So you have decided to seek treatment for your heroin addiction. With so many treatment methods available it can be difficult to decide which is best for you. Four of the most popular treatments are:
- Tapering
- Medication replacement or maintenance treatments
- Medication assisted treatment
Each of these treatment methods are available as both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. For help deciding all you have to do is call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? .
Tapering
Tapering is the process of reducing your heroin use gradually to avoid withdrawal. Unfortunately, this is one of the least effective forms of treatment. Without strict supervision, it is very easy to relapse back into your normal dose or more.
When you are tapering in an inpatient treatment center, you have a better chance of success because your taper is tightly supervised. Tapering is not recommended for those who are heavy heroin users or those who have used for a long time. If you are interested in exploring your treatment options all you have to do is call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? . We can help.
Medication Replacement or Maintenance Treatment
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Medication replacement or maintenance treatment is a form of treatment that replaces the heroin with another controlled medication. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, these medications are:
Each of these medications may be useful in preventing heroin withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are often powerful and extremely uncomfortable.
You can continue on these medications indefinitely. This is an excellent form of treatment if you suffer from chronic pain due to injury or illness. Maintenance drug therapy is often combined with behavioral and other forms of counseling.
Methadone is one of the most widely used and effective maintenance treatments. Unfortunately, it has to be administered daily and there is a stigma attached to methadone clinics.
Medication Assisted Treatment
Medication assisted treatment is one of the most intensive and effective treatments for heroin and opiate/opioid addiction. It also combines medication with behavioral therapies. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a few of the behavioral therapies therapists find useful are:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Contingency management therapy
- Multidimensional family therapy
- Motivational enhancement therapy
- Motivational incentives
- Motivational interviewing
Heroin Addiction’s Hold on the Mind & the Need for Treatment Help
These behavioral therapies when combined with medications are highly effective forms of treatment.
Once treatment is complete, doctor’s taper the replacement medications until you are completely off them without experiencing withdrawal. This is the difference between medication maintenance and medication assisted treatments.
Finding the Right Treatment for you
Finding the right treatment for you is extremely important. All of these options are available in both inpatient and outpatient environments. You can choose the treatment and the type of environment that suits your lifestyle, addiction needs, and goals. To find more information on these treatment options all you have to do is call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? .
We can help you decide on the treatment you need to end your heroin addiction. The road to recovery is just a phone call away.
