboxone treatment:

1. Minimize Withdrawal Symptoms

One of the greatest benefits of Suboxone is its effectiveness at reducing withdrawal symptoms.

Opioid withdrawal symptoms are serious business. Some of the most common ones include:

  • Agitation and anxiety
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Watery eyes
  • Runny nose
  • Insomnia
  • Profuse sweating
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Dilated pupils
  • Chills and goosebumps

For many people, these symptoms can be debilitating and even life-threatening. Suboxone helps to modulate them some addicts can work through their recovery and focus on getting better.

2. Allows for a More Normal Life

Suboxone must be prescribed by a physician.

It’s not exclusively available to those who stay in a rehab facility, though. This means that individuals who cannot afford inpatient treatment or do not have the time for it can still get the help they need.

As long as they have a physician who’s willing to write them a prescription, they can work on overcoming their addiction while continuing to go to work, attend school, or care for their families.

3. Convenient and Private Treatment

Taking Suboxone is highly convenient. You can take it from the comfort and privacy of your own home. With the exception of your physician, no one even needs to know that you’re taking it if you don’t want them to.

4. Lower Risk of Abuse

Thanks to its unique formulation, there is less of a risk that someone will abuse Suboxone.

Remember, it contains Naloxone, which shuts off the opioid receptors and minimizes the euphoric feelings one experiences when they consume opioids.

There is still some potential for abuse, of course. It’s way less than it is with other drugs designed for opioid addicts, such as methadone.

As long as you’re taking it at the dosage that your physician prescribed, your chances of developing an addiction to the Suboxone are quite low.

5. High Success Rate

Folks who take Suboxone to help them overcome an opioid addiction have a very high success rate compared to those who use other medications or no medication at all.

The results of one study of 600 people showed that 49 percent of participants were able to reduce their opioid abuse after at least 12 weeks of Suboxone treatment. When Suboxone use stopped, only 8.6 percent of the participants were successful.

6. Affordability

A lot of people who struggle with addiction avoid seeking treatment because they think it’s too expensive. In some cases, it definitely can be. That’s not true of Suboxone treatment, though.

Suboxone is much more affordable than other medications meant to help those with opioid addictions. Many insurance policies will even cover a portion, if not all, of the cost of Suboxone, so it’s accessible to lots of people regardless of their financial situation.

7. Fewer Side Effects

Suboxone also comes with fewer side effects than some other medications.

When they first start taking the drug, some people report experiencing feelings of drowsiness or as though they’re moving very slowly. These symptoms tend to subside as the treatment continues, though.

Suboxone also does not cause feelings of aggression or changes in personality the way some drugs can. In fact, it appears to help minimize these feelings and help those who take it to feel more calm and rational.

What Suboxone Treatment is Like

As you can see, there are plenty of benefits that come with using Suboxone treatment. You might be wondering what it’s like, though.

Everyone’s experience with Suboxone is slightly different. Generally speaking, though, it tends to go something like this:

  • The first day of treatment is the longest, as your physician needs to figure out the appropriate dosage for you
  • Most people need to see their physician twice a week at first, then they can transition to once a week after taking the medication regularly
  • Suboxone treatment is most effective when you combine it with other types of treatment such as individual therapy or support group attendance

It’s important to note, too, that you need to be in the early stages of withdrawal before you can begin using Suboxone. When you’re in mild withdrawal, more opioid receptors sites are empty and the buprenorphine can occupy them more easily.

Find Suboxone Treatment Near You Today

Suboxone is a safe and highly effective tool for those who are suffering from heroin addiction.

Now that you know more about Suboxone treatment and its benefits, are you ready to get help? Or, do you have a loved one who needs help overcoming their addiction?

Either way, the first step toward experiencing the benefits of Suboxone treatment is to find a clinic near you that will write a Suboxone prescription.

Check out this article today to learn how you can find clinics like this in your area.

na meetings

Do NA Meetings Really Help to Keep You Clean After Heroin Addiction?

