Guide To Heroin Addiction Treatment in Georgia

Georgia Heroin Addiction Treatment

Heroin is an incredibly powerful opiate – and painkiller – that can profoundly affect the health of someone who uses the substance. Heroin use almost always leads to heroin abuse, which is characterized by an inability to stop using the drug despite massive social, financial, and professional consequences. As more and more amounts of the substance are needed to achieve the desired effect, a user will develop a tolerance to the substance. After tolerance develops a user will go into a state of withdrawal, which can be an incredibly uncomfortable experience that is characterized by shaking, flu-like symptoms, profuse sweating, and a feeling of intense anxiety. Withdrawals can cause people to do terrible things to get their substance of choice.

Substance use disorders are no joke, and the numbers in America speak for themselves. According to the American Government, there were over 15,482 overdose deaths involving heroin in 2017, which is up from 2,400 in 2007. Heroin is becoming more and more dangerous, as more synthetic opiates – such as fentanyl – are being added to the powder; the fact that addiction rates are skyrocketing in the middle-aged demographic makes this a deadly combo.

If you or a loved one has developed a serious substance use disorder, drug treatment programs are a necessary step to overcome heroin addiction. The heroin epidemic continues to grow in America, and chances are, you may know someone that is affected by addiction. This is why we decided to write a guide to heroin addiction treatment in Georgia.

Drug Rehabilitation For Heroin

Heroin accounts for almost ⅕ of all admissions to drug treatment programs and rehabs in America. This addictive chemical is derived from opium poppies and produces strong euphoria when the powder is snorted, smoked, or injected. Reliance on this drug has sadly become a normal reality for thousands of Americans. The issue with heroin addiction is that it can be hard to tell if someone is using heroin.

Addicts will hide their dependence on a drug. If you or someone you know has been addicted to a substance, then you know all too well what lengths an addict will go to to hide their drug use from their friends and family. Cravings can become overwhelming as the dependence on the drug grows, which results in even worse symptoms of withdrawal. Negative consequences will start to add up as the person suffering from the disease begins to neglect their responsibilities at home, school, or work. Drug rehabilitation is necessary to help break the cycle of addiction in the person that is addicted.

Emotional and psychological dependence on a substance is incredibly difficult to break. We have heard many addicts say that heroin was “their best friend” and “the only thing that brought them pleasure”. This is known as anhedonia – or an inability to experience pleasure – and can be caused by heroin addiction. Unfortunately, the only solution for a user (in their minds) is to ingest more of the drug.

How To Seek Help For Heroin Addiction

Heroin addiction is incredibly dangerous, unsustainable, and costly. By the time people begin to realize someone is addicted to heroin, the addict is usually incredibly dependent on the substance; the addicted person will isolate to try and hide their behavior to those closest to him/her. There are many ways to get into a drug rehabilitation center, but getting an addict to agree to go to treatment can be a long, painful process. When a person’s addiction is brought up, they may become defensive and respond in anger or denial. It is incredibly important to come from a place of love and healthy detachment, as the addict may say or do incredibly hurtful things to avoid drug treatment.

Facing addiction is scary, but a life sullied by heroin addiction is completely unsustainable and destructive. Many times, an intervention specialist is hired to help admit someone to rehab. Through the use of this addiction professional, close friends and family will try and convince the addict to go to treatment in a process called intervention. On average, an intervention works 7 out of every 10 attempts, and is typically rehearsed by the intervention specialist, friends, and family beforehand.

Treatment For Heroin Addiction in Georgia 

Once the addict has agreed to go to treatment for heroin addiction in Georgia, finding the right treatment center is the next step. There are many important questions to ask when choosing a heroin and drug rehab:

• What is the length of treatment?
• Is medical detox necessary prior to drug treatment?
• Is your insurance accepted by the institution?
• Are the therapists experienced? Do they hold advanced degrees?
• Is there a family program?
• Is the facility licensed? How are the online reviews?
• Do they specialize in dual-diagnosis treatment?
• Does the facility support medication in addition to therapy?

Any reputable drug rehabilitation center will treat the addict with love, kindness, and understanding. They’ll also use evidence-based therapy modalities and practical techniques to help an addict transition into a healthy, productive, and sober life. Recovery from heroin addiction is difficult, but with the right team, anything is possible. Treatment centers such as ours offer personalized treatment plans that are as individual as the people that need the treatment. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, as every person is unique. We understand this.

Addicts are not defined by their disease, despite the damage that heroin addiction causes. Working towards bettering the lives of afflicted individuals is – in our opinion – the only logical thing to do. Your loved one is not their disease, and we hope that they have the courage to seek help for their condition.

IOP Treatment in Georgia 

For one of the best heroin addiction treatments in Atlanta, Southeast Addiction Center provides hope to individuals who are suffering from the brain disease of addiction. Heroin addiction is a serious condition that must be treated with compassion, haste, and medical intervention. This involves serious lifestyle changes, drug treatment facilities, support groups, therapy, and medication. A mind, body, and spirit approach works wonders for people in the midst of the disease, as the root issue of addiction must be addressed. If the root cause is not addressed, a person may become addicted again soon after they leave treatment. This is why therapy needs to focus on any possible co-occuring mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

There are numerous options for Atlanta heroin addiction treatment, so you won’t have to look far to find hope. The good news is that the path to a new life starts with one step. If you or a loved one is suffering from heroin addiction, reaching out for help is the strongest thing that you can do.