Heroin addiction and treatment

What is Heroin?
Heroin is derived from morphine which is found in opium. Heroin is a highly addictive substance and much stronger than morphine. Common street names of heroin include “H”, horse, dope, brown sugar, smack and black tar. This drug gives the user a euphoric, analgesic and anxiolytic feeling. Heroin does not have any accepted use in the USA. Pure heroin is white with a bitter taste and when sold it is cut with other substances like quinine, starch or sugar. Those who abuse heroin remain at a high risk of overdose because they never know how much the drug has been cut when they buy it off the streets.

What is Heroin Overdose?
A heroin overdose may occur when there is a time gap between two consecutive doses, when heroin is in its most potent form or when the heroin abuser uses large amounts of the drug. The symptoms of heroin overdose include the following;
• Slow and labored breathing, shallow breathing or no breathing
• Discolored tongue, small pupils and dry mouth
• Slow heart rate, weak pulse and low blood pressure
• Bluish color of lips or nails
• Uncontrolled muscle movements, disorientation, drowsiness, delirium and coma.

Heroin addiction treatment
Heroin addiction happens to be a complex but treatable disease. The disease affects the mind and the brain, thus producing changes in behavior. One has to stay in treatment for a sufficient period of time such that he/she can be successfully weaned off the drug gradually. First, the abuser must undergo detoxification from heroin. Medications are available for assisting with the detox and they are used within the first 3-7 days of the detox period. These medications are methadone, subutex and suboxone. The focus of detox is to make the client feel well physically and this is why the medications are used.
Once the patient is feeling better after the withdrawal phase has passed, then the treatment center focuses on other aspects of treatment. Other kinds of treatment include individual and group counseling along with cognitive behavioral therapy. They help the patient to realize what his triggers are and how to cope with them.
The treatment is generally inpatient treatment for heroin addicts. After attending and successfully completing inpatient treatment, the patient is further assisted in maintaining sobriety with the help of regular counseling. If you know a loved one who is in the clutches of heroin then you can help that person by getting him or her admitted to inpatient rehab for the best shot at sobriety. Look for inpatient drug rehab in Texas, Addiction treatment, inpatient drug treatment in Texas or Inpatient drug rehab in Texas.