Heroin Addiction
Heroin addiction is a serious medical disease characterized by physical and psychological reliance on heroin or other opioids. Heroin is an illegal opioid drug made from morphine that users typically inject into their bloodstream. Users can also snort heroin through their nostrils or smoke it. Heroin produces a “rush” or a feeling of euphoria for users by affecting the parts of the brain that control pleasure and relaxation.
This short-term effect makes the drug highly addictive. People suffering from heroin addiction often use it every day to avoid withdrawal. However, continued use of the drug can lead to serious side effects, including insomnia, collapsed veins, damaged tissue, abscesses, liver disease, kidney disease, heart infections, mental disorders, and fatal overdoses.
Symptoms of Heroin Addiction
If you believe a loved one has become addicted to heroin, look out for the signs listed below. This dangerous drug causes severe physical and behavioral changes, leading to deadly overdoses. If your loved one is exhibiting one or more of these symptoms, you may want them to sign up for heroin addiction help.
Common signs and symptoms of heroin abuse and addiction include:
- Track marks or scars on arms, hands, feet, and other injection sites
- Slow, slurred, and incoherent speech
- Nodding off and a sleepy appearance
- Difficulty breathing and noticeable breathing issues
- Insomnia
- Regular nosebleeds and damage to the nostril tissue
- Behavioral changes like depression and increased isolation
- Increased irritability
- Drug paraphernalia like needles, spoons, and rubber tourniquets
Some of these signs point to a heroin high, while others point to long-time heroin abuse. If you suspect your loved one is abusing or addicted to heroin, heroin addiction rehab can help.
Counseling for Heroin Addiction
At Counseling of Southwest Florida, we offer heroin counseling for those ready to get sober and stay drug-free. Available at both our Naples counseling center and Golden Gate counseling center, counseling starts with drug detoxification. The heroin addiction program includes opioid replacement therapy, gradual discontinuation of heroin and opioids, counseling, and therapy.
Heroin Addiction Help’s First Steps
After detox, our heroin addiction therapy continues with an addiction counseling program. This allows patients to develop skills to stop their heroin use and change their substance abuse habits in a supportive setting while integrating those skills into their everyday lives. Patients participate in regular group therapy and weekly individual therapy sessions with a licensed addiction counselor.
Next Steps of Heroin Addiction Help
The next stages of counseling for heroin addiction encompasses weekly group and individual therapy sessions where patients learn how to apply recovery skills, set health life goals, and develop a support system outside of sessions. As therapy progresses, patients spend more time outside of counseling, applying the skills they learned to stay sober to their daily lives.
Counseling of Southwest Florida promises complete transparency for our practice and heroin addiction help programs. Allow us to provide you or your loved one the care and support they need to facilitate a healthy recovery and lifelong sobriety. If you are seeking an effective heroin addiction rehab program, contact us now to speak directly with a care specialist and make the change that will save your life or the life of your loved one.