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The most recent Narcotics Anonymous membership survey found that of those working the program, 58% of members had been sober for more than five years. And research shows that if a patient remains clean for three years or more, they are more likely to stay off of narcotics for good.

Although research tends to be conflicted on whether or not NA meetings works, one thing is clear: if you work the program then it should work for you.

So do NA meetings really help after heroin addiction? Or are you better off skipping them?

Read on to find out.

Defining Addiction

Addiction is a brain disease. It manifests itself as compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences. An addict has such an intense focus on using that substance that it tends to take over their life.

Addicts may be aware of their substance abuse problem but they’ll find themselves unable to stop using – even if they want to. Addiction tends to cause a variety of problems – from health problems to work problems to family problems and everything in between.

Addiction can have impacts not just on your behavior but also on your cognitive function and your emotions. It leads to a lot of changes in how your body works, acts, and thinks.

What Are NA Meetings?

Narcotics Anonymous is a global network of recovering addicts with 67,000 weekly meetings in 139 countries. NA meetings don’t focus on one particular drug – instead, the focus is on getting clean and staying clean while dealing with the trials and triumphs of addiction and recovery.

Much like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous is a 12-step program. The whole goal of NA is to create a community of addicts who can help each other and draw strength and wisdom from one another.

Meetings have addicts at all stages of recovery, from just a few days to years upon years of being clean.

NA uses a primary text called the “Basic Text” which is a guide for recovery from drug addiction. However, no part of NA is compulsory.

There are two types of meetings: “open” and “closed”. Open meetings are open to anyone, including visitors who are not addicted. Closed meetings are for members and prospective members only. All meetings are free, although there is a voluntary collection that helps to keep the meetings running and self-sustaining.

Anonymity and confidentiality are the cornerstones of NA meetings. Members agree that what is said in a meeting and whomever they meet in a meeting both remain confidential. This allows members to feel safe and clear to share honestly and openly.

The Arguments Against NA Meetings

The main argument against NA meetings is that the abstinence-only model makes it hard for addicts who are using drugs like methadone or suboxone to help get them lean. It can lead to recovering addicts feeling attacked or less-than.

However, the NA program can still work even if these drugs are being used because, once again, there is no part of NA that is mandatory or compulsory.

Why NA Meetings Really Work

Narcotics Anonymous is a 12-step program that outlines the step-by-step journey that leads from active addiction to recovery and sobriety.

One of the main steps of the NA program is admitting that you are responsible for your actions – for the things you did when you were high or using – and taking steps to amend the hurts caused by those actions. This is especially important because it helps to repair your relationships and one of the most important parts of recovering from an addiction is making sure you have a support system in place.

NA also builds on a reliance on a higher power. This doesn’t necessarily mean a god – just that there’s something out there that’s bigger than all of us. This is helpful because one of the hallmarks of addiction is a sense of hopelessness.

The idea that there is a higher power out there makes it feel like you’re not alone.

Additionally, the community that is built by NA helps with those feelings of isolation and hopelessness. It shows you that you’re not the only one struggling with this and that there are others out there who are willing to help you and support you on your journey.

Finally, NA meetings place a huge focus on helping others and giving back to your NA community. This can be done by supporting others during meetings and sharing time – or even by becoming a sponsor to other addicts once you’ve been clean for a while.

This can help to reinforce the notion of sobriety for you in particular. Because if you’re helping another person work the 12 steps then it helps you remember the philosophies so they’re never far from your mind.

Myths About NA Meetings

1. Marijuana Doesn’t Count as a Drug

This depends on who you talk to within the AA meeting. Some will call it a drug that opens you up to the risk of relapse. A drug is a drug is a drug, they say.

However, there are those who think that marijuana is okay when used for medicinal purposes – and as prescribed.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what works best for you and your recovery. But many will insist that marijuana is a drug and should not be used.

2. I Don’t Need a Sponsor

Again, this comes down to what is best for you and your recovery, but almost all NA members will encourage you to find a sponsor within your first 30 days of recovery.

