If someone you love is battling an addiction, it is understandable that you may feel at a loss as to how to help. The important thing to consider is whether your loved one fully understands and accepts the addiction. If not, it will be very difficult to convince them to seek help. As with any type of addiction, a heroin addiction is incredibly hard but not impossible, to conquer. It’s important you understand the addictive qualities of heroin. Usually, the individual feels deeply happy and incredibly relaxed when they have taken the drug and the sensations are incredibly intense, warming and long-lasting. Because it provides such a wonderful feeling, this drives people to continuously go back for more. The downside is that brain cells can be damaged while using heroin.
Once professional help is sought, there is the potential for them to break free. It is important to note that as much as you want to help them to overpower this addiction, there is a limit to what you can do. The professionals have all the knowledge needed.
Symptoms
‘We often hurt the ones we love,’ and this is so true for the family and friends of a heroin addict. Certainly, heroin can manifest a great many unpleasant and somewhat distressing symptoms and, it can be difficult, therefore, trying to continuously support while watching them spiral out of control. Individuals who are addicted to this substance may wish to stop but, don’t know how to and, they cannot combat the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms.
How addictive is heroin really?
Approximately 23 % of those who take heroin will become dependent on it. Unfortunately, brain receptors connect perfectly with this drug and the enticing effects are experienced very quickly. Incredibly, people can be addicted to taking just once. This is why professional heroin addiction treatment is paramount. Once they are addicted, the only way to break free is to develop and utilize the techniques so to resist the urge. But, this is not so easy with the brain now dependent on the drug. Usually, intensive therapy with an inpatient rehab program is the only solution.
Don’t Play the Blame Game
When the steps are taken to seek professional support, make sure you set boundaries in place that you offer love and support, but you do not endorse the addiction or associated behavior. Clear communication and trust is paramount but, avoid negative dialogue or blame even if they have done terrible things to support the habit. This is because their addiction has already done an excellent job at making them feel isolated.
Rehab
Heroin addicts rarely overcome this type of addiction on their own. No matter how difficult, your loved one needs professional treatment and rehab. Once within the rehab environment, heroin addiction treatment starts with detoxing and this is medically assisted. Unfortunately, the impact of heroin can still be felt long after the last hit and so, symptoms and the desire for more can last for weeks.
Professional medical practitioners use formulated therapies that will imitate some of the heroin’s effects but, unlike the drug itself, they do not alter the brain or give them a high. Instead, they help the person to feel strong and healthy. Depending on how long they have been addicted to heroin, these feelings of health and wellbeing may be the first time they have felt this good in a safe way for some time. Understand that it takes time and desire for people to break any addiction, but, if your loved one is determined, there’s hope.
