a young woman is distraught as she sits in her therapist's office considering heroin addiction treatment Heroin is a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. It profoundly impairs the social and occupational functioning of the user. Heroin has no approved medical use anywhere in the U.S., but it is one of the most widely abused drugs in the country. Many heroin users turn to the drug to temporarily relieve the daily anguish caused by severe past trauma.

Heroin users report euphoria and a complete but temporary absence of all physical pain and psychological distress upon administering the drug. Once the euphoria is gone, the user is left despondent, vomiting, and desperate for more dope. Drug addiction is lonely and desolate when left untreated. People who depend on heroin can sometimes avoid an overdose, but the effects of heroin will eventually take their toll.

The heroin addiction treatment at Spokane Falls Recovery Center provides options for people who are tired of letting heroin control their lives. Do not hesitate to reach out to us at 844.962.2775 to learn more about our substance abuse treatment in Washington.

What Causes Heroin Abuse?

Some users find themselves in search of heroin after becoming addicted to doctor-prescribed pain medication because heroin is less expensive than prescribed opioids. Developing an addiction to prescription pain medication can result in a heroin addiction if not properly treated.

Producing pure heroin requires an extract from opium poppies, though often fentanyl, household cleaners, and baby formula are thoughtlessly added by distributors. Though pure heroin is less likely to be fatal, it is often laced with fentanyl without the user’s knowledge. And as a person builds up a tolerance to heroin, they need larger and larger doses to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Methods of heroin administration:

  • Smoke Inhalation
  • Subcutaneous Injections
  • Intramuscular Injections
  • Intravenous Injections
  • Intranasal snorting

Opioids kill 130 people daily in the U.S., and one-third of those deaths involve heroin. A heroin overdose causes respiratory depression, depriving the brain of oxygen. When the body is starved of oxygen, the heart cannot beat. This leads to unconsciousness, brain damage, coma, and death. Brain damage occurs after a few minutes of decreased oxygen to the brain.

Addiction is insidious, isolating, and destructive. Our approach to heroin addiction treatment is based on the principles of honesty, respect, and community. We provide guidance, strategies, and a network to support people in overcoming their heroin addiction. The addiction treatment at Spokane Falls Recovery Center is holistic, practical, and research-based.

Consequences of Using Heroin

Heroin use offers an extensive list of medical consequences. Chronic heroin use leads to collapsed veins, bacterial infections, abscesses, blood infections, sexual dysfunction, impaired brain function, organ failure, decreased oxygen to the brain, constipation, breathing problems, and more. Sharing needles can lead to hepatitis B and C, HIV, and other blood-borne viruses. Common symptoms of heroin use include:

  • Impaired mental functioning
  • Semiconsciousness (nodding out)
  • Abscesses
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Severe itching and picking at the skin
  • Damaged veins and tissue
  • Constipation and stomach cramps
  • Heart and lung infections
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Liver and kidney disease
  • AIDS and hepatitis C
  • Collapsed veins
  • Bacterial infections
  • Respiratory distress

The health consequences alone are not enough to discourage an addict from using heroin. The desire to stop using is not enough. People do not become heroin addicts by choice. They often understand the consequences of their addiction but do not see a practical way to abstain from use.

Our heroin addiction treatment center provides people with the tools, strategies, and coping mechanisms to get sober and manage their heroin addiction. We also introduce people to a supportive, active community of sober individuals to help participants feel connected and supported at all times.

Do You Need a Heroin Rehab?

If you are struggling with heroin addiction, you may wonder if you need rehab. The answer is not always simple, but some general guidelines can help you make the decision. Those include:

  • Have you tried to quit using heroin on your own but were not successful?
  • Do the consequences of your heroin use outweigh the pleasurable effects?
  • Are your relationships and daily functioning being negatively affected by your heroin use?
  • Do you feel unable to control or stop your heroin use?

If any of these apply to you, it may be time to seek professional help at a heroin rehab center. Spokane Falls Recovery Center offers comprehensive, holistic treatment for heroin addiction in a supportive environment.

Begin a Heroin Addiction Treatment Program in Spokane, WA, with Spokane Falls Recovery Center

The heroin addiction treatment at Spokane Falls Recovery Center relies on our rigorous, research-centered, practical approach to heroin addiction treatment and recovery in Spokane, Washington. Overcoming addiction is a job but the most rewarding job you will ever have, so our treatment framework resembles a workday. Our intensive outpatient program uses an employment-style approach to addiction treatment.

Our committed team will provide residents with the tools they need to regain their lives. Attending treatment for addiction takes time and commitment, but the alternative is worse. White-knuckling (trying to stop using heroin without help) is a lonely and short-lived approach to conquering heroin addiction. When you are ready to try something that works, contact us at 844.962.2775.