This is because your sponsor will help guide you through the 12 steps and will be a touchstone for you when things get hard or feel out of control

3. I Don’t Have to Do the 12 Steps

One more time, no one can tell you how to do your recovery and there is no part of NA that is compulsory. But that being said, for anyone who is a severe addict just attending meetings doesn’t seem to be enough.

The 12 steps provide direction and guidance and help you on your journey of recovery. It gives you a direct path to follow and will keep you in line.

The Brass Tacks

If you work the program and follow the steps, keep up with meetings, and find a sponsor then the program should work for you. It’ll help with cravings and accountability and keep you on the right track after you get clean.

Do you need help getting clean first though? We can help with that! Contact us for help finding a suboxone clinic or doctor near you.

narcotics anonymous meetings

5 Reasons Narcotics Anonymous Meetings Will Help Your Heroin Recovery

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The battle with addiction is one of the toughest things a family can face and it’s something that can’t be done alone. Over 40 million people in the US struggle with addiction each year.

Narcotics Anonymous meetings can be a crucial resource to help individuals gain control over their addiction. They can be the difference between relapse and being successful in recovery.

Keep reading to learn the top ways Narcotics Anonymous meetings can help.

Let’s get started!

1. Narcotics Anonymous Meetings Give You Support

One of the biggest factors in successful recovery is having a strong support system.

It’s difficult for someone who hasn’t had an addiction to understand the struggle. NA offers support from individuals who have had addictions. They’ve dealt with many similar challenges.

When someone first enters recovery, there can be a lot of guilt involved around the people they love. Things get said and done during addiction. It can cause distrust.

Having an external support system available without judgment can make coming to terms with the past easier. It may be easier to feel accepted by and open up to other NA participants than for an addict to find support with family, friends, and people affected by their addiction.

The Narcotics Anonymous group format allows a myriad of personalities, resources, and supports for each person involved. The word anonymous is right in the title, so a person has the sense of trust not afforded in the rest of the world.

2. Narcotics Anonymous Meetings Offer New Friends

Prior to entering treatment or recovery, most addicts spend their social time with other addicts. This makes it difficult to know what to do with yourself once you are trying to make healthier choices and avoid bad influences.

NA allows you to meet other people who are trying to make the same healthy choices. They are also aware of possible triggers and difficulties that may arise during the early stages of recovery.

Meetings are filled with people from all walks of life, professions, backgrounds, and life situations. Attending is an opportunity to gain support from others and to learn more about life from those you meet there.

They can provide you with new people to associate with and learn from. You can gain a new perspective, new confidence, and learn new coping skills from those around you.

3. A New Focus for Your Time and Energy

Along the same vein as needing to make new friends, you also need new activities. This will help to take your mind off of old coping mechanisms that led to addiction.

Someone with an addiction needs to have distractions and to not only get rid of the addiction but also replace it with healthier choices. As someone gets to know the people within their support group, they often gain greater insight into themselves.

Life for an addict usually becomes all about the addiction. It revolves around paying for, finding, and using their vice. Once you take away the physical action of getting and using, there is a lot of time and energy the addict doesn’t know where to focus.

Narcotics Anonymous has meetings at various locations and times to help fill that time with positive support and make it easier for the addict to make it successfully through another day of recovery.

4. A Wealth of Information

Narcotics Anonymous can give you direct access to information, resources, and support that you may have difficulty finding on your own. You are surrounded by individuals who have gone through similar struggles and had similar questions.

You are new to recovery, but NA is not. They know where to look for answers, community resources, and assistance options that you may never have heard of.

You don’t have to feel overwhelmed by the process of finding help. There will be a room full of people available to offer suggestions and give you some direction.

Addiction educational resources, support networks, treatment options, and other tools to help ensure a greater chance of success in recovery are available through most groups.

5. A Sense of Belonging and Purpose

When you become lost in addiction, it can be hard to know where to even begin finding yourself again. Narcotics Anonymous can be a major asset in this journey to a healthier and more intimate, accepting relationship with yourself.

It is a place where you’re offered support and appreciated for who you are, without being judged for having the addiction in the first place. Many people feel like NA offers them back their life and gives them purpose and a sense of belonging.

