In the United States, heroin addiction has turned into an epidemic. Heroin use is increasing in multiple demographics, such as women and higher-income people. That’s why drug detox programs have been and continue to be essential in multiple U.S. states.

Heroin is very addictive, and it can be difficult to stop using it because of painful withdrawal symptoms and strong cravings. However, being addicted to heroin can be a serious problem because overdosing can be fatal.

Getting professional help is the best way to get on the path to recovery. If you’re looking for an inpatient heroin detox center in Florida, contact United Recovery Project’s detox center online or call 833.525.0166 for more information on their heroin abuse treatment program.

What Makes Heroin So Addictive

Heroin is usually thought of as the most dangerous drug available. Why is that? It’s because heroin is extremely addictive – so much so that any person taking the drug has a high risk of developing a dependence on it. Even people who start taking heroin recreationally may quickly transition to substance use that’s impossible to control.

So what makes heroin addictive? When someone takes heroin, it impacts portions of the brain responsible for the perceptions of pain and rewards – because the receptors for heroin are found there. And because heroin is such a powerful drug, its presence in the body can stress and tax brain cells. Sometimes these cells can even burn out. To combat that burn, someone that’s already dependent on heroin could use even more heroin more often to avoid the drug’s painful physical withdrawal symptoms.

Signs of Heroin Addiction

As mentioned above, people using heroin regularly can develop a tolerance due to their brain cells burning out. Before they resort to using more heroin or taking more frequent doses, they’re going to start to show signs of heroin addiction that are much easier to spot. Look for the following:

• Drug paraphernalia: Look for belts, lighters, rubber tubings, small glass or metal pipes, spoons, or syringes strew about someone’s personal space.
• Needle tracks on the body: Pure heroin can be smoked or snorted, but people with addictions may prefer dosing by using injections.
• Obvious physical symptoms: Look for constipation, itching, nausea, and vomiting. Skin infections and lower immunity to illness may also arise.
• Slow and impaired functioning: With heroin addiction, people can appear sleepy and even have pinpoint pupils. Along with impaired mental functioning, they may also have slowed cardiac functioning.

What to Expect From a Heroin Detox Center

Any medical professional will recommend going to a heroin detox center over someone trying to detox by themselves at home.

A person trying to stop heroin use will need medical supervision and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to go through withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings. Going through luxury drug detox at a facility equipped for it is also better than being surrounded by the triggers and stresses of someone’s home and life. The risk of relapse and an unsuccessful detox attempt is high without professional support and accountability.

Heroin withdrawal symptoms typically start around 12 hours after the last use, so it’s important to get to a detox center before then. Withdrawal symptoms that often accompany heroin detox include:

• Abdominal pain and diarrhea
• Agitation and nervousness
• Anxiety and depression
• Heroin cravings
• Muscle spasms and shaking
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sweating

For heroin detox, in particular, most medical professionals recommend MAT to address many of these symptoms. The medical help patients receive from heroin detox centers can help them achieve sobriety and avoid relapse without feeling any pains and cravings.

Learn More about United Recovery Project’s Drug Detox Programs

After going to a heroin detox program, patients are usually encouraged to begin the next step of treatment – usually a drug addiction treatment program. If you’re looking for an inpatient heroin detox center in Florida that offers individualized heroin abuse treatment programs, contact our detox center at United Recovery Project online or call 833.525.0166.