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Facts Regarding Heroin Treatment American Fork Residents Need To Understand


By Donald Wallace


Heroin addiction is one of the most difficult to deal with. A good number of persons who undergo rehabilitation relapse within weeks of completion. Self-discipline and a strong social support structure are central to the success of this process. If looking for heroin treatment American Fork residents need to understand a number of things. Perhaps the most important of them is that treatment is a process rather than an event.

Treatment modalities are divided into two major categories: pharmacological and behavioral modification. These two types are often used alongside each other to increase the chances of success. Chemical withdrawal or detoxification is the first step of the treatment process. This stage is extremely intense and has to be managed in an inpatient facility. Withdrawal symptoms such as chills, nausea, muscular pains and a flu-like illness are common.

Several drugs have been approved for use in managing the withdrawal symptoms. Methadone is one of the most commonly used. It is started once the diagnosis of withdraw is made and continued for weeks or even months. It is important that the dose be tapered off rather stopping suddenly due to the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms related to the methadone itself. Other drugs with similar benefits include buprenorphine and naltrexone.

The next step in the treatment process is known as the therapy stage. During this stage, the client is put into various classes. Some are done at individual level while others are offered to a small group. Both individual and group therapy have a number of benefits. Confidentiality is one of the major benefits of individual therapy while support and problem solving is a major strength of group therapy.

One of the trends in the treatment is the use of residential homes as treatment centers for recovering addicts. The environment around such units is more relaxed than the traditional enclosed inpatient facilities. Patients get a chance to take part in various physical activities such as running, yoga, meditation, swimming and drama that help in relieving stress. The time that is required for recovery is markedly shortened.

The final step in the management is referred to as the maintenance stage. It is initiated as soon as the client returns to their family. The patient needs to visit the rehabilitation clinic on an outpatient clinic. They also need to take part in regular group therapy sessions (narcotic anonymous) and individual therapies. Family therapy is also helpful as it facilitates faster integration.

The most common type of behavioral treatment that is given alongside the pharmacological therapy is known as cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT. The therapy is very successful because the client is involved in the entire process. They participate in identifying factors that may have led to the problem and also take part in generating solutions to the addiction problem.

When it comes to treating heroin addiction, there is a need to adopt a multi-pronged approach. Drugs should be started at the same time as behavioral therapy. The magnitude of the problem varies from one person to another hence the treatment should always be individualized. Family support is one of the most important components and should be provided from the very beginning.