Generally speaking, withdrawal from heroin and other opiates may occur as early as a few hours after the last use. The withdrawal symptoms of heroin addiction include:

•  drug craving
•  restlessness
•  muscle and bone pain
• insomnia
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• sweats and cold flashes

Major withdrawal symptoms of heroin addiction and other opiate addictions peak between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose. Without proper medical care seizures or convulsions can occur. The good news is that an addict can usually complete heroin detox or opiate detox within five and seven days.

Choose Inpatient Heroin Detox or Opiate Detox Programs

Heroin detox and opiate detox can be a very challenging process both physically and emotionally. It is my opinion that anyone undergoing heroin detox or opiate detox, should do so in drug rehab programs or addiction treatment programs that specialize in medical detox programs. All heroin detox programs should be medically monitored, complete with 24 hour nursing, able to dispense medications as needed and directed by a physician trained in addiction medicine (addictionologist).

Ongoing Addiction Treatments

Even after heroin or opiate detox is complete, many people require ongoing addiction treatments, therefore heroin detox should take place within one of many drug rehab centers or addiction treatment programs. Drug rehab programs provide a smoother transition from heroin detox and opiate detox programs, which are medically driven, into a clinically driven level of care within the drug rehab.

Structure is Key

Another reason we feel that heroin detox should be provided within the confines of drug rehab programs or addiction treatment programs is due to the structure they provide. Many people attempt heroin detox on an outpatient basis. While outpatient heroin detox can work for some, most addicts require the structure of inpatient detox programs to deal with the cravings and keep them away from their environment, old friends and access to opiates.

While in the grips of heroin or opiate addiction, addicts are often involved in high risk activities. By undergoing opiate detox or heroin detox in drug rehab centers, addicts receive a comprehensive physical examination. This will help identify any medical problems that are present and need to be addressed. This examination process is begun in detox and ongoing support is available if a person transitions into drug rehab.

Eventually, we are taking enormous amounts of one or more medications. The “high” just isn’t the same anymore so we might use some other substance to give the medication a “kick.” Some of us turn to alcohol to combine with the medication. Others turn to illegal drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Others begin to steal prescription pads from physicians and forge prescriptions. Whatever the methods, the unmanageability reaches critical stages.

Remember all of those negative feelings we thought the drugs were relieving? Well, now that we are in our addiction, they have returned with a vengeance. Our world now revolves around our medications just the way it did with our chronic pain. We become very lonely. Our medication comes first and we once again alienate ourselves from our loved ones. Shame and guilt set in and our self-esteem lowers even more. Anger, resentments, fear, frustration, depression and anxiety once again dominate our minds. We now need the medications just to feel normal and if we try to stop the medications, we become ill. We have come full circle, and are now prisoners to both our medications and chronic pain.

If you are reading this pamphlet, chances are good you have met the diagnostic criteria for chemical dependency. You only need to relate to three of the following:

For help with drug addiction treatment contact Sunrise Detox.

What Happens in the Body With Heroin Addiction

Just why it’s so hard to overcome heroin is easy to see when you look at what the drug does to your body. Over time, your nervous system has adapted to accommodate chronic use of the drug. When heroin first infiltrates your body, your brain’s natural chemistry reacts with heroin’s toxins to create the feeling of heroin euphoria. Other effects include a feeling of heaviness and inability to move, dizziness, nausea, change in skin temperature. You feel tired, and the world seems to no longer exist around you. In effect, you are incapable of functioning either mentally or physically.

Heroin also damages the central nervous system, and may also cause short- and long-term harm to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Many users overdose and die from the drug’s toxic effects, while others suffer severe and permanent damage.

A University of California study of 581 male heroin addicts monitored over 30 years (1964 to 1994) found alarming results. After 30 years, more than half (284) of the original participants, had died. Causes of the deaths: 22 percent died from overdose, 15 percent of chronic liver disease, and 20 percent from suicide or homicide. Of the remaining 43 percent of the deaths, the causes were AIDS, cancer or cardiovascular diseases. What about the 297 addicts still alive after 30 years? The sad truth is that 43 percent of them were still using heroin.

You’ve Made the Decision to Enter Detox – Now What?

Just by entering detox you’ve made a powerful first step. You may have finally hit bottom, due to a combination of physical and emotional consequences of the effects of heroin. Perhaps you had an intervention and that’s why you arrived at detox. The point is that you’re here. Now what?

Some of the immediate effects of detoxification from heroin are those you’re already quite familiar with. Every time your high wore off and you didn’t get your fix right away, your body started to feel some of the withdrawal symptoms. You may have even tried to quit cold turkey – not a good idea, as you well know if you’ve tried it.

