The 4-Step Guide to Quitting Heroin

In this post, we provide several tips for overcoming a heroin addiction. Many people addicted to heroin are often confused by the number of treatment options available.

Thus, we aim to simplify these options and thereby encourage opiate users to attempt a detox that results in long-term abstinence.

 

A Short History Lesson

Since the 1970s, many of the world’s governments have promoted a programme of so-called ‘harm reduction’ by offering opiate addicts a drug known as methadone.

Methadone is often seen as a ‘lesser evil’ when compared to street heroin. Many criticise this approach for simply swapping one addiction for another.

And let’s not forget that methadone withdrawal symptoms are even more painful than heroin withdrawal symptoms.

But things have moved on massively since the 1970s, although methadone is still ubiquitously offered to those suffering from opiate addiction.

In fact, methadone is often the default and only treatment offered to people who suffer from an addiction to heroin.

But there is alternative ‘abstinence based’ approaches to heroin addiction treatment.

In this post, we outline 4 simple steps you must take to attain the coveted ‘abstinence’ goal.

 

The Science of Heroin Addiction

Heroin affects ‘opioid receptors‘ located in the brain. These opioid receptors are usually activated by endorphins. Endorphins are considered ‘natural’ opioids.

Opioids stimulate the brain’s so-called ‘reward’ system. However, heroin is capable of penetrating the reward system much more rapidly than natural endorphins.

This leads to a state of intense euphoria when opiates are used. This euphoria is then followed by a relaxed and contented state.

Over time, the body builds up a tolerance to heroin. This means a greater quantity of the drug is needed to achieve the desired state of euphoria.

 

Withdrawing From Heroin

Ceasing to take heroin precipitates several painful withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms begin within six-to-eight hours after heroin was last taken.

The ‘acute’ stage of heroin withdrawal occurs around forty-eight to seventy-two hours after heroin was last consumed.

These withdrawal symptoms typically include:

• Loss of appetite
• Severe muscle cramps
• The shakes
• Cravings for heroin
• Acute anxiety

 

The 4-Steps to Quitting Heroin (for good!)

We now outline 4 steps that almost guarantee a smooth road to a heroin-free future.

All of the below information is based on proven, evidence-based approaches to treat heroin addiction.

 

Step #1: Psychological Preparation

Relates to developing a willingness to stop. This relates to motivating yourself to quit.

Before you tackle physical detox, we recommend you identify your reasons for stopping, no matter how obvious those reasons may be.

We’ve split this step into two parts.

Part 1: Tackle ‘Precovery’

The term ‘precovery‘ has been in vogue for many years now.

William White coined the term. White borrowed the term from astronomy.

The term refers to the stage when addicts become unsatisfied with their addictive lifestyle.

This dissatisfaction is both physical and emotional. This dissatisfaction is typically characterised by a feeling of discontent.

And this discontent is as much to do with the addictive ‘lifestyle’ as it is the drug use itself. Precovery is often driven by an appetite for a more meaningful existence in life.

Precovery is akin to an alcoholic hitting ‘rock bottom.’ The precovery phase typically occurs over many months, or even years.

However, this process of precovery may be significantly speeded up through the involvement of a skilled and experienced drug counsellor.

Part 2: Conduct the ‘Abraham Lincoln Close’

This second part also relates to the mental preparation you should attempt before you quit heroin.

The ‘Abraham Lincoln Close‘ is a famous sales tactic.

A ‘close’ refers to the part of the sales cycle when the salesperson attempts to ‘wrap up’ the deal.

The Abraham Lincoln Close is when you ask the buyer to sum up all the benefits and costs of making a purchase.

And if the pros out way the cons, the sale must take place. This adds an element of logic in the otherwise emotional process of buying and selling.

And this is exactly what we recommend you do for your heroin addiction i.e. weigh up all the benefits of continuing to take heroin vs. weighing up the benefits of quitting.

To get you started, here’s a list of disadvantages of continuing to take heroin:

• You risk losing your friends and family
• Social isolation
• Depression
• Loss of property
• Legal consequences
• Loss of identity
• Health problems

And here’s a list of benefits you derive when you choose to quit heroin use:

• Improved social relationships
• Happier lifestyle
• Healthier lifestyle
• Regain identify
• Avoid legal problems
• More opportunities in life

When you’ve completed this exercise, it’s highly likely the disadvantages of taking heroin far outweigh the benefits of continuing to use it.

 

Step #2: Learn About Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms

Heroin withdrawal symptoms (or ‘dope sickness’) have been described as ‘like the flu but on steroids.’

Before you undertake a detox, we recommend you do your research on the heroin withdrawal process.

Below we list several heroin withdrawal symptoms you should be aware of before you tackle a detox programme:

• Loss of appetite
• Severe muscle cramps
• The shakes
• Feverish chills – oscillating from very cold to very hot
• Cravings for heroin
• Acute anxiety
• Depression – due to a fall in endorphin activity (this may fuel suicidal thoughts)
• Insomnia
• Restless legs

The severity of withdrawal symptoms varies from person to person.