12 step addiction programs offer educational material and self-esteem awareness that can help you regain a sense of worth, belonging, and purpose.

Narcotics Anonymous can help individuals pick up the pieces of their broken lives without the fear of persecution for past mistakes. This can be beneficial for everyone struggling with addiction, from adolescents to the elderly.

Narcotics Anonymous Meetings Are a Great Resource for a New Start

Recovery can be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding journies you ever take in life. It can turn desperation into inspiration and struggles into triumphs when successful.

Narcotics Anonymous meetings are an incredible resource to help addicts find their place in the world, find a new community of support, and find new coping skills and discover new dreams for the future.

To learn more about how to be successful in recovery or to find the right treatment program for you or your loved one, connect with us today.

what is buprenorphine

What Is Buprenorphine and How Can It Help Treat My Heroin Addiction?

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There are more than 13 million opioid users in the world – and over 9 million of those use heroin.

Heroin is a highly addictive substance that causes severe withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are a major deterrent to getting off the drug. But addiction treatments such as buprenorphine can help.

But what is buprenorphine and what makes it different from other addiction treatments? More importantly, how can it help you or your loved one resolve their addiction?

We’ll tell you all that and more in this guide to buprenorphine. Keep reading for everything you need to know about buprenorphine for addicts.

What is Buprenorphine?

Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid. It’s made from an alkaloid known as thebaine and found in the poppy plant Papaver somniferum. It was first used to treat and relieve pain.

Buprenorphine is a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addictions. It’s a safe and effective way to help opioid-users reduce or quit their use of other, more risky, drugs. These include everything from heroin to opiates like morphine or prescription pain relievers.

Buprenorphine works by:

  • decreasing cravings for other, more risky opioids
  • blocking the effects that other opioids have
  • suppressing withdrawal symptoms

Buprenorphine reduces the need for using other opioids. It helps patients stay in treatment, which is crucial to their success.

What Make Buprenorphine Different?

Because it’s an opioid, you’re likely wondering why buprenorphine is an addiction treatment. The answer is that it’s a partial agonist. This makes it different than opioids like heroin and pain relievers like morphine.

Buprenorphine is capable of producing the same effects of full agonist opioids. It also has the same dangerous side effects. The difference is that it does this to a much lesser degree.

It gives a sense of euphoria but with a much lower ceiling on those effects. That means there’s less potential for abuse. It also produces withdrawal symptoms that are much less severe.

In comparison to full opioid agonists, buprenorphine is much safer. It’s less likely to cause addiction and harm.

Taking Buprenorphine for Heroin

At the correct dosage, Buprenorphine curbs the withdrawal symptoms associated with heroin detox. In this way, users can stop misusing the illicit drug without severe withdrawal.

Ideal Candidates

The ideal candidate for buprenorphine is someone physically dependent on an opioid. That includes heroin, morphine, oxycodone, and other full agonist opioids.

You should only get this type of treatment if you’re willing to follow safety precautions. Misusing or abusing buprenorphine can be dangerous. You should know all of your options and the precautions before using buprenorphine.

Your doctor should check that you don’t have any health conditions that conflict with treatment. You should undergo a thorough checkup before beginning to take buprenorphine for heroin or any other dependence.

Types of Buprenorphine for Addiction Treatment

The first buprenorphine treatments available were Subutex and Suboxone. These were approved in 2002 but have since been discontinued. They’re now available under the brand name Suboxone Film.

Suboxone generics can also be found. These were approved in 2013 and generally cost less than the brand names.

Other buprenorphine pharmacological treatments include sublingual tablets under the brand name Zubsolv. There is also a buccal film called Bunavail. Finally, Probuphine is an implant that’s placed under-the-skin for up to 6 months.

Is There Potential For Misuse?

Buprenorphine is an opioid that produces the same effects as an opioid. This fact alone gives it the potential for abuse.

