Trying to Detox from Heroin at home
GenPsych January 2018
Heroin is one of the most addictive drugs, and getting off of it poses many challenges. If you are ready to get sober, you may be considering detoxing at home instead of going through treatment at a rehab center. It’s hard to beat the comforts of home, and it may seem like the ideal place to get through the arduous process of detox. However, going through detox by yourself is not a good idea.
If you have been using heroin, there is no way to avoid the nasty withdrawal symptoms as the drug works it way out of your system. Heroin withdrawal is very unpleasant and can be so severe that it is dangerous. The discomfort and pain of heroin withdrawal cause many people to start using the drug again to end the suffering, no matter how motivated they are to stop.
Some common symptoms of heroin withdrawal include:
Increased anxiety and agitation Muscle pain and joint aches Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping Chills and excessive sweating Insomnia and excessive yawning Tremors, high pulse rate, and enlarged pupils
Common pitfalls of detoxing without professional help
Friends may have told you it’s possible to detox from heroin without any help, that you just need to commit and you will get through it. Maybe you know of someone who was able to do it. Detoxing on your own can be very dangerous, and it’s not a risk worth taking, here’s why.
Detoxing from heroin can make any pre-existing health conditions worse. If someone already has high blood pressure, detoxing without medical supervision could cause life-threatening complications. In this case, the only way to be sure it is safe to detox is under professional control.
If you are an otherwise healthy person, you can still develop dangerous complications during heroin withdrawal. Excessive vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration and imbalances in your electrolytes, which can also be fatal. Going through this process at a rehab facility ensures you get the treatment you need.
Detoxing at home without professional help has a very high rate of failure. When withdrawal symptoms take over, making you feel sick and miserable, it is very tempting to relapse just to get some short-term relief. Even those with the strongest of willpower succumb to the agony of withdrawal. Having certified rehab professionals to keep you on track, monitor your condition and provide you with the medical care needed will help you through the hardest part of withdrawals.
Getting off heroin is hard, very hard, but is also one of the best things you will ever do for yourself. If you are thinking about taking that first step towards a better life, start now.
GenPsych has five treatment centers throughout New Jersey. We offer an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) to help our clients recover from Alcohol and Drug Addiction. If you or a loved one need help contact us today. Phone: 855-436-7792 https://genpsych.com/
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