| There are several approaches to heroin withdrawal | | | | or 30 to 60 day rehab centers are strongly |
| methods. Heroin is a highly addictive drug with | | | | recommended. The recovering addict should also |
| disastrous consequences for the user, the users | | | | incorporate a solid social network of family and |
| family and friends, and the users health. With heroin, | | | | friends. |
| or any other chemical addiction, the first step in | | | | Focus 5 Benefits of 12 Step Programs that will Help |
| rehabilitation (rehab) is detoxification (detox) which | | | | You Stay Clean and Sober |
| removes all presence of the addictive chemical from | | | | 1. Support from peers |
| the patient. Only when all traces of the chemical are | | | | Once you have been attending meetings for a while |
| removed from the body, can the rehab process | | | | you will find that others are there to support you. |
| begin. Withdrawal symptoms appear within 48 to 72 | | | | They will often offer to take you to coffee and |
| hours, after the addict has last used heroin, and can | | | | other functions. This is extremely important and in |
| be fatal for long-term addicts if heroin use is abruptly | | | | the process we find out that we do not have to do |
| stopped. | | | | it alone. |
| Narconon, a non-profit organization, conducts | | | | 2. Sponsorship |
| programs for the treatment of heroin addiction. | | | | Sponsors are there to guide us through the steps. |
| Presently, Narconon recommends a holistic remedy | | | | They sometimes if we are lucky become a valued |
| for heroin addiction, using a formula of calcium and | | | | friend. My sponsor has like 23 years clean. I can not |
| magnesium minerals incorporated with other specific | | | | even imagine that. He has become a great friend also. |
| vitamins highly absorbable by the body. Their | | | | When choosing a sponsor I would suggest that you |
| program charges one rate, no matter how long the | | | | look for one with no fewer than 2 years clean. |
| addict requires the Narconon program. | | | | 3. Daily Meeting Attendance |
| Detox clinics offer a hospital setting, where the | | | | If you want to stay clean it is necessary to attend |
| addict can completely halt heroin use, with vital signs | | | | meetings everyday for at least the first 90 days. If |
| and blood pressure monitoring. In these detox clinic or | | | | this is to much for you than just attend a meeting |
| rehabs a variety of different medications are used to | | | | every day. Many of us have attended a meeting a |
| help with the withdrawal symptoms it comes down | | | | day for a year or more. Gradually you will become |
| to the individuals personal preference of what type | | | | familiar with others. |
| of medication and center they actually prefer. | | | | 4. Step work for personal growth |
| These medications could be prescribed by a physician | | | | Once we begin writing the steps we will start to be |
| to relieve the symptoms and pain of withdrawing | | | | able to unload the B S we have buried for perhaps |
| from heroin and one could actually stop using heroin | | | | years. In step for we will get rid of all the stuff we |
| in the privacy of their own home. Some of these | | | | have buried for years. It is a tremendous relief. We |
| medications offer fewer side effects than others | | | | will notice that we begin to have feelings also. |
| when they are prescribed. One needs to keep in | | | | 5. Focus on improving your relationships with others. |
| mind that these replacement drugs are addicting also | | | | We need to start to get to know others. This is |
| but are easier to come off of when you are finished | | | | how the program works. It says in the basic text |
| with the detox. | | | | one addict helping another is without parallel. Try |
| Rapid Anesthesia Heroin Detox (RDD), is a relatively | | | | reaching out to someone call someone in the |
| new medical breakthrough, and completely removes | | | | program you have never called before. Others like to |
| all traces of heroin from opiate receptors in the brain | | | | get calls also. Make plans to go to coffee with |
| by administering a low dosage of general anesthesia. | | | | someone or to dinner. |
| This procedure takes about an hour. The patient will | | | | Most Importantly Keep Coming Back. |
| usually stay at the RDD clinic for 3-4 days. The heroin | | | | Do not delay lots of addicts intend on quitting but die |
| withdrawal symptoms effects are greatly reduced | | | | of a heroin overdose before this ever happens. Do |
| with RDD therapy. The physician may prescribe | | | | not become just another statistic! Get help today and |
| medications for mild withdrawal symptoms. | | | | find a new freedom that you thought was never |
| Aftercare is crucial to success and recovery. Twelve | | | | possible. |
| step programs, regular visits to drug counselors, and | | | | |