To counter that, all buprenorphine treatments also contain a dosage of naloxone. This opiate antagonist should stop individuals from abusing buprenorphine. Particularly, it deters them from using the treatment intravenously.

But how does it do this?

If buprenorphine tablets are crushed and injected, the naloxone will take immediate effect. The naloxone causes opioid withdrawal. The discomfort caused by withdrawal should hinder addicts from abusing their treatment.

Other Treatments

It’s important to note that taking buprenorphine for heroin and other opioids is not a treatment is an of itself. Buprenorphine can reduce craving and withdrawal symptoms. But it should be used in conjunction with counseling and therapies.

Other important therapies include behavioral therapy and other types of psychological treatment. These offer an opportunity to treat the underlying issues associated with addiction and are just as important as MAT.

Why Use Buprenorphine over Methadone?

If you or a loved one struggles with heroin addiction, you’ve likely heard of methadone. Another synthetic opioid prescription medication, methadone is the traditional treatment for heroin addiction.

Methadone carries less risk than heroin because it doesn’t require injection and it lasts for as long as 24 hours. Addicts only need to take it once a day, so it allows them to remain stable and free of withdrawal symptoms while making other positive changes.

One of the challenges of methadone is that it must be administered in a controlled setting and closely supervised by clinicians. But in 2000, the Drug Addiction Treatment Act made other pharmacological treatments like buprenorphine available to those struggling with addiction.

Now, qualified physicians can prescribe treatment that can be taken at home from their office as well as at community hospitals, correctional facilities, and at the health department. That means that access to treatment is significantly increased.

In addition, buprenorphine has less potential for abuse than methadone. Whereas methadone is a Schedule II substance, buprenorphine is only considered a Schedule III drug.

Get Help Today

So, what is buprenorphine? It’s a MAT for opioid addicts that curbs opiate withdrawal symptoms. Compared to full agonist opioids like heroin and oxycodone, it’s far less harmful, less addictive, and provides a real opportunity for addicts to get their life back on track.

If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin, buprenorphine for addiction treatment has promising results. Contact us today and find out more about your options.

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Healing After Heroin: Does the Buprenorphine Patch Really Work?

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Do you need help in the battle against heroin addiction for you or a loved one?

Experts estimate that over 130 people die each day in the United States from an opioid overdose. Fortunately, arming yourself with a buprenorphine patch may keep you safe from joining this statistic.

Keep reading to learn how this patch can help you kick your heroin addiction.

Using a Buprenorphine Patch for Heroin Addiction

Medication-assisted opioid treatment may help you take your life back from addiction. Read on to learn about buprenorphine and how it can help you kick heroin to the curb.

What Is a Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch?

Buprenorphine, also called Butrans, is an opioid (narcotic) analgesic. This means that the medication works on the central nervous system to change the way the body experiences pain signals.

The patch attaches directly to the body and slowly distributes pain medication through the skin over the course of about 7 days. After removing the patch, this medication will remain in your system for anywhere between 55 and 132 hours.

Doctors often prescribe this medication for chronic pain from arthritis or injuries. It can also help treat opioid addictions.

How Does Butrans Treat Opioid Addiction?

It may seem counterintuitive to treat heroin addiction with another opioid. However, it works differently than more highly addictive opioids, like heroin.

Pharmacologists consider this drug a partial opioid agonist. This means it binds to the same receptors as drugs like heroin. But it only produces a partial reaction.

This means the drug will provide relief from the heroin cravings. Addiction changes the brain and body chemistry, making the person dependent on the drug to even feel normal.

The patch allows them to taper the drug, as they need less and less stimulation to function normally. Without relief from the intense cravings, many people relapse.

This medical patch can also help them through detox. Heroin detoxification causes symptoms, including fatigue, pain, and flu-like sickness. Buprenorphine lessens these effects and treats the pain caused by depriving the body of heroin.

Does Buprenorphine Make You High?

Critics argue that using the buprenorphine patch simply replaces one high for another. However, it does not do that exactly.

As stated above, addicts need a certain amount of the drug to even feel normal. This medication only stimulates the receptor enough to give them that feeling of normalcy. It is not, however, enough to get them high.

