The New England area has some of the highest rates of addiction in the country. Alcohol, opioids, and heroin are the three most abused substances in the area. A heroin detox program is crucial in helping Massachusetts residents get through the painful withdrawal symptoms and their addiction recovery.
At Chapters Recovery, we partner with several heroin detox centers nearby to provide you with the best chance of beating your addiction and maintaining your sobriety. A heroin detox center is the first step along your sober path, and we will be there to help you along the way. If you or someone you know is struggling with heroin addiction, call [Direct] today. You can speak with our compassionate staff about finding a heroin detox program in the Metrowest and what to expect during heroin detox.
The Effects of Heroin on Your Mind and Body
The intense cravings that your body creates for heroin will continue until your next fix, despite the damage that it is doing to your body. Long-term abuse can lead to permanent brain damage and death if left untreated.
When you smoke or inject heroin, you are flooding your body with chemicals that mimic dopamine and other chemicals responsible for making you feel happy. Over time, your brain stops producing these chemicals as it relies on heroin to maintain that euphoric state.
Heroin abuse deteriorates the brain’s white matter. This affects your decision-making abilities, ability to control your behavior and creates a strong physical dependence. As a result, you may experience painful withdrawal symptoms a few hours after your last fix.
Heroin use can cause a range of symptoms, such as:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Clouded judgment
- Temporary euphoria
- Liver and kidney disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Depression
- Decreased sexual function
Long-term users are also at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other diseases when sharing needles.
What to Expect During Heroin Detox
During your heroin detox program, you will experience powerful withdrawal symptoms that can make you extremely uncomfortable. Withdrawal symptoms can start as soon as 2 – 6 hours since your last fix and last for days or weeks. If you have tried quitting before on your own, you may have felt:
- Nausea
- Stomach cramps
- Chills
- Muscle and bone ache
- Runny nose
When you begin detoxing, your withdrawal symptoms will increase and can become severe enough where medication is required to help reduce the symptoms of heroin detox. Severe withdrawal symptoms include muscle spasms, cravings, and respiratory problems.
In order to help reduce the withdrawal symptoms, medication-assisted treatment is available to keep you as comfortable as possible. Medical staff will monitor your progress and update your medications to coincide with your progress. As your symptoms diminish, they will decrease your medication until no longer necessary. A heroin detox program is just the first step on your sober path, one that will require ongoing treatment through inpatient and outpatient treatment programs.
Call Chapters Recovery Center Today
At Chapters Recovery Center, we partner with several trusted heroin detox centers near North Shore, Massachusetts. We want to get you the help you need for beginning your addiction recovery. When you choose Chapters to help, we will give you a thorough examination to determine your mental and physical state and your level of addiction. If necessary, we will recommend one of our trusted heroin detox centers to help you through withdrawals.
After completing your heroin detox program, you will continue your addiction treatment through various types of programs, such as:
- Partial hospitalization program
- Intensive outpatient program
- Outpatient program
- Dual diagnosis treatment
Our goal is to help you successfully complete your addiction recovery and maintain your sobriety through continued aftercare programs and a community of sober peers. If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin addiction, call [Direct] today to begin your sober journey.
