Heroin Treatment In Los Angeles

Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Addiction

When someone is struggling with heroin addiction, they’ll begin to find this substance to be a priority over the rest of their lives, and their health begins to deteriorate. The consumption this substance takes on their lives is beyond any control they have, and assistance is needed to withdrawal and reaches recovery from this disease. Found more commonly among the 18-25 demographic, over 900,000 Americans admitted to using heroin in 2016.

Derived from the natural morphine of a poppy plant, heroin is a manmade opioid that is illegal in use, but is sold on streets by dealers. It is one of the more addictive substances on the illegal market, due to its central opioid ingredient. When this substance is used, it has the ability to implement the change or “high” the person is seeking within minutes, giving a quick reaction. This substance attaches to cells throughout the body and has the ability to manipulate pain, heart rate, pleasure, and other chemical reactions within the body. Because of this, many users find themselves experience symptoms of heroin addiction.

Statistics of Heroin Addiction

Heroin abuse is a very serious issue in the United States, and it affects people of every gender, age and economic status. In fact, data shows that the biggest increases in heroin use are among populations with historically low rates of drug abuse, including women, people with high incomes and people with private insurance.

Research shows that many heroin users have a history of abusing other drugs. A 2013 survey determined that more than nine in 10 people who used heroin were also using at least one other drug. Roughly three out of four new heroin users reported misusing prescription opioids before they started using heroin.

In 2015, over 81,000 emergency room visits resulted from heroin-related overdoses, which translates to almost 26 cases per 100,000 people. And between 2002 and 2015, the National Institute on Drug Abuse determined that the number of deaths due to heroin overdose increased more than six times. This data tells us that as the rate of heroin abuse increases, so does the number of deaths.

Signs of Heroin Addiction

When a loved one has shown signs of heroin addiction, there are several symptoms to implicate them. If someone has recently engaged in heroin abuse you will see the following:

Sudden behavior changes
Disoriented and confusion
Eye pupils will be small
Anxious and then calm to sleeping in a short period
Increased use of long-sleeves and pants during warmer temperatures
Lack of finances
Decreased hygiene practices
Lying and abnormal behavior
Family distancing and withdrawal
Rapid weight loss
Needle track marks along the arms
Constant nose running

There are other signs affiliated with heroin abuse but these are the most common that are seen by loved ones and cause initial concern. Heroin addiction also usually involves overdoses more often than other drugs. Since 2010, more people have died in America from a heroin-related overdose than in the 10 years prior. It’s important that if you or a loved one is addicted to heroin to take action and get help sooner than later. Later isn’t always guaranteed.

Heroin Overdose Risks

A heroin overdose occurs when someone takes too much of the substance, whether it’s on purpose or on accident. Anyone who abuses heroin is at risk for overdose, especially because the drug is so potent.

Part of the reason why heroin overdoses are so common is because the drug is often laced with other harmful substances. For instance, heroin is often mixed with the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, which makes the drug even stronger. However, a heroin user doesn’t know if the drug they’re taking is pure or not. A single dose of pure heroin might be enough to get a person high, but the same dose of heroin plus fentanyl could be lethal.

If someone does overdose on heroin, they can be treated with naloxone, which is a nasal spray used to rapidly reverse the effects of an overdose. Most first responders carry naloxone with them, but anyone can purchase it without a prescription in case of emergencies. People who overdose on heroin usually recover fully within a few days if treatment is administered quickly.

Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms

Should a person addicted to heroin enter a withdrawal, assistance is needed because the symptoms can be extreme. These withdrawal symptoms include:

Insomnia
Nausea and/or vomiting
Anxiety
Cramping in the Abdominal region
Agitated behavior
Excessive sweating

These symptoms are similar to those of seasonal illnesses and happened to those addicted to heroin at one time once the body enters withdrawal. The body cells are seeking out the opioid and are essentially going into an internal shock when unable to feed the addiction.

The heroin withdrawal process usually lasts about seven days once it is prompted. It will begin only hours following the last use, so immediate attention and assistance are necessary. Withdrawal and detox from heroin happens in stages, with the first couple of days having the person feeling like they have the flu with full body muscle aches. These symptoms will rapidly grow to include nausea and insomnia, and by the end of the week, those addicted decide to either feed the addiction to stop the pain or with treatment and assistance, make it successfully through the week and onto the road to recovery.

Heroin Rehab in Los Angeles

At our heroin rehab in Los Angeles, our treatment options include inpatient, outpatient, aftercare, sober living, and support groups. Treatment typically includes medications that focus on both behavioral and physical treatments to assist those addicted to heroin to continue on the road to recovery. One of the most applied types of treatment is pharmacological or medication assisted treatment (MAT), where medicine is used to assist those battling a heroin addiction. Both of these treatments are available for both inpatient and outpatient treatment options in Los Angeles. For heroin abuse, the most common medication provided is Buprenorphine, which is used to mimic the feelings of heroin, which aid in withdrawals, as it is weaker and helps the body adjust to treatment.

Inpatient treatments require those addicted to heroin to stay within the facility full time and receive care around the clock to assist with recovery. These patients have the ability to interact with others who are also suffering from heroin addiction. Therapies include individual sessions with counselors, as well as group sessions. There is also family involvement for these patients, that helps both them and family members adjust with the addiction. In addition, family members obtain therapy to continue with recovery after treatment has been completed.

Outpatient treatment allows patients access to resources of the facility while still living their daily lives outside of the facility. They are still assigned the same medication and therapies as those who are staying in-house for inpatient treatment. After initial treatment, patients will graduate to the aftercare stage, where they are fully reintroduced to society after recovery. For the medical assisted therapies, their prescriptions will be reduced, and they will begin life again sober. During this treatment, patients who have successfully completed their treatment are given resources and assistance for readjusting to society.

Maintaining sobriety will be complete with the final two treatment options which are sober living and support groups. Individuals are given information to heroin support groups that allow them to keep themselves and others accountable as they continue to maintain sobriety. Support groups are lifelines for many of those who have completed initial treatment and are attempting to return to life prior to addiction.

At Launch Centers, we help our clients overcome their substance abuse issues while empowering them to succeed in all areas of their life. We offer a variety of inpatient and outpatient treatment programs for young adults suffering from heroin addiction in Los Angeles. While we do not provide detox, we can help coordinate care for someone seeking detox.

Heroin Treatment In Los Angeles

Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Addiction

Statistics of Heroin Addiction

Signs of Heroin Addiction

Heroin Overdose Risks

Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms

Heroin Rehab in Los Angeles

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