Heroin is one of the most addicting and dangerous street drugs currently available. Fortunately, there are drug treatment centers in Los Angeles which enables heroin users to receive professional help in recovering from an addiction and dependency on this dangerous drug. Although drug addiction is often thought to be an issue of choice, addiction is a psychological disorder which requires thorough medical treatment. The treatment for heroin is typically a long and difficult process, but it is also a process which is essential to saving the life of the user.
What to Expect in Treatment
Although there are several different types of drug treatment programs available in Los Angeles, the majority of inpatient treatment centers implement similar phases of treatment designed for heroin users, including:
* Rapid Detox – The majority of inpatient drug treatment centers begin the process with a medically supervised detoxification. For those who are addicted to heroin, the withdrawal process can be severely painful and even provoke deadly symptoms. Heroin addicts frequently experience breathing troubles, heart palpitations and or cardiac arrest during serious withdrawal. To help reduce these risks, many drug treatment centers use specialized medications which are designed to help facilitate a rapid detox in heroin addicts. These people will experience a days’ worth of withdrawal symptoms in only hours, which drastically reduces the risk of more serious and life threatening situations.
* Therapy – One of the most common types of therapy used by drug treatment centers in Los Angeles for heroin addicts is reality based therapies. Reality therapies are designed to help heroin addicts learn the difference between environmental situations in which they have control and those in which they don’t. Once they are able to recognize the difference, heroin addicts will have the tools to make healthy decisions as they encounter stressful situations in the real world. Reality therapy is also designed to help drug addicts connect real world environments with their clinical treatments. For example, by having the inpatient residents clean, cook and shop for themselves, they are able to mimic what will be required in real world environments. Once the heroin user returns to society, what they learned in drug treatment will have them well prepared to face difficult situations.
While in drug treatment for heroin use, patients will be offered a range of counseling options including individual counseling, group counseling and family counseling. The most important aspect of recovery is having support, the tools required to deal with real situations and continued outpatient therapy and counseling. After leaving a reputable inpatient treatment center in Los Angeles, like The Gooden Center, it is critical to continue your counseling with outpatient services to ensure the best chances of a long lasting sobriety and healthy life.
