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Rapid Detoxification Offers New Approach for Heroin Addiction

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Heroin addiction is a devastating disease that many American’s from all age groups are suffering.  What begins as recreational drug use develops into a dependency and ultimately addiction to heroin. Without the presence of the drug in one’s system, an addict will experience physical and mental withdrawal symptoms that can be devastating to their health and wellbeing.  However, it is possible to reverse these conditions and break the vicious cycle of addiction to heroin through rapid detoxification treatments.

Rapid heroin detoxification can allow a patient suffering from heroin addiction to avoid the uncomfortable and often very painful withdrawal symptoms associated with the rehabilitation process.  This is achieved by placing the patient under anesthesia while drugs are administered to accelerate the withdrawal process. This accelerated process usually takes approximately 1 to 2 hours to complete. During this time, the patient will be asleep and closely monitored by a group of professional medical staff members as they will also be hooked to a respirator and other machines to monitor vital signs. If treatment is successful, the patient will wake up free of withdrawal symptoms and cravings for heroin.

The patient will usually be required to stay for 48 hours after treatment is complete. They can choose, however, to stay longer if they feel it would be more beneficial to their recovery process.  Otherwise they will be able to return home as soon as the treatment phase is over. Usually patients will be prescribed medication to take home, such as Naltrexone, that reacts as an inhibitor to the effects of heroin or other opiate based drugs. This means that patients will not feel any of the euphoric effects from heroin if they encounter emotional triggers that can cause a relapse once he or she returns home.

Studies are beginning to show that relapses are less likely to occur when using the rapid detoxification process. The prescribed inhibiting medication plays a significant role in the likelihood of relapse occurrences after a rapid detox program. This may be one reason relapse numbers are significantly lower than when using other forms of rehabilitation. The length of time that the patient will continue taking the inhibitor will be based on individual requirements. This post treatment care may extend up to a year if needed to ensure that sobriety is maintained.  Support from family and friends also play an important part in the individual’s ability to refrain from returning to abusing heroin or other opiates.