Factors affecting the severity of heroin withdrawal symptoms include:

• Age: the older you are, the more severe your withdrawals will be
• Health: the poorer your health (e.g. malnourishment/suffer from asthma) the more severe your withdrawals will be
• Length of addiction
• Pre-existing condition: These generally magnify withdrawal symptoms e.g. (HIV/hepatitis/diabetes)
• Tolerance to heroin use: the greater the amount of heroin you use, the more severe your withdrawals will be
• Method of heroin use: if you consume heroin intravenously, the more severe your withdrawals will be
• Addiction to other substances e.g. benzodiazepines, cocaine and other opiates such as oxycodone
• ‘Kindling’ – this refers to the number of times you’ve detoxed in the past. Withdrawal symptoms become more severe with each subsequent detox you undergo

 

5-Pro Tip for Reducing Withdrawal Symptoms

Now we offer several ‘Pro Tips’ for reducing these withdrawal symptoms:

Pro Tip #1: To tackle hot and cold sweats during a heroin detox, be sure to take frequent hot baths. A hot bath will also relieve muscle ache. Over-the-counter cough syrup also helps reduce chills.

Pro Tip #2: To tackle depression during a heroin detox, surround yourself with positive people who understand what you are going through.

Pro Tip #3: To tackle insomnia during a heroin detox, consume natural substances that promote sleep such as valerian root, calcium supplements, melatonin and magnesium.

Pro Tip #4: Take Imodium to help relieve your upset stomach and combat flu-like symptoms. Imodium is an anti-diarrhoea medication containing Loperamide. Alternatively, go see your doctor and have them prescribe promethazine. This helps prevent nausea.

Pro Tip #5: Take antihistamines to help your ‘restless legs’. Also, take frequent but short walks (lasting around five-to-ten minutes in duration).

 

Step #3: Learn About Maintenance Medications & Medicated Detox Aids

Below we teach you about ‘maintenance medications. These medications help reduce or delay withdrawal symptoms suffered during a heroin detox.

1. Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is commonly used to treat heroin addiction.

In the United Kingdom, buprenorphine is better known by the brand name ‘Subutex.’ This drug has been used to treat heroin addiction since 1999.

This drug is often known as a heroin ‘substitute’ similar to methadone. However, buprenorphine is commonly used to completely detox opiate users, using a strict regime of ‘scheduled tapering.’

During a detox, buprenorphine is usually tapered up during the first five days and then tapered down during the next five days.

Buprenorphine is known as a ‘partial’ opioid agonist. In contrast, heroin is a full opioid agonist.

Buprenorphine mimics the effects that heroin has on the brain. Buprenorphine ‘binds’ to opioid receptors and thus weakens the effects of heroin use.

Therefore, buprenorphine reduces opiate cravings during detox. Crucially, Buprenorphine lacks the ‘euphoric’ effects synonymous with heroin use. Thus, buprenorphine lacks heroin’s habit-forming properties.

2. Suboxone

Suboxone combines buprenorphine and naloxone.

Unlike buprenorphine, Naloxone is an ‘opiate antagonist.’

In layman’s terms, this means naloxone blocks opiate receptors located in the brain.

Naloxone is commonly used to treat a heroin overdose.

Thus, Suboxone reduces the risk of overdose (because of the naloxone) and reduces opiate cravings (because of buprenorphine).

From a practical standpoint, Suboxone is the same as buprenorphine.

Suboxone is only advantageous over Subutex when there is a legitimate risk of the user abusing the latter.

Suboxone is usually preferable to buprenorphine when a home detox is attempted. This is because the user is more at risk of abusing buprenorphine during a home detox when compared to an in client detox.

In the USA, Suboxone has been approved for clinical use since 2013.

However, some heroin users have been known to utilise Suboxone as a ‘come down’ drug between ‘hits’.

Typical 14 Day Suboxone tapered detox plan:

The below plan requires three 8mg Suboxone tablets

Day 1	4mg (half tablet)
Day 2	4mg (half tablet)
Day 3	4mg (half tablet)
Day 4	2mg (quarter tablet)
Day 5	2mg (quarter tablet)
Day 6	2mg (quarter tablet)
Day 7	2mg (quarter tablet)
Day 8	1mg (1/8 tablet)
Day 9	1mg (1/8 tablet)
Day 10	Skip, no subs
Day 11	1mg (1/8 tablet)
Day 12	Skip, no subs
Day 13	Skip, no subs
Day 14	1mg (1/8 tablet)
Day 15	Stop the subs

 

Step #4: Decide On Residential Or Out-client Treatment

This is the fourth and final step of this guide to quitting heroin.

When it comes to detoxing from heroin, nothing really beats residential treatment.

Residential treatment requires the clients to live within the rehabilitation centre for the duration of the heroin detox. This typically requires a four-week commitment.

However, some rehabilitation centres require up to a three-month commitment.

Out client treatment is when you detox from home. Out client treatment is much more likely to fail (i.e. relapse), particularly when withdrawal symptoms are not correctly treated.

Residential treatment means you will be surrounded by people who understand what you are going through.

Furthermore, you will be provided with nutritious food and an abundance of medications that help reduce withdrawal symptoms.

 

Conclusion

That just about wraps up our 4-step guide to quitting heroin. We would suggest that you learn more about Cassiobury Court’s heroin rehab programme or visit our contact page to request a callback.