How to Treat and Understand Heroin Addiction

Heroin is one of the most physically and mentally addicting drugs that is commonly abused. Due to this fact, heroin addiction is one of the most challenging addictions to treat. Not only are all of the same emotional elements involved with a heroin addict, but the intense physical dependency on the drug is present. This presents unique challenges for a mental health care professional.

Instructions

How to Treat and Understand Heroin Addiction

• 1

  Be prepared for the addict to suffer an unpleasant withdrawal from heroin. Heroin withdrawal symptoms reach their peak at 48 to 72 hours after the last use of heroin. Symptoms of heroin withdrawal include bone and muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting, insomnia, and cold flashes accompanied by goose bumps. Therefore, it is essential that the addict experience withdrawal in a detoxification facility before attending treatment.

• 2

  Discuss treatment options with the addict after detoxification is completed. Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of medication therapy, such as buprenorphine and methadone, as well as psychotherapy, such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), talk therapy, art therapy, and group therapy.

• 3

  Design a treatment plan around the addict's treatment choices and personal preferences. Personalized programs have the highest success rate.

• 4

  Assure the addict that the staff at the treatment facility are there to help the patients to recover from their addictions and do not judge the addicts for suffering from their addictions. Shame and embarrassment are common emotions that can hold an addict back from recovery if not addressed.

• 5

  Encourage the addict to keep a journal about emotions that arise so that they can be addressed in therapy sessions. Especially encourage the addict to consider what may have led the addict to use heroin and write about it in his or her journal.

• 6

  Maintain a structured environment at the treatment facility. Enforce regular times to wake up, eat, go to sleep, and attend scheduled activities such as outings, group therapy sessions, and individual therapy sessions. Addicts rely on the predictability that structure provides as a means to learn to structure their own lives.

• 7

  Ensure that a safe environment is maintained in the treatment facility at all times. Create and enforce rules, including no physical or verbal abuse, no lying, and no stealing.

• 8

  Be patient and expect the treatment process to take several months. The treatment of heroin addiction is incredibly difficult for both the addict and the mental health professionals.