Heroin use and addiction touch every corner of the country. The CDC reports that heroin use has doubled in the last ten years in young adults aged 18-25 years old. This can be attributed in part to the difficulty of obtaining prescription pain killers. As awareness has grown about the opioid addiction issue, it has become a costly habit. Heroin is cheaper and easier to buy. Heroin is highly addicting, and detox can be painful and dangerous if left unmonitored. If you or a loved one are looking for a heroin detox center in Houston, you may need answers to the question, “How long does it take to detox from heroin?”
What Are the Withdrawal Symptoms of Heroin Addiction?
Most symptoms of heroin addiction withdrawal are not life-threatening. Signs may start as early as just a few hours after the last dose of the drug. The National Institute on Drug Abuse identified the following withdrawal symptoms:
- Aches in the muscles and bones
- Diarrhea, vomiting
- Restlessness, muscle spasms, insomnia
- Shaking, agitation. depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts
- Hypertension, elevated heart rate, difficulty breathing
The most pressing withdrawal symptom, however, can be the extreme cravings for the drug. When detoxing on your own, withdrawal can cause you to give in because you just want the symptoms to stop. Knowing the drug will do this causes many people to relapse, if only to end their discomfort.
Without medical supervision, heroin withdrawal symptoms can lead to death. For example, an exhausted detox patient may aspirate on vomit or become dehydrated. That is why a medical detox program is always advised. Detoxing alone or even with loved ones is not a wise idea. Medical attention should be nearby.
Heroin Detox Timeline
There is not an exact heroin detox timeline as the withdrawal symptoms vary. It depends on how long the drug has been used, how long it was taken, and if there are previous drug addictions as well. It is dangerous to detox on your own as the side effects are not predictable. If you are wondering ‘how long does to it take to detox from heroin?’, the typical heroin addiction detox timeline includes:
- Symptoms begin within 6-12 hours of the last dose
- The peak of symptoms usually occurs after 2-3 days
- Total timeline lasts about 10 days but can last longer
- Many people may experience cravings for many years to come
Just going through detox rarely provides all of the support needed for a lasting recovery. After detox, beginning or continuing an addiction therapy program offers long term support for recovery. In these sessions, you can identify negative patterns that fuel addiction and start creating coping skills for the future. Relapse prevention planning and rehab aftercare programs provide support as you take each step to return to a normal and healthy rhythm.
Lasting Effects of Heroin
As heroin is highly addicting, most people are regular users. Once addicted, more and more heroin is needed as your body begins to tolerate smaller amounts of the drug. The long term effects of heroin change the way the brain works. It causes neurological and hormonal changes. Studies have indicated that heroin can affect your ability to make good decisions and cause behavior regulation issues. The question ‘how long does it take to detox from heroin’ is not really easy to answer and probably is not the primary concern. Comprehensive support for physical, mental, and emotional needs can create lasting recovery.
Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston wants to help you answer the question, ‘how long does it take to detox from heroin?’. Our goal is to give you freedom from your addiction and bring you hope. You don’t have to suffer alone. We are equipped to provide a safe, medically-supervised detox and get you on the path to a new life free from addiction. Call us today to find out more about how we can help: 866.516.8356
