Unlike marijuana and methamphetamine addictions that can’t be treated with medications, heroin addiction treatment involves the use of medications combined with support groups, therapy and lifestyle changes.
Drug recovery programs for recovering heroin users have been effective in normalizing their behavior as well as their brain functions that are affected by drug abuse. Adherence to heroin abuse treatment can also result in reduced risk of criminal activities; less risk for HIV and infectious disease; and higher employment rates. Studies have shown that the combination of medications and behavioral therapies are proven to have higher recovery success rates. Learning about Pharmacological Treatment (Medications): Medications can help recovering heroin users reduce their drug cravings and increase their retention in the drug treatment program. When users give up their use of heroin, the initial phase is usually accompanied by withdrawal symptoms that may run from moderate to serious pain, vomiting, nauseas and diarrhea. It is during this period that medications play an important part in helping recovering heroin users manage their cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms. At times, when they are unable to manage this stage, they go back to relapse. Types Of Medications Used In Heroin Addiction Treatment: 1.Agonists that activate opioid receptors. 2.Partial agonists that activate opioid receptors, but produce a smaller response. 3.Antagonists that deactivates the receptor and inhibit with the rewarding effects of opioids. These medications target the same part of the opioid receptor in the brain during drug abuse. However, they do not produce addictive or harmful effects. What are Behavioral Therapies? Behavioral Therapies can be applied both in residential and outpatient settings. Contingency management and cognitive-behavioral therapy when combined with medications work best as drug treatment programs. 1.Contingency Management (CM) - This type of heroin dependence treatment therapy offers vouchers for every positive behavior such as negative drug test of the individual. They earn and collect points which they can exchange or items that can help them achieve healthy living. 2.Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy- This behavioral therapy aims at helping patients change their attitude towards drug addiction. They also learn various coping techniques that discourages them from taking drugs again. Tips to Prevent Relapse:
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