Heroin Addiction Treatment Information

Heroin addiction treatment comes in a variety of forms and treatment milieus, including inpatient and outpatient facilities, sober/halfway houses, group and individual therapy sessions. While methods may differ, the underlying goal of all heroin addiction treatment programs is the same: permanent abstinence from heroin.

Medically assisted detoxification
Heroin addiction treatment typically begins with a course of medically assisted detox, a delicate process that helps users safely overcome their physical dependence on heroin. (Abrupt abstinence can cause severe withdrawal, which can be medically damaging and even fatal.) To counter the effects of withdrawal and stabilize the patient, physicians administer a cross-tolerant drug, such as methadone or, increasingly, buprenorphine. These drugs, known as opioid partial agonists, satisfy the body’s physical dependence without producing the same euphoria (nor the subsequent crash) as full agonists like heroin. Thus, the person is gradually weaned from opioid dependence in a controlled and safe manner.

Therapeutic interventions
Detoxification is just the first step—a precursor to therapeutic interventions, which form the foundation of effective heroin addiction treatment. Without sustained behavioral therapy, the gains made in detox are typically fleeting. Detox, while essential in treating physical dependence, does not address the underlying causes of addiction—which are usually psychological in nature. Further, many individuals suffering from addiction possess a separate mental health issue that, left untreated, would prevent full recovery. Heroin rehab often involves the treatment of co-occurring disorders.

Cognitive behavioral therapy
The National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists defines cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as “a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the important role of thinking in how we feel and what we do … [that] our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors, not external things, like people, situations, and events.”

Having amassed an impressive clinical track record over the years, cognitive behavioral therapy is becoming the standard methodology used in heroin addiction treatment (and virtually every other substance-addiction program). CBT is both proven and practical, as it involves changing patterns of thought, not external situations, which can be more difficult to change. CBT is a structured, goal-oriented technique that addresses the immediate problems faced by the individual. As such, CBT is flexible, customizable and, because it offers short-term results, well suited to programs with limited resources.

Heroin addiction treatment at Alta Mira
Our experience treating addiction has taught us that when pharmacological treatment is combined with in-depth therapeutic and holistic services, patients are able to stop using heroin, regain their footing, and pursue lives of meaning and joy. We also know that the right atmosphere—namely comfortable accommodations and natural beauty—can act as a catalyst for healing. Overlooking the San Francisco Bay, Alta Mira’s Sausalito facility provides residents with a serene environment that is conducive to hard work, healing and rejuvenation.

Contact Alta Mira today
If you or someone you love is struggling with heroin addiction, we invite you to contact us to learn more about Alta Mira’s residential treatment programs. To schedule a free consultation call 866-922-1350. We can help.