What to Expect at a San Antonio Heroin Detox Center
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Heroin is an illicit opioid that is extremely potent, often resulting in addiction after only a few uses. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 1.1 million people reported using heroin in 2021.[1]
If you abuse heroin, you know how hard it can be to get sober. Since heroin addiction causes painful withdrawal symptoms, you should never attempt to detox on your own. Instead, you must receive support from a professional heroin detox center.
When considering attending heroin detox, you might be wondering what to expect. Heroin detox centers in San Antonio offer a variety of services to ensure your success, including an assessment, medical stabilization, medications to limit withdrawal symptoms, and future treatment planning.
What is Heroin Withdrawal Like?
When you are addicted to heroin, your brain and body rely on it to function properly. As a result, suddenly stopping the use of heroin will cause withdrawal symptoms. Unfortunately, heroin withdrawal symptoms can be excruciating and difficult to cope with without proper medical treatment.
Typically, the symptoms of heroin withdrawal begin 8 to 24 hours after your last dose and can continue affecting you for up to 10 days. Many people describe heroin withdrawal as feeling like a really bad flu.
The common symptoms of heroin withdrawal include:[2]
- Increased heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and body temperature
- Sleep disturbances like insomnia
- Dilated pupils
- Excessive sweating
- Goosebumps
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Watery discharge from your eyes and nose
- Muscle cramps or pains
- Bone pain
- Feelings of depression, anxiety, and agitation
- Heightened reflexes
When you receive support from a medical detox center, your symptoms will be managed using FDA-approved medications and supplemental therapies. This makes the heroin withdrawal process much easier on your mind and body.
What to Expect During Heroin Detox in San Antonio
Deciding to attend heroin detox is one of the most important choices you can make. However, this does not mean it should be taken lightly. Detox can be scary, especially if you do not know what to expect.
Assessment
The first thing you will do when you get to a heroin detox center in San Antonio is undergo an initial assessment. These assessments are used to gather information about your physical and mental health as well as your history of heroin abuse. Then, an individualized treatment plan can be created to ensure that all the services you receive suit your needs.
Medical Stabilization
After creating your individualized treatment plan, you will begin the medical stabilization process. Heroin detox centers in San Antonio ensure that you are safe and comfortable by monitoring your vital signs consistently. Nurses and other medical staff will assess your breathing rate, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature and treat any abnormalities as they arise.
In addition, you will have access to 24/7 psychological support. Because detox can be difficult on your mind, mental health experts will be on standby to help you deal with any uncomfortable emotions or stressors you may be facing.
Withdrawal Medications
After your vital signs are checked and you are found to be stable, a doctor will prescribe you FDA-approved medications to limit your withdrawal symptoms and prevent cravings. Examples of medications used during heroin detox in San Antonio include Suboxone and methadone, which target opioid receptors in your brain to make it believe it is receiving the heroin it’s dependent on.
By using these medications, you will remain comfortable, safe, and focused on your recovery from heroin addiction. They also decrease your chances of relapsing, ensuring that you have every chance you can get to achieve long-term sobriety.
Over time, your dose of these medications will be lowered until you no longer need them, guaranteeing that you are not taking medication longer than you have to.
Treatment Planning
Once you have overcome your withdrawal symptoms, you will work with your doctors and therapists to create a treatment plan. Since detox only resolves the physical aspect of addiction, most people transition into an inpatient or outpatient heroin rehab center right after they complete withdrawal. These programs will offer you the services you need to regain control over your life, learn how to cope without using heroin, and maintain long-term sobriety.
Get Connected to a Top-Rated Heroin Detox Center in San Antonio
Heroin addiction can be extremely difficult to overcome, especially if you are attempting to do so on your own. Thankfully, heroin detox centers in San Antonio will give you the medical treatment, medications, and psychological support you need to overcome the withdrawal phase of recovery.
To learn more about how we can help you beat heroin withdrawal and regain control over your life, contact Alamo Behavioral Health today.
References:
- The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): What is the scope of heroin use in the United States, Retrieved November 2023 From https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/heroin/scope-heroin-use-in-united-states
- Medline Plus: Opiate and opioid withdrawal, Retrieved November 2023 From https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000949.htm
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