In fact, this medication blocks the effect of other opioids. This makes relapse much less likely in a recovering heroin addict, as they will not receive the desired side effects from the drug while taking this medication.

Side Effects

Unfortunately, most medications come with unwanted side effects. On the bright side, Butrans generally creates fewer side effects than alternative opioid treatments.

Side effects of this medication include:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • constipation
  • dry mouth
  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
  • headache
  • localized irritation
  • snoring
  • slowed heart rate
  • confusion

Patients will not feel the same euphoric feeling as most other opioids create, which makes this less addictive.

Is It FDA Approved?

The United States government classifies this medication as a schedule III drug. This means that the drug carries low to moderate potential for abuse. However, it also contains benefits for prescribing it that outweigh the potential risks.

In 2018, the FDA approved buprenorphine for medication-assisted opioid treatment. They decided that the crisis urgently required more methods to help treat opioid addiction, due to the high number of deaths the addiction causes.

Can You Overdose on Butrans?

If a person took too much, they could potentially overdose, as with anything else.

However, unlike heroin and other narcotic drugs, this drug has a ceiling on the opioid effects. This means that taking more of the medication will not produce any greater of a high. This makes it highly unlikely for a recovering addict to overdose on the buprenorphine patch.

What Will Help You Stay Sober During Butrans Treatment?

Heroin addiction treatment requires a real effort to stay sober from the recovering addict. Though buprenorphine treatment will help them stay on the road to recovery, it will not magically heal them.

To stay sober while using the patch:

Use as Directed

Whether prescribed during inpatient or outpatient treatment, you should use this patch exactly as directed to receive the full benefits. Not taking it as directed may not keep enough of the medication in your system for it to work properly.

Taking more than directed will not make you high, and may increase the unpleasant side effects. Plus, it is extremely important to change your mindset with medication, using it only for the intended purpose, if you want to succeed at recovery.

Follow the Rules

Treatment programs typically provide a hefty set of rules for you. They do so to protect you and allow you more freedoms as you become ready for them.

Do not think that the patch turns you invincible. Your effort and mindset will do more for you than any medication. Following the rules will enable Butrans to help you through.

Let the Medication Work

If you decide that nothing can help you, then nothing will. Allow this medication to work by giving it a real shot.

When people believe that medicine will not work, they subconsciously fight the effects. Understand both the limitations and the benefits of the drug so you can proceed with realistic expectations.

Surround Yourself with a Support System

Medication can only do so much for you. It works in conjunction with other therapies and tools but does not save you on its own. A healthy network will provide you support that will help you sustain your sobriety.

Leave behind the people who do not want to change. Love them from a distance, but do not allow them to weigh down your recovery success.

Instead, surround yourself with healthy-minded people who want to grow with you and help you succeed. Choose people who support your sobriety and do not tempt you to cheat the system.

Seek Treatment Today

Beating heroin addiction is no small feat. It requires serious determination and often outside help from rehabilitation centers.

Ask your doctor if the buprenorphine patch can help you. Learn more about opioid addiction on our website.

drug treatment

What are My Options for Drug Treatment? Making the Best Choice for You

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Opioid addiction is a national epidemic, with a devastating impact on all segments of society. Each day, more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids.

If you or someone you care about is addicted to prescription pain relievers, heroin, or synthetic opioids like fentanyl, it is a scary situation. You may wonder which way to turn.

Luckily, there is help available. The healthcare and criminal justice systems have better information about addiction and the best ways to treat it. People once thought to be hopeless cases have received assistance and treatment.

If you are looking for drug treatment for you or someone you know, there are several different paths you can take. Below are five different routes to clean living which have helped many people. They may help you, too.

1. Detox

For an addict to get clean and stay sober, the first step is to remove all traces of dangerous substances from their systems.

This is far easier said than done. Kicking the habit is difficult and relapsing is common. Withdrawing from drugs can cause many unpleasant and painful symptoms.

