Heroin Withdrawal: Understanding Full Timeline of Addiction & Recovery
Taking the resolve to quit drugs like heroin is the first (baby) step one can take. Recovery is painful and often exceedingly slow. But that does not mean you should be intimidated. Anyone can come clean. All it takes is willpower, the support of family and friends, with drug rehabs or rehabilitation centers ( near you) me playing a key role in recovery.
Statistics: What we know about the incidence of heroin addiction
While quitting Heroin is not easy, one must be mindful of the statistics. Opioid overdoses are the leading cause of death. 125,000 people died of opioid overdose in 2019 (WHO). The number of overdosing deaths has decreased with statistics pointing out that the age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths involving heroin decreased. The CDC reports that “ drug overdose deaths involving heroin decreased 35.7% from 2.8 in 2021 to 1.8 in 2022.”
There are still many youngsters dying from heroin overdose. Therefore read on to know more about heroin abuse and withdrawal and if it resonates with you ( in the sense that there is a loved one you know who could be displaying similar symptoms) be sure to seek help at the earliest rehabilitation center nearest to you (me)
The statistics of heroin addiction paint a potent picture. The numbers have been increasing and the ages have been dropping. Even teens are abusing the drug. In 2020, an estimated 902,000 people aged 12 and older used heroin within the past year. That is quite a high number. It has also been observed that people who are addicted to heroin could end up abusing more dangerous drugs like Molly and Meth. Unfortunately, because people develop a tolerance for the drug, they find it hard to resist in time.
Causes and risk factors of heroin addiction: Identifying the reasons
Heroin, which is primarily a derivative of the poppy plant, is a highly addictive substance. Its highly addictive nature arises due to its ability to cause long-lasting changes in certain critical receptors of the brain.
When it comes to substance abuse, there is a specific demographic who are more vulnerable to addiction. People with poor social conditioning, unhappy families, physical abuse and sexual abuse, low self-esteem, school and college dropouts, and certain mental health conditions like PTSD, ADHD, and bipolar are more at risk. We could also include youngsters living with single parents, or in foster homes as they are more vulnerable to abuse. They resort to drugs to find happiness and self-worth. But unfortunately, drugs do not work that way.
Once one falls into the vicious cycle of heroin use, it is difficult to get out. The primary reason is the intense withdrawal pangs, which have been discussed later in the section under withdrawal symptoms. The easiest way to overcome the withdrawal pangs is to return to heroin use. The risk of a heroin overdose is greater if someone returns to use after a period of abstinence – primarily because of lower tolerance and health issues.
Effect of heroin addiction: Even single use is enough to damage key receptors in the brain
Even a single use causes a change in certain key receptors. In a normal brain, these receptors release the happiness hormones – the endorphins. We have all experienced the impact of these hormones (endorphins) also known as the sunshine hormone.
It is triggered when you eat a piece of chocolate, or when you hear a piece of truly amazing music, or you are rewarded with a hug, a pat on the back, or a kiss. You then experience pure bliss – a feeling akin to sunshine all attributed to the surge of endorphins.
Heroin however triggers responses differently. Initially one could experience a feeling of euphoria. But that wears off after repeated use. It then produces some discomforting side effects such as sleepiness, increased heart rate and breathing, and disinterest in normal day-to-day activities.
Later, you could need more and more of the drug to get the same impact that you got earlier from a smaller dosage. That is when you would know that you are truly hooked. And that is when quitting the drug becomes difficult, because of the withdrawal. Check out the drug rehabs near you ( me) or the outpatient rehab near you ( me) for comprehensive support during withdrawal.
Signs and symptoms: Side effects of heroin withdrawal
While the physical impact of heroin withdrawal is short-term, the psychological impact is long-term. That is one of the reasons why after acute withdrawal many crack and heroin addicts go back to their old ways and sometimes at the cost of their lives. Let’s break down the impact of heroin on the individual:
First few hours: Within the first 12 hours you will feel overwhelmed. If not, you might end up having symptoms that resemble flu or a cold. Therefore, a medically supervised detox is an essential feature of any detoxification and rehabilitation program. As heroin addiction is associated with other forms of substance abuse such as alcohol addiction, one could also check out the rehabilitation for alcohol addiction along with heroin abuse.