Physical withdrawal symptoms include: a 3- to 5-day period of intense anxiety, insomnia, flu-like symptoms, cramps, chills, sweating, diarrhea and goose bumps. Muscles start to tighten and twitch, leading to involuntary spasms or kicking. Psychological cravings for the drug become almost unbearable, impossible to fight. Peak withdrawal symptom severity occurs about 24 hours after termination of the drug, and can last a week or more. Without medication to manage the withdrawal symptoms, the pain can be excruciating. But unless other medical problems exist, detox itself is not life-threatening.

Detoxification under medical supervision alleviates the discomfort of heroin withdrawal, managed by administration of medication – if the patient chooses this method. Using medication, the effects can be minimized or even prevented. Drugs used include methadone, clonidine and buprenorphine drugs like Subutex or Suboxone.

By Suzanne Kane

The brain and addiction… what is the relationship? There has been an ongoing debate for years about where addiction actually originates from. You will find some drug addiction treatment professionals who claim addiction is a lack of willpower, while others insist that addiction is a disease of the brain, complete with signs and symptoms. The truth about addiction, as concluded by the American Medical Association with research-based criteria, is that addiction is most definitely a disease that is chronic in nature not unlike cancer, diabetes or bipolar disorder. Another critical outcome of the research-based study showed that the brain of the individual suffering from drug or alcohol addiction is both chemically and physiologically dissimilar from that of the normal brain. This particular finding supports the theory that the brain and addiction are interconnected. This is critical to understanding addiction, its development and an individual’s recovery process.

Addiction Definition

The word addiction is best defined as the obsessive thinking and compulsive need for and use of drugs, alcohol, food, sex or anything that is psychologically or physically addicting. Addiction can also be described by the development of tolerance with distinguishable withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuing the use of the particular drug or behavior. In addition to the development of tolerance with regards to addiction, the addict or alcoholic will experience intense physical cravings for the drug accompanied by an emotional obsession to take the drug regardless of the consequences. The process of addiction that leads the individual to experience the compulsive need for drugs regardless of the consequences is directly related to the change in brain chemistry affecting the process of thought.

The Science Behind the Brain and Addiction Relationship

Scientifically-based research on the brain and addiction relationship has demonstrated to us that drugs, alcohol and specific behaviors have a significant impact on the reward center located in the brain. Levels relating to certain neurotransmitters, send messages to the brain. These neurotransmitters include serotonin and dopamine. Chronic use of drugs and alcohol tends to over-stimulate the brain until it must depend upon substances and behaviors to produce the needed chemicals. This chemical dependency is what leads to tolerance and addiction.

Most people believe that drug addiction lies in the additional use of drugs or alcohol when it truly is related to chemical imbalances in the brain and the compulsion to use, regardless of the consequences. In light of all of this scientific research, we still find professionals who adopt the philosophy that addiction is due to a lack of willpower and/or moral imperfections.

Brain Chemistry and Addiction

Most individuals suffering from addiction use drugs or alcohol to feel “good” or to self-medicate physical or emotional pain. Substance use and addictive behaviors stimulate and increase the brain’s production and use of REWARD chemicals such as dopamine. Depending on the dose of the drug, the brain accepts neurotransmitters that are significantly more intense than they would experience during the “natural” highs produced by the brain normally. In basic terms, this is why addiction takes place physically and emotionally.

Addiction Alters the Brain

Over time, the continued use of a drug alters the way the brain functions. A person’s brain becomes dependent on receiving the substance. These changes in brain chemistry create the addiction and create the tolerance, withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The only “good” part regarding drug addiction is the disease is treatable and recovery is possible.

By Jonathan Huttner

One dose of buprenorphine remains active in the human body for as long as 48 hours, which provides a longer duration than morphine. This is one of the qualities that make this drug ideal for helping opioid addicts to break free of their addiction. Since the drug remains in the body for 48 hours, it also ensures that the withdrawal symptoms that people experience are significantly decreased.

Buprenorphine requires sublingual (under the tongue) administration on a frequent basis. Drug administration should always be supervised by a substance abuse treatment professional, and doses must be strictly monitored. Federal regulations require this in order for treatment centers and medical facilities to be able to administer the drug at all.

There are some side effects that can occur along with the use of buprenorphine. They range from moderate to severe, and it should be pointed out that this drug can, in some cases, produce fatal side effects. The most commonly occurring side effects include the following:

• Headache

• Drowsiness

• Dizziness

• Vomiting

• Decreased libido

• Constipation

• Respiratory depression

Respiratory depression is the side effect that presents the most serious problems with the use of buprenorphine, as it can be fatal in some people. Unfortunately, there is no way to correct or treat this problem should it develop.

While undergoing buprenorphine treatment, all patients are regularly monitored to see how their livers are functioning, as some adverse effects can be caused by using this drug.

