Los Angeles Addiction Treatment
Heroin Detox
Heroin Detox Center in Los Angeles
Heroin is an illegal opioid with powerful effects derived from morphine. Heroin is often misused for its euphoric effects, pain relief and sedation, and its use carries with it a high risk of addiction and health complications. Both addiction and dependence can occur with heroin use, and they’re related but distinct from one another.
Addiction to heroin is a chronic disorder characterized by continued use in spite of harmful consequences, compulsive drug-seeking and use, and brain changes. Someone with heroin addiction will struggle to control their use, have intense cravings and begin neglecting responsibilities.
Heroin dependence is when the body adapts to the drug’s presence. Withdrawal symptoms occur when it’s stopped or reduced. Tolerance is often linked to dependence, with more significant amounts of heroin needed to achieve the same effects.
A heroin detox in Los Angeles is part of a more extensive addiction treatment program to deal with dependence and the effects of withdrawal. It’s not a standalone addiction treatment, but it is a necessary first step for most people. Veritas Detox is a heroin drug detox center in Los Angeles. We also offer other levels of care once you’ve completed a Los Angeles heroin detox, including residential inpatient programs and partial hospitalization.
Detoxification
To help you reach lasting sobriety, we must first cleanse the mind and body of drugs and alcohol. Your detox will be supervised by our MD.
Residential Inpatient
Our residential inpatient program allows you to disconnect from the outside world and really dive deep into our therapies.
Partial Hospitalization
Our Partial Hospitalization Program allows you to receive vital, high-quality care without needing to stay on our facility full-time.
Aftercare Planning
From the moment you enter our program, we begin planning for your life after rehab. We provide resources, therapies, and more to continue helping you post-treatment.
Alumni Program
Meet and connect with individuals that have been in your shoes. Our Alumni community of past and present clients are always ready to provide guidance.
Dual-Diagnosis
To really beat addiction, we must identify and treat any co-occurring mental health conditions that are acting as a roadblock to your recovery.
Why Does Heroin Withdrawal Happen?
The symptoms that occur when someone who depends on heroin suddenly stops is known as withdrawal. Withdrawal occurs because the body is accustomed to the presence of heroin. Abruptly stopping or even cutting back disrupts the new normal functioning of the central nervous system. Heroin withdrawal can be uncomfortable and challenging, and that can lead to continued drug use to avoid the symptoms.
Heroin binds to specific brain receptor sites. With regular use, the brain adapts to its presence, reducing the number of receptors and changing the release of neurotransmitters. If the drug is suddenly taken away, the brain will struggle with normal functionality, contributing to withdrawal symptoms.
The symptoms of heroin withdrawal vary in duration and intensity. They can depend on the level of individual dependence, personal differences in mental and physical health, and the amount of heroin used.
During a medically managed heroin detox program in California, the symptoms can be significantly reduced through the use of medications and other interventions. Veritas Detox is a leading heroin detox center in Los Angeles.
Common Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms
Some of the potential symptoms of heroin withdrawal include:
- Symptoms similar to the flu, like nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea.
- Muscle and joint aches and pains.
- Autonomic nervous system symptoms like sweating, chills or goosebumps.
- Enlarged pupils.
- Loss of appetite.
- Weight loss.
- Anxiety and irritability.
- Restlessness.
- Fatigue.
- Insomnia.
- Mental confusion and fog.
- Problems concentrating.
- Mood changes like agitation or depression.
- Intense heroin cravings.
While everyone’s timeline can vary a bit, heroin withdrawal symptoms usually start within a few hours up to a day after the last use, peaking in 1-3 days. The acute withdrawal can last around a week. Lingering symptoms like mood disturbances can last longer.
At Veritas Detox, a heroin detox center in Los Angeles, we offer medical management of the withdrawal process.
What Are the Benefits of Going to a Heroin Detox Center in Los Angeles?
A medically supervised detox for heroin is a structured process to help you safely and comfortably withdraw from heroin with care from medical professionals. A medical heroin detox is usually conducted in a detox center or specialized facility. Healthcare providers monitor and manage withdrawal symptoms, and the following are some of the things you might expect:
- Assessment: The detox process at our heroin detox center in Los Angeles begins with a thorough assessment of mental and physical health. It’s a time to learn about the level of heroin dependence and the presence of any co-occurring medical or mental health conditions.
- Stabilization: After the assessment is complete, individuals may be stabilized with controlled medication doses to help manage their withdrawal symptoms. The goal is a gradual reduction in drug levels, minimizing withdrawal severity.
- Medication-assisted treatment: MAT may include prescribing medicines to reduce heroin cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Heroin MAT can include methadone, naltrexone or buprenorphine.
- Monitoring: Medical professionals closely monitor you during the detox process. Your vital signs, hydration, and overall well-being are regularly assessed to keep you safe.
- Supportive care: This could include anything you need, such as medications for specific symptoms like nausea, nutrition, and fluids.
The benefits of a medical detox as you go through heroin withdrawal include:
- Medical supervision makes sure that you’re going through withdrawal in a safe, controlled environment, reducing the risk of complications.
- Medications can manage symptoms so you’re more comfortable through the process.
- MAT can reduce cravings, increasing the likelihood of a successful withdrawal and engagement in further treatment for addiction.
- 24/7 monitoring by healthcare professionals allows for prompt intervention if any issues arise during detox.
- A medically supervised detox is very often an essential first step on a recovery journey. Once detox is complete, you can transition to further treatment, like an inpatient or outpatient rehab program.
We offer a high level of care at our heroin detox center in Los Angeles. Contact Veritas Detox to learn more about our specialized programs.
What’s the Next Step After a Heroin Detox?
A medically supervised detox is an initial phase of treatment. Still, individuals are advised to seek out comprehensive addiction treatment and support to address underlying issues contributing to addiction and to promote a sustained recovery.
Once someone completes heroin detox, the next step in their recovery process could include residential treatment. Also known as inpatient rehab, a residential program offers a supportive, structured environment conducive to intensive therapy, education and counseling. Programs include a combination of individualized treatment approaches and group therapy.
Partial hospitalization programs, or PHPs, are a level of care between inpatient and outpatient treatment. The programs are structured, requiring attendance during the day, but participants can leave and return home in the evenings.
Medication-assisted treatment may be a continued part of a treatment plan as well when combined with counseling and behavioral therapies. Individual and group therapies are a major part of addiction treatment. Behavioral therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or contingency management (CM) can help address underlying issues, build coping skills and make positive behavioral changes.
Support group participation could be part of a treatment plan as well, and dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders is important. Dual diagnosis treatment addresses both an addiction and any mental health concerns concurrently.
The specific treatment combination will depend on the person’s needs, the severity of their addiction and their preferences.
At Veritas Detox, we offer private Southern California detox programs. We offer personalized care in a low-stress, comfortable environment. We encourage you to contact us if you’d like to learn more about our heroin detox center in Los Angeles.
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Treatment Options
We offer the full spectrum of drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Our treatment includes detox, inpatient care, and aftercare planning on an individualized level. We’re excited to help you break free from addiction.
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