Heroin Addiction Treatment
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table of contents
- Heroin Addiction Treatment
- Heroin Addiction Treatment Programs and Services at Buddy’s Ranch
- Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Abuse
- Long-term Effects of Heroin Use on the Brain and Body
- Why Seek Heroin Addiction Treatment
- Therapy and Treatment Options for Heroin Addiction
- What to Expect in Detox: Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms
- Heroin Addiction Treatment at Buddy’s Ranch
medical reviewer:
adam swanson, lmft
Heroin Addiction Treatment
If you or someone you love is struggling with heroin addiction, you should know that recovery is possible. Each road to recovery is as unique as the person traveling it, but there are many proven therapies and holistic healing practices that are effective in addressing the root causes and symptoms of addiction.
Understanding the signs of heroin abuse, the potential long-term health effects, and what the recovery process looks like are all important when considering heroin addiction treatment. In Northern California, Buddy’s Ranch provides heroin addiction treatment that can help set you on the path to a successful recovery. The experience of addiction is a very personal and painful one, but you don’t need to go through it alone. Call us today at 530-561-6034 to learn more about how we can help you.
Heroin Addiction Treatment Programs and Services at Buddy's Ranch
Buddy’s Ranch is an inpatient treatment center with a women’s drug rehab program and a men’s drug rehab program. Clients live on-site in comfortable gender-specific housing during treatment, equipped with a kitchen, swimming pool, and other amenities. Most clients stay at our center for a total of about 30-180 days. The length of your treatment stay at Buddy’s Ranch will depend on your unique needs as a person and client. With that in mind, here are the programs offered at our heroin addiction treatment center in Northern California.
Drug Detox Center
When you first get off of heroin, you may experience physically or emotionally uncomfortable symptoms. Common symptoms of heroin withdrawal include but aren't limited to restlessness, goose bumps, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and muscle or bone pain. The detox program at Buddy's Ranch is designed to help you get through the acute withdrawal stage. Most clients are in detox for about one week. Our providers will monitor your symptoms while in detox and may prescribe medications as needed. We will also provide hydration and nutrition support. After you stabilize, you can step down to our residential inpatient program.
Residential Treatment Center
As an inpatient heroin addiction treatment center in Northern California, we provide room and board. Residential inpatient treatment lets you build coping skills, learn about relapse prevention, and solidify patterns consistent with a sober lifestyle in a 100% drug and alcohol-free environment with the support of a comprehensive treatment team. Our women's and men's drug rehab programs have slightly different schedules, which you may inquire about when you reach out to learn more about treatment. The medical and mental health providers at Buddy's Ranch all have unique backgrounds and are versed in different treatment types. Some people recovering from heroin addiction will benefit from medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Buddy's Ranch offers MAT, which you can continue once you leave treatment. Before you leave our inpatient rehab program in Northern California, we'll help you make an aftercare plan to support your continued sobriety at home. During the aftercare planning process, we may refer you to outpatient programs, therapists, psychiatrists, sober living, and other providers or services in your preferred area.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Dual diagnosis treatment is also called integrated treatment. The goal of dual-diagnosis treatment for heroin addiction is to address both heroin addiction and any comorbid conditions you are experiencing. For example, many people facing substance use disorders also live with anxiety, depression, or a trauma disorder. It is also common for people to experience multiple forms of substance addiction. Dual-diagnosis treatment applies to many of our clients. At Buddy's Ranch, we address all aspects of your mental and physical health comprehensively to promote the best client outcomes. In addiction research, dual-diagnosis care is linked to decreased substance abuse, reduced risk of arrest, better quality of life, and increased sobriety rates.
Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Abuse
The evidence that someone is struggling with heroin addiction varies depending on the frequency and intensity of use, as well as certain genetic factors. Finding drugs or paraphernalia such as needles, burned spoons, or pipes is clear evidence that someone you love might be using. However, there are other physical, emotional, and social indicators that a loved one might be struggling with a heroin addiction.
Some common signs include:
- Mood swings
- Weight loss
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia and delusions
- Scabs from picking at skin
- Track marks
- Wearing long sleeves and pants even in warm weather
- Avoiding and lying to loved ones
- “Nodding” during conversations or at odd times
- Neglecting responsibilities
- Decreased productivity in school or work
- Increased sleep and lack of motivation
- Slurred or pressed speech
When someone has been using heroin regularly for an extended amount of time, there are changes that occur in their brain chemistry that can affect their personality, emotional stability, and physical health.
