Steps Recovery Centers

Heroin Rehab Center

About Our Services

Steps Recovery Center recognizes how vital the mind, body, and spirit are in their connection to the whole person. We take a holistic approach to treating heroin addiction that includes treating the whole person, and find that it tends to be more successful, especially since heroin addiction can affect every aspect of a person’s life. With a customized and individualized program, a holistic approach just makes sense. It affords an opportunity to meet the patient’s physical and psychological needs and allows them to engage physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Information on Heroin

Heroin is an opioid drug derived from morphine, an organic substance taken from the seed pod of several opium poppy plants grown in Mexico, Colombia, Southwest, and Southeast Asia. This drug comes in the form of white or brown powder or a black substance called black tar heroin. People who use this drug either sniff, snort, smoke, or inject it. Those seeking an extra rush mix heroin with crack cocaine, known as “speedballing.”

This drug quickly enters a person’s system and attaches itself to opioid receptors on cells located in various areas, particularly those involved in feelings of pleasure and pain. Furthermore, it can control a person’s breathing, sleeping, and heart rate.

What Makes Heroin Dangerous?

Heroin is one of the most addictive drugs available, and a person faces a high risk of overdose or death from using it. Moreover, it contains additives, such as starch, powdered milk, or sugar, which can clog up one’s blood vessels, resulting in permanent liver, kidneys, lungs, or brain damage. Some people share drug injection equipment with others, increasing their risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis.

Someone may be undergoing a heroin overdose if they experience the following:

Heroin withdrawal symptoms include:

Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Heroin and Mental Health Conditions

Most individuals with a heroin addiction also have an underlying mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and more. Those who suffer from co-occurring addiction and mental illness usually struggle with poor concentration, low motivation, and social anxiety. Some people stay at an inpatient dual diagnosis treatment center and receive professional help tailored to their needs.

Staff members are trained in both addiction counseling and psychotherapy, so they know how to address the challenges of going through rehab while dealing with a severe psychiatric disorder.

High-quality dual diagnosis treatment centers offer the following:

Intensive psychotherapy to address the root cause of the person’s mental health conditions
Neuropsychological testing to create a specialized treatment plan that prioritizes a patient’s needs
Peer group therapy to help the patient form healthy relationships and develop new coping strategies
Motivational support that incorporates therapeutic approaches, such as Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Behavioral modification therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Opiate replacement therapy with prescribed medications to treat withdrawal symptoms and maximize the chances of long-term success
Antidepressants to correct chemical imbalances, restore healthy energy levels, and elevate mood
Counseling and family education to build a supportive home environment
Alternative therapies, such as yoga, mindfulness meditation, art or exercise therapy, and more

A combination of different treatment modalities can help a person combating addiction, and mental illness reclaim their life.

Treatment Center

Residential treatment centers are known for their success rate, so it’s important to research local ones that fit yours or that of the needs of your loved one. Ensure they are accredited and licensed, have access to emergency care services, offer aftercare planning, and have a credentialed staff.