Mental and emotional symptoms include anxiety, depression, insomnia, and poor concentration and memory. You might experience headaches, dizziness, difficulty breathing, heart racing, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches and tremors, and sweats. The addict can also experience seizures, a heart attack, or a stroke.

Most physicians recommend undergoing medically supervised detox. This will reduce withdrawal symptoms and the risk of dangerous complications.

Usually, you must also complete medically supervised detox before entering a treatment facility.

Many detox centers will administer medication to assist with withdrawal from the more dangerous drugs. These drugs can include methadone and buprenorphine. These drugs stop withdrawal symptoms, diminish cravings and block the high from other opioids.

2. Inpatient Rehabilitation

Many addicts find that they need to separate themselves from their former way of life.  They find it hard to quit drugs when they remain the same household or neighborhood where they used to get high.

There are thousands of different treatment centers across the country. There are also many different approaches to sobriety. Many rehab programs combine physician-supervised medications with spirituality, faith-based therapy, behavior modification, and exercise.

A common element of many inpatient treatment centers is cohabiting with other addicts. Some centers require addicts to attend group sessions. In these groups, addicts work together to overcome their shared disease.

The cost of residential treatment varies. Some programs are private pay and can be very expensive. Others may be subsidized and available to people on public assistance.

There is little correlation between how much you spend on treatment and how well it will work for you.

3. Outpatient Rehab

Other addicts may choose to enroll in a professionally supervised program that lets them stay at home. This may be a viable option for people who have young children. If you cannot take time off of work, an outpatient program may be the best option for you.

Many outpatient programs combine medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with therapeutic counseling. A doctor will prescribe a drug like Suboxone. The patient will continue taking it under medical supervision, in addition to attending therapy sessions.

Continuous monitoring of the prescribed medication helps the patient avoid becoming addicted to the new substance as a replacement for the illegal opioid.

MAT works well in conjunction with other therapies like group and family counseling. Medication helps with physical issues, but psychological counseling is necessary to address addiction’s root causes.

4. Individual Treatment

After detox and residential or outpatient treatment, a patient may wish to continue individual counseling as well. Discovering the reasons behind one’s addiction and learning to live without substances can take a long time.

Because drug addiction often runs in families, a patient may wish to engage in family counseling to address issues at home. Ongoing therapy can also address early childhood trauma and other factors, and provide healthy tools for dealing with triggers, stress, and depression.

If a patient has taken Suboxone or other medications in order to kick a drug addiction, he or she should continue seeing a medical doctor who can help them wean off this medicine in the appropriate manner and time frame.

5. Twelve Step Programs

Even alcoholics and drug addicts who have hit rock bottom can find their way back. If a patient has remained clean for three years or more, they are more likely to stay off the illegal drugs for good.

Many recovering addicts need a maintenance program to continue staying clean. They often find that the group sessions in which they engaged while in residential or outpatient treatment continue to be helpful. The support of fellow addicts is important for continued sobriety.

Some former opioid addicts find relief and companionship by attending twelve-step meetings like Narcotics Anonymous. Based on Alcoholics Anonymous, the program encourages working with other addicts and attending meetings in addition to abstinence.

Different groups have different views on medically supervised medications like Suboxone. Because each 12 step program is autonomous, one group may think you cannot be clean while taking a drug like methadone while another group may have a different opinion.

You can find a group that is right for your particular approach to sobriety. Many addicts continue attending meetings with their group many years after finally kicking the habit.

Drug Treatment: Help Is Available

You may notice that there is one option not listed above: kicking the habit by yourself. Going it alone is generally considered an ineffective way to stop taking illegal drugs. Trying to withdraw alone is often futile, and can be dangerous.

Depending on your personality, budget and preference, there are many ways to get sober. There is no right or wrong way, so long as you get help.

Because addiction is so challenging to recover from, we encourage you to get help in whatever way works best for you. Taking drugs that are recommended and prescribed by a medical profession is a viable, legal and safe way that has helped many addicts get off of heroin, oxycontin,o and other drugs.

For more information on whether MAT is the best drug treatment for you, check out our site.