Struggling with an addiction to heroin, or worrying about someone who does? If so, a conversation about getting admitted into a heroin detox center may have already happened or is close to happening. Cleansing the body of addictive substances is usually the first step to breaking free from addiction, after all. However, some may hesitate because they don’t know how long it takes to detox from heroin. They may also have heard about the pain of heroin withdrawal. Or, they may also not want to risk the social or financial cost of a long treatment period.
Whatever the case may be, it’s always a good idea to break free from heroin addiction. There is no cost—emotional, financial, mental, physical, or social—that compares to continuing to struggle with addiction. Remember that heroin addictions can often result in death, if not from fatal overdose then from the results of risky behavior. Looking for a heroin detox center near Dallas, Texas? Call 866.238.3154 or contact Santé Center for Healing’s team online.
What Are Some Common Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms?
Heroin withdrawal symptoms may only last a few days to a week—that’s about how long it does take to detox from heroin—but they can be very discomforting and can arise frequently enough to require medical support. Here are some of the more typical symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- Depression
- Drug cravings
- Excessive sweating
- Muscle spasms and shaking
- Nausea
- Nervousness and agitation
Most heroin detox centers are also medical detox centers an offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to their clients, as FDA-approved drugs and certain therapies can boost the chances of successful withdrawal and addiction recovery. Clients who experience intense levels or high frequencies of these symptoms are more likely to need MAT.
How Long Does It Take To Detox From Heroin?
Anyone familiar with heroin addiction recovery will know about the heroin withdrawal timeline—and the way heroin detox protocol affects it.
When people stop using any addictive substance, they may notice significant changes in how they feel and think right away. It takes a while for the brain to recognize that the addictive substance is no longer present in the body. When it does, though, the body will seem to fight back against the loss. The heroin withdrawal timeline typically consists of the following:
- 6–12 hours from the last dose: Physical withdrawal begins.
- 1–3 days from the last dose: This period is the peak for intense symptoms, and when heroin detox protocol allows the introduction of MAT to clients.
- 1–2 weeks from the last dose: Withdrawal symptoms start to subside.
Heroin withdrawal and detox impact clients in different ways. If patients have used heroin for a long time, their brain and body are likely dependent on the substance, and their withdrawal symptoms could last longer and be more intense. Their entire withdrawal timeline could be stretched and even continue while they get further addiction treatment.
What Should Patients Expect From Typical Heroin Detox Protocol?
A proper heroin detox program should have access to methods that keep clients comfortable. Its staff should be able to address physical and psychological complications, which can then minimize relapse opportunities. When necessary, the medical staff should be able to provide medications and other forms of care to help with intense withdrawal symptoms. With MAT, clients don’t have to worry about secondary addictions, as the protocol for the staff is to strictly control the dosage of these medications.
Clients should also remember that detox is not a cure but only the first step when it comes to heroin addiction recovery. While it’s a difficult step to take, it’s not the only hard one they’ll need to make. After detox comes the rest of a comprehensive addiction treatment program, consisting of various therapies and other forms of care, a client’s customized program should cover everything from discovering why they began using heroin in the first place to learning coping skills to prevent relapsing.
Ready To Learn About Santé Center for Healing’s Heroin Detox Services?
If you’re searching for a heroin detox center near Dallas, Texas, contact Santé Center for Healing today. Call 866.238.3154 or reach out to our team online.
