Heroin Addiction Help

Published by John Gillen | Last updated: 2nd February 2023 | All Sources

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Clinically Reviewed by Dr. Olalekan Otulana (Advanced Practitioner)

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All information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.
Last Reviewed: 2nd February 2023

Cassiobury Court provides Heroin Addiction help and advice to anyone needing specialist advice on dealing with the problem.

Addiction to Heroin is incredibly serious and life-threatening to any individual who develops a dependence on the substance and has led to thousands of deaths in the UK each year. 

Many people who struggle with addiction find it extremely difficult to stop this is why rehabilitation treatment programmes from providers such as ourselves are considered the most effective way to stop your addiction.

 

What is Heroin & Why Can It Become So Addictive?

Heroin is usually injected but can be smoked or snorted. Signs of heroin addiction include itching, nausea, constipation and vomiting. Users can build a tolerance to heroin which leads to an increase in the quantity of heroin used and the frequency of use.

Heroin is an opiate. An opiate is a drug that is derived from opium which comes from the poppy. Opiates are depressants that slow down one’s nervous system.

Opiates such as morphine are prescribed to relieve severe pain but are highly addictive. Heroin is an illegal form of morphine and is not as pure as the prescribed version.

Examples of opiates include:

  • Heroin
  • Morphine
  • Codeine
  • Opium
  • Methadone
  • Pethidine

The human brain copes with pain by producing endorphins, a type of hormone, that are created naturally. Opiates provide another source of endorphins, which can create a feeling of total euphoria.

Prolonged opiate and heroin use can result in the brain stopping the production of the natural endorphins. One side-effect of this is the body will no longer stop the pain on its own. This can lead to a physical dependence on the opiate to get the endorphins the body needs.

If a prolonged heroin dependence is stopped it can result in severe withdrawal effects. Opiate/heroin withdrawal syndrome takes the form of physical illness and could lead to death if not treated by trained medical staff. Some of the withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Opiate cravings
  • Nausea/sickness / vommiting
  • Sweating
  • Feeling hot/cold
  • Diarrhoea
  • Agitation
  • The Shakes
  • Stomach cramps
  • Insomnia

 

How Does Heroin Addiction Develop?

The exact cause of heroin addiction and other addictions has not been fully determined by medical professionals. It has been shown that some individuals who have regularly used heroin over a sustained period of time have not developed a mental addiction to the drug.

This is opposed to others who develop an addiction very quickly after using just a few doses of the drug. This has made it widely accepted that genetics and the environment are key in the development of an addiction, for example, those who have grown up being around drugs tend to be more susceptible to developing a drug addiction in later life.

Heroin is a strong substance that has more of an effect on the physical body than in the mind, however, phycological effects can be developed even for people who may not easily suffer from this type of effect, it can be developed through prolonged and repeated use of the drug.

This is why when using the drug you can have physical and psychological addiction issues which can have a devastating impact on an individual, the effects of heroin is a huge risk factor and whether you need to complete a family referral or if you yourself are showing signs of heroin addiction, then we would strongly advise seeking help as soon as possible.

 

Heroin Addiction Help

Example of a Counselling Session for Heroin Rehab Patient which forms part of our Heroin Addiction HelpHere at Cassiobury Court, we offer treatment for heroin in the form of a rehabilitation and detoxification programme which has been carefully designed to help combat your addiction.

Beating your addiction is not just a matter of taking medication, but it is also down to the individual getting to know about their addiction and understanding how it starts. People have different reasons for developing addictions making it a very complicated subject that requires different therapies and techniques that can differ depending on the individual.

Once it has been determined how an individuals addiction started, we would then look at beginning the treatment programme. The programmes we offer help people develop solutions to their addiction on their own and have knowledge of the steps needed to recover. While staying with us we will also look to gather information about certain parts of the client’s life, this process is called a Comprehensive Recovery Assessment and is absolutely essential in creating a full recovery plan.

The recovery plan is used to create the heroin rehab package and helps determine which therapies and interventions are needed during the process. The therapies we offer are a combination of psychological therapies, well-being therapies and social activities, the therapies have been developed over a number of years and are proven to aid addiction recovery.

Our heroin detox programme is viewed as the most difficult part of the treatment by many of our clients, withdrawal from any drug can result in some dangerous symptoms. This is why we have a medical team available 24 hours a day to make sure all individuals are looked after at all times throughout this very challenging part of the process. Medication can be prescribed during a heroin detox to help ease the pain. Once you have got through the detox period you will then move onto the rehabilitation process with therapy sessions and counselling.

With over 7 years of experience in residential rehab for drug and alcohol addiction, along with a knowledgeable team of experts, we can help you plan your journey to a life free from the struggles of addiction.

 

Contact Cassiobury Court

Are you or a family member experiencing the signs and symptoms of heroin addiction?

If you’re worried that you have any of these symptoms of opiate withdrawal or you suffer from heroin addiction, contact us now on 01923 369 161 and see how we may be able to help.

 

Heroin Addiction Help FAQs

Maybe you have a few questions about heroin dependency? If so, see our Heroin Addiction Help FAQs below – we have answered a number of the most commonly asked questions.

Yes it is. For the last 40 years, heroin has been one of the most commonly abused drugs in the UK. The drug is highly addictive and users trying it for the first time often leads to addiction.

Long term abuse will often end in heroin overdose, not to mention the short term side effects of the drug.

There are many different treatment options available for those suffering from a heroin dependency.

Here at Cassiobury Court, no two treatments plans are the same - we will tailor a programme that will combat your addiction. This will often include detoxification and medication combined with behavioural therapies. Often, we also ask our clients to visit support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous in order to aid their recovery alongside our 12 month aftercare programme.

Usually originating from the opium poppy, opiates are a group of drugs that can have a chemical structure which is similar to the drugs derived from opium.

Yes. It is well-known that long term heroin abuse can cause neurological damage.

100% - we've had thousands of people through our doors who once struggled with heroin addiction, but now live happy and successful lives. With full dedication and perseverance, any addiction can be overcome.

John Gillen

John Gillen - Author Last updated: 2nd February 2023

John Gillen is a leading addiction treatment expert with over 15 years of experience providing evidence-based treatment methods for individuals throughout the UK. John also co-authors the book, The Secret Disease of Addiction, which delves into how the addictive mind works and what treatment techniques work best.

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Dr. Olalekan Otulana (Advanced Practitioner)

Dr. Olalekan Otulana (Advanced Practitioner) - Medical Reviewer - Last Reviewed: 2nd February 2023

Dr. Olalekan Otulana MBChB, DRCOG, MRCGP, DFSRH, FRSPH, MBA (Cantab)

 Dr Otulana is a highly experienced GP and Addiction Physician. He has a specialist interest in Substance Misuse Management and he has a wide range of experience in the assessment, management (including detoxification) and residential rehabilitation of clients with various drug and substance addiction problems.  His main aim is to comprehensively assess patients with addiction problems and determine their treatment needs for medical detoxification treatments and psychological interventions. He is also experienced in managing patients who require dual drug and alcohol detoxification treatments.

A strong healthcare services professional with a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from Cambridge University Judge Business School.