Heroin is one of the most addictive illicit drugs people use. Its potency causes individuals who use it to not only experience an intense feeling of euphoria but to have their brain chemistry become immediately altered. When this occurs, individuals become physically dependent upon the drug. Dependency causing individuals to need more of the drug in order to function normally. At this point, which can happen after just one use, using heroin isn’t about experiencing a high any longer but avoiding the intense and painful withdrawal symptoms that arise. Your body metabolizes heroin quickly. Typically, it flushes the majority out in as little as a couple of hours. That said, dealing with the after-effects of substance abuse takes longer. How long does it take to detox from heroin at a heroin detox center?
Who Needs Detoxification for Heroin Abuse?
In the past, heroin used to be an inner-city problem. Then, it moved into the suburbs. Today, you find people of all demographics in a heroin detox program. For many, prescription drug abuse and prescription pain medication like opioids became a gateway for the cheaper substitute that is heroin.
How Long Does It Take to Detox from Heroin?
The primary factors determining your length of time in detox include your weight, age, gender, and overall health. From there, your substance abuse habit factors in next. The longer you’ve been abusing the drug, then the longer your stay in detox will likely be. Typically, most clients finish detox in four to ten days.
What’s Heroin Detox Like?
How long does it take to detox from heroin if you try to do it on your own? The process usually fails after day three. Withdrawal symptoms begin about 12 hours after the last dose. Then they progressively worsen over the next two to three days.
People who try to quit cold turkey at home usually give up quickly. The pain becomes too strong. Similarly, there are psychological withdrawal symptoms that scare the individual back to drug abuse. In contrast, withdrawing from the drug at a medical detox center is entirely different.
At a medical detox facility, you undergo professional care that eases the discomfort. Typically, treatments include:
- An individualized treatment protocol design that factors in your overall condition and possible needs
- Medication-assisted therapy that allows for a pain-free experience with a considerable reduction in cravings
- Nutritional support that helps your body heal and strengthens it during this time
- IV therapy to prevent dehydration
- One-on-one talk therapy that focuses on preparing you for clinical care in rehab
What Happens After You Finish Treatment?
After four to ten days, most people succeed in ending the physiological dependency. It means that you wake up in the morning without withdrawal symptoms. Your body no longer believes that it needs the drug to survive. You won’t be wondering how long does it take to detox from heroin anymore. Most importantly, you can now continue with treatment to end the psychological addiction.
Don’t give in to a false sense of security and quit treatment. Rather, enroll in rehab immediately. Unless you learn how to handle triggers, stressors, and post-acute withdrawal, you’re in great danger of relapse and may need relapse prevention. At a rehab facility, you spend about 45 to 65 days recovering.
If you need extra time, you might stay longer. This part of care depends on you and your progress. After you graduate from rehab, you have the tools to avoid heroin abuse.
Reach Out to Sante Center for Healing for the Support You Need
So, how long does it take to detox from heroin? At Santé Center for Healing, it’s just a few days. Why not find out today how the friendly therapists at Santé can help you start the process? Call us today at 866.238.3154.
