Heroin overdose is one of the leading causes of deaths in the United States. Every year, there are tens of thousands of people who die from a heroin overdose, and in 2017, it killed more than 70,000 individuals ranging from ordinary people to popular celebrities. The dangerous substance is sold illegally in the United States, and the government is having a hard time trying to control its sales. Through the years, heroin has become one of the most accessible illegal substances in the market, and more people are becoming addicted to it. Despite the continuous warnings and apprehensions from the government, people will still do everything that they can to get their hands on this dangerous piece of substance.
Heroin was originally used as a pain reliever, and it is also prized for its therapeutic effects. However, people found out that the substance can also become addicting, allowing them to get high. Drug cartels started to manufacture heroin on a massive scale, selling it on the black market. The global heroin trade is estimated to be valued at $64 billion, and it continues to grow as the demand for the illegal substance keep on increasing. The government, on the other hand, tries to curb the number of people who are falling victims to substance abuse, and they keep on arresting personalities involved in the illegal drug trade.
Ways to Help a Heroin Addict
Working with a Trusted Rehabilitation Center
Heroin addiction could lead to short term and long term effects, affecting an individual’s mental and physical health. Brain activity would be severely affected, and physical changes like extreme weight loss can be noticed. Violent behavior can also become more evident for people who are abusing the substance, destroying their social relationships.
It is important to work with a reputable rehabilitation center to gather information about the services that they provide. Coordinate with the facility to determine the date when a heroin addict can be admitted in. Top quality rehabilitation centers across the country employ professionals who have developed excellent skills in dealing with people who have abused substances like heroin. These professionals will be able to help them recover.
Detox Programs During the Withdrawal Phase
Withdrawal happens to those who have decided to stop taking the substance, and it would begin in one to two days. The first symptoms would develop, like anxiety, muscle aches, insomnia, panic attacks, diarrhea, and extreme shaking. After three to four days, the withdrawal syndromes would become more severe, and it would result in excessive sweating and vomiting. Mental issues would remain for months, and heroin addicts should be monitored constantly to make sure that they will never do anything that would cause them harm.
During the withdrawal phase, there are methods that are needed to be performed to help the heroin addict recover faster. Detox methods effectively minimize the withdrawal symptoms, and it would also allow the heroin addicts to feel better while they are trying to recover.
An effective detox program will monitor the patient taken to a rehabilitation center, and the medicines that they are taking will be continuously monitored to ensure that it keeps its effectivity. Many people who have become addicted to heroin are saying that the detoxification programs offered at some of the top rehabilitation centers in the country helped them to overcome the symptoms associated with their withdrawal from the substance.
Continuous Medication and Lifestyle Changes
After taking an effective detox program for the withdrawal symptoms, it would be smart to encourage the ex-heroin addict to continue their lifestyle changes. Recommend exercise routines and dietary changes.
They should also start creating new relationships by building new social links and meeting new people that would encourage them to completely turn away from the bad vices that they have once experienced. With strong support from the community, heroin-related deaths can be prevented, and people would have the interest to change their lifestyles.
Final Thoughts
Heroin addiction is a serious condition, and if a family member or a close friend develops an addiction with the substance, concerned people should extend their help and do everything that they can to assist the person in recovering from the severe effects of the drug. Massachusetts is home to some of the finest rehabilitation centers in the eastern coast of the United States, and contacting the best centers in the state would be the first stepping stone on how to help someone who has developed an addiction with heroin.
