Overcoming heroin addiction is a long and hectic journey and involves several measures that need to be taken not only by the patient, but also by the family members. This requires a lot of dedication and honest effort to finally reach the ultimate goal of sobriety. To completely get rid of heroin addiction in Hattiesburg there are several steps that should be taken including:
Detox:
Detoxification is a method to clear the traces of the addicting drug from the body under medical supervision. This process can be done inpatient or outpatient, depending on the compliance of the patient. Outpatient detoxification is beneficial for patients because it is low cost, and does not disturb the patient’s routine life. The inpatient process, however, has the benefit of close monitoring but is very expensive. The length of the detoxification process depends upon the length of drug abuse and the severity of its effects. Detox is a crucial process because a patient experiences withdrawal symptoms during this stage of treatment, which vary in severity and may require strict medical monitoring. The most commonly observed withdrawal symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, hallucinations, nausea and difficulty breathing. These withdrawal symptoms are treated with certain medications that not only take care of the symptoms, but also keep any drug cravings at bay, which are helpful in preventing any relapse. It is not advisable to initiate the detox process at home because it can have serious consequences; it should always be undertaken by a physician.
Inpatient treatment:
This is a very important stage of treatment. Because heroin is a very powerful substance, and its addiction is very difficult to overcome, the process needs strict monitoring. Inpatient treatment involves both medical and psychological aspects of the treatment. Heroin addiction cannot be stopped immediately. It needs to be weaned off gradually and this is the basic principal of inpatient treatment. It undertakes the removal of the drug one step at a time and close monitoring of the patient’s medical status. Behavioral therapies are also initiated at this stage of treatment, and they are provided with psychological counseling both individually and through group therapies. Group therapies also help to understand the causes leading to addictions and are very helpful for the patient. Several activities are designed during the treatment which help a patient recover from any emotional and psychological deficits caused by addiction. These activities help rebuild self-confidence and bring normality to a person’s life. The combination of both medical and psychological treatment aims to achieve sobriety and aid a person to get back to a normal and healthy life.
Aftercare:
Aftercare of heroin addiction is no less important than the treatment itself. It requires a lot of support from family members and determined efforts by the patient himself. It is a lifelong process and involves repeated counseling sessions. Counseling sessions should not be discontinued because they keep the patient motivated. The percentage of relapse is greatest in the aftercare phase i.e. about 50%. People who are recovering from heroin addiction are low on self-esteem; therefore resuming the normal routine of life seems like an unattainable task. However, with unyielding support from loved ones and proper medical advice a patient can get back on track and can lead a normal, healthy and productive life.
Heroin addiction treatment can be lengthy and strenuous but if the treatment plan mentioned above is followed with determination, the journey to sobriety becomes an easy one. A heroin addict needs help and support not only from the family, but also medically and psychologically and this treatment plan can give him just that. Visit The Drug and Alcohol Detox Clinic of South Mississippi for more information.