Heroin is obviously known for being highly addictive. Needle use carries an added stigma, but heroin can be harmful in all its forms, whether smoked, snorted, or taken intravenously. There is no safe way to consume it.
The following is a list of some of the possible effects of long-term heroin use, including some symptoms that are specific to certain types of use:
- Heightened tolerance and dependence, leading to more usage and larger doses
- Insomnia
- Liver/kidney disease
- Heart problems
- Constipation
- Decline in mental health
- Reproductive issues, including erectile dysfunction, menstrual problems, and miscarriage
- Persistent feelings of sadness and emotional instability
- Hypoxia—not enough oxygen to the brain, which can be fatal
Needle use Symptoms:
- Collapsed veins
- Bacterial infections in the veins
- Heart valve infections
- Abscesses in the skin
- Increased risk of HIV, hepatitis B and C
Snorting Symptoms:
- Damaged airways, nasal passages
- Loss of tissue in the nose
Smoking Symptoms:
- Increased chance of pneumonia and other lung diseases
- Asthma and progressive emphysema
These are just some of the complications that can occur from regular heroin use. When heroin is “cut” with other substances such as baking soda, laundry detergent, antihistamines, caffeine, and any number of other drugs, it can lead to other health issues and accidental overdoses.
This may seem a scary list if you or a loved one are living with heroin addiction. But if you’re reading this, chances are it’s not too late. You are worthy of recovery. Our addiction treatment options are here to help.
Why Seek Heroin Addiction Treatment?
Long-term heroin addiction can have devastating effects on a person’s mental and physical health. It can negatively impact personal and professional relationships, leading to financial difficulty and social isolation. But recovery is possible.
Addiction can bring on feelings of shame and alienation, causing us to neglect the most important relationships in our lives. That is why compassion, empathy, and understanding are at the core of Buddy Ranch’s mission. Help is available in a serene, judgment-free home away from home.
While the recovery process looks different for everyone, most people who experience addiction do, in fact, recover with some patience and the proper support system.
Therapy & Treatment Options for Heroin Addiction
The treatment you or your loved one needs depends on the length of heroin use, the severity of the addiction, and your unique circumstances. Treatment might include a medically supervised detox period, an inpatient stay, or a supportive outpatient program.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is widely used and considered one of the most effective forms of treatment for opioid addiction, especially when used alongside other forms of therapy.
Located in the picturesque town of Yuba City in Northern California, Buddy’s Ranch offers a range of treatment options for those looking for relief from substance use disorders and addiction. We provide comfortable, gender-specific residential settings for inpatient treatment, along with a variety of therapies to support long-term, lasting recovery.
Holistic healing practices are also available to promote a balanced, whole-self approach to recovery. Meditation, art therapy, yoga, adventure therapy, and more help the body, mind, and spirit heal together.
The Importance of Dual-Diagnosis in Heroin Addiction Treatment
Substance use disorders (SUDs) often occur alongside other mental and emotional health issues. Dual diagnosis treatment addresses this overlap between mental health and substance abuse. There are often underlying emotional or mental health issues that can lead to drug addiction. Addressing the root of the problem rather than the addictive behavior is key to long-lasting results.
Only addressing one piece of the larger picture means that key factors in a person’s struggles might be overlooked and their conditions misdiagnosed, making follow-up treatment less effective.
What to Expect in Detox: Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms
- Nausea/vomiting
- Insomnia
- Hot and cold Flashes
- Sweating
- Quickened pulse
- High blood pressure
- Bone pain
- Muscle cramps
- Diarrhea
While these are all unpleasant symptoms, a supportive setting with a compassionate, knowledgeable staff can help you navigate the withdrawal process. Buddy’s Ranch is equipped to safely guide patients through detox and prepare them for the next phases of recovery.
Detox is a key part of breaking the cycle of addiction, and it can be a strong motivator for individuals to commit to their recovery goals. Once someone has undergone detox, they are ready to begin the subsequent therapies and treatments that will set them up for lasting success.
Heroin Addiction Treatment at Buddy’s Ranch
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