First few days: This duration begins from the time you cover 24 hours of your “no heroin” program and can continue for three days. Here you would find yourself craving for the drug, hence apart from medications for detoxification, rehabilitation programs also have suitable programs to keep the user engaged -such as therapies and support groups.
A week: If you have not succumbed to your cravings yet, your efforts will have paid off by the end of the week. A small milestone but a big leap when it comes to recovery because by this time many of your heroin withdrawal symptoms will have subsided.
A month and more: By this time, many of the side effects of drug abuse would have been eliminated. You will feel fitter and better and more importantly, confident about your recovery. However, there could still be some of the remnants of heroin addiction and from time to time one could experience a need. Other psychological scars like depression and anxiety could persist for longer and therefore it is suggested that you continue with the therapies long after your IOP.
Comorbid conditions existing with heroin addiction:
Co-occurring conditions are common with heroin addiction. It is simply because heroin causes changes in some centers of the brain. Also, vice versa, heroin addiction is common in people who have a prior case of mental health troubles.
Some of the common mental health conditions coexisting with heroin addiction are ADHD, anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, PTSD, and substance abuse – notably alcohol addiction. Therefore, we recommend an inpatient program setting, where trained professionals not only identify the form of substance abuse but also the comorbidities existing with it and draft a personalized approach or case-by-case approach for recovery and rehabilitation.
Addiction and overdosing: Physical dependence is the first sign
Heroin impacts certain critical components of the brain. As the tolerance level increases the dependency on the drug increases, and as a result, the chances of addiction are high. It is also seen that overdosing is common in people who have suffered from withdrawal symptoms. Hence, the a need for both medically supervised detox with medications like methadone as well as a structured residential program
Withdrawal symptoms: Why must you detoxify at a rehabilitation center?
The withdrawal symptoms that come when you quit the drug can be varied. The short-term symptoms that last a few days to a week. Apart from cravings and obsessing continually about the drug, there are physical symptoms such as sleeplessness, drowsiness, headaches, disturbed gastrointestinal tract diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. You could also experience higher BP, muscle tremors, shivering, and goosebumps.
The long-term impact of heroin withdrawal is more psychological than physical. The symptoms linger on after a week of heroin withdrawal. Anxiety, depression, tiredness, insomnia, loss of interest, and irritability are some of the common symptoms associated with withdrawal. As certain centers of the brain are impacted, one could also find it hard to remember things and will find it hard to concentrate on work or studies. However, with constant therapy and support from trained therapists, family, and friends it is possible to get back on track. Remember, recovery is hard but worth the effort.
Detoxing at home – not an option
While cravings or obsessions can linger longer, detoxing at home is not advisable. It could result in the reuse of heroin or short-term symptoms that require medical assistance. Other reasons make detoxing at home a bad option.
Your BP could shoot up. You could suffer from malnutrition and cardiovascular problems. Other dangers include diarrhea and vomiting, extreme dehydration, loss of consciousness or seizures, heatstroke, UTI, and kidney failure. A supervised detox balances medication with your dietary and electrolyte requirements, so that you may experience a baby step towards comprehensive treatment for heroin addiction. Check out the inpatient rehab near you (me) for more details.
Recovering from heroin addiction: Be patient, that’s the first rule for recovery
Medically supervised detox is a treatment approach where doctors or other clinical staff provide monitoring, medication, and other treatment interventions to help manage and ease the discomfort of withdrawal signs and symptoms. methadone or buprenorphine – are opioid agonists, to reduce the pain of withdrawal. You do not however experience the kind of high that you would do otherwise.
A medically supervised detox experience helps you safely experience withdrawal while under the care of doctors 24/7. These medical professionals can administer medication to treat symptoms of heroin withdrawal as well as address existing comorbid conditions like alcohol abuse disorder so you wouldn’t have to enroll in a drug rehab center near you (me) as all your needs would be taken care of at the center only.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with high blood pressure, heart issues, malnutrition, liver disease, or some other chronic condition, starting your long-term recovery work at a medically supervised detox facility is a sensible choice.
The more you wait the more you lose out on precious time. Whether it is you or someone or a close family member, reach out to thereahabsupport.com at the earliest or call us at 949.325.7994