Even though buprenorphine is used to treat people with opioid addictions, the possibility does exist for an addiction to the buprenorphine itself to develop. The types of dependencies that can develop include both physical and psychological. People who are considering undergoing treatment with this drug should be aware, however, that instances of people becoming addicted to buprenorphine are quite rare.

Often times, one of the primary questions that people have is whether they should choose buprenorphine or methadone as a treatment option. Both of these drugs are routinely used for short-term and long-term treatment of opioid addiction. Dosing requirements may be a bit better with buprenorphine simply because of the drug’s ability to remain in the body for 48 hours, thereby offering longer-term effects. With buprenorphine, patients typically only have to receive a dose every other day, while methadone requires daily dosing.

Buprenorphine also has an advantage regarding the total amount of treatment time that is required to successfully complete a detoxification program. With buprenorphine, treatments generally last for a few months, while with methadone indefinite or sometimes lifelong treatment is necessary.

It is very important that buprenorphine be administered in an inpatient treatment facility, particularly one that specializes in substance abuse treatment. Inpatient treatment programs not only offer patients detox programs, they also offer treatment or rehabilitation programs that are designed to help people learn healthier ways of living. Some of these treatment programs include counseling, diet and exercise, massage, acupuncture, and group therapy.

The purpose in these additional treatments is to give patients a better chance of maintaining success by giving them the tools they need to lead lives that are free of substance abuse. If patients learn how to be healthy and happy (physically and emotionally) then they will be far less likely to have a relapse.

Every addict hits rock bottom but at some point they realize that the addiction is causing the life problems. An addict will not want to give up their addictions so easily- but  this is a classic point of surrender and this is your cue to step into recovery. Unfortunately the addict will always  have a desire to use and this is the battle of recovery. As long as there is a want to be sober you are a candidate for sobriety.

The people in a drug detox facility are going to welcome you and treat you with respect.  It is very rare for a staff person in a treatment center to treat a client with disrespect.  Most staff members have been there in the same place you are at now, in fact, so they know what you are going through.

It is the first step to recovery

It is important to know that even though you may feel like dying when coming off of the drug, people most often come out unscathed and a full recovery is completely possible. Below are some ideas to consider when treating heroin withdrawal symptoms and finding the help you need.

1. Give yourself room. It is important to plan out quitting carefully. If you work, try to take some decent time off. Your employer may provide an employee assistance program or “EAP” which can help you get treatment for little to no cost and without retaliation. EAP services are usually completely confidential and are a great option for finding help.

2. If you plan on quitting “cold turkey” there are things you can do to minimize the pain of heroin withdrawls while quitting: A. Ask a close trusted friend to stay with you during the duration of withdrawal symptoms. They will have to take care of you as if you had a really bad case of the flu. B. Keep plenty of fluids handy and foods you can eat available. Sports drinks, yogurt, oatmeal, bottled water, popcicles, soups, et. are plain foods that are easy on your tummy and senses while you are sick. It is extremely easy to get dehydrated so keep this in mind. Also meal replacement shakes may be a great way to deliver nutrient when full meals aren’t easily consumed. C. You may want to purchase medicine for nausea, diarrhea or for any other symptom you may incur. D. When possible, and possibly with help, the individual will want to soak in warm water to help calm the nerves. Showers are also an option but may be too intense however. E. The most severe of the heroin symptoms tend to only last around three days, however residual affects will slowly continue to fade over a period of time. Remember to give yourself plenty of time for recover. 3 days are most likely not enough. For the sake of your health, try to get as much time off as possible to aid in your recovery.

3. A great option for heroin treatment is through a combination of medication and counseling. Buprenorphine / naloxone treatment can almost completely eliminate the withdrawal symptoms once in moderate withdrawl. This medication is known to allow the heaviest of addicts to feel normal and function in society. You can do a search online to find a provider who is licensed and certified to administer this drug as well as research it. This medication can often be taken in the comfort of your own home as part of your treatment. You and your doctor can discuss the proper treatment for you. In addition, they may require that you take part in an out-patient program like narcotics anonymous (NA) which is a great program for the mental side of your addiction. Even if you are drug-free for a week or so, a doctor can still help you in treatment and it may very well still be quite necessary.

4. Going to a rehabilitation center is a great choice if you can get the time away and have someone to take care of pets for you. In rehab you will be given medication combined with other forms of therapy which will help you on your way to recovery..

Don’t give up on trying to get the help you deserve. Many people do not realize that heroin addiction is a clinical disease, not a moral or character flaw. If possible, keep the lines of communication open with your family as they will most likely be willing to help you… even if you don’t think they will now. Use the resources available to you. Many states offer drug-abuse programs and coupons which would allow you to get the help you need free or little to no charge. The more you know and understand, the more the addiction will feel manageable and your confidence in your ability to fight the addiction will increase. Just don’t give up!

by Gabriel A. Killian

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