Heroin has long been an illicit drug. This powerful opioid is almost immediately habit-forming and, as such, has been deemed illegal by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). However, use has more than doubled among young adults over the last decade. Many researchers and medical professionals like those at our heroin rehab center near Albany believe this is due to the continuing opioid crisis.
As more and more individuals become dependent upon prescription opioids, they seem to be turning to heroin (cheap and readily available) when they can’t get their usual prescriptions. Crestview Recovery is here to help individuals break their addiction and heal from the disease.
How Heroin Affects the Body
As an opioid, heroin is very addictive. Often, individuals will develop a dependence on the drug after only one use. Heroin binds to the brain’s chemical receptors that release dopamine and endorphins. Typically with substance use disorder (the inability to regulate one’s intake of a particular substance, usually drugs or alcohol), repeated use over time causes the brain to stop naturally producing these chemicals. Thus, the brain’s chemistry becomes dependent or addicted.
Our heroin rehab center near Albany knows the danger with heroin is its strength and effectiveness. The drug almost immediately creates a chemical dependency. As with all substance use disorder, individuals do begin to develop a tolerance. Since they must take either stronger or more frequent doses to maintain not just the ‘high’ but to feel normal, they run the risk of overdose and death.
When an individual suffering from heroin addiction attempts to stop using, they experience withdrawal symptoms. These can range from mild to severe. It is dependent on the individual, the strength of the drug taken, the frequency of use, and how heroin was used (inhaled or injected, for example). Some common heroin withdrawal symptoms include:
- Flu-like symptoms
- Tremors and seizures
- Intestinal issues like diarrhea, constipation, or cramping
- Heart and blood pressure problems
- Respiratory issues such as difficulty breathing
- Hallucinations
Many find these symptoms so discomforting and painful, they relapse or desperately search for more of the drug. Doing so, of course, only continues the cycle of addiction. Thus, anyone enduring heroin withdrawal symptoms like these needs immediate treatment.
Finding Treatment at a Heroin Rehab Center Near Albany
There are two paths to treating substance use disorder. First, individuals need to address the physical side of the disease of addiction. Medically supervised detox is usually the first step for many entering treatment. During this process, individuals are monitored to make sure their health isn’t endangered by any medical complications from heroin withdrawal symptoms. Once completed, individuals work with counselors and therapists at our heroin rehab center to build a course of treatment.
There are several options for treatment. Standard residential treatment involves clients staying at a heroin rehab center near Albany as they work through their addiction issues. However, some clients respond better to a partial hospitalization program or an intensive outpatient program. In each, clients get the same quality of care and attention but can continue to work, attend school, or fulfill family obligations as they work through treatment.
Second, once a treatment program is determined, individuals explore the therapeutic services offered to them. Being able to choose from a variety of therapies allows individuals to craft a treatment program that best suits their unique needs. Crestview Recovery’s experienced experts work alongside clients to guide them through their options. Some of the therapies we provide include:
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy
- Holistic Drug Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Trauma Therapy
We design each of these therapy programs to give clients the best chance at a successful recovery.
Crestview Recovery
However, once a client completes a treatment program, the recovery process isn’t over. Maintaining sobriety and making a lasting recovery is a long-term and ongoing process. This is why Crestview Recovery’s heroin rehab center makes it a point to support clients once they leave and return to Albany, OR.
We offer clients extended care as well as a thorough aftercare program. Thus, clients know they have the resources they need should they find transitioning back to everyday life challenging. To learn more about what Crestview Recovery can provide for you or your loved one, contact us today at 866.262.0531.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.