Heroin Detox & Addiction

Heroin and other opioids cause a strong physical dependence. This means that a person relies on the drug to prevent symptoms of withdrawal. Over time, greater amounts of the drug become necessary to produce the same effect. The time it takes to become physically dependent varies with each individual. When the drugs are stopped, the body needs time to recover, and withdrawal symptoms result. Withdrawal from opiates can occur whenever any chronic use is discontinued or reduced.

Opiate withdrawal refers to the wide range of symptoms that occur after stopping or dramatically reducing opiate drugs after prolonged use.

All prescribing is overseen by Dr Peter Turnbull and each patient is treated in a caring and delicate manner in order to help make them feel safe and comfortable and to help alleviate withdrawal symptoms.

Below is a short summary of what withdrawal from heroin can be like when someone runs out of their supply.

Symptoms

Early symptoms of withdrawal include:

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Muscle aches
• Increased tearing
• Insomnia
• Runny nose
• Sweating
• Yawning

Late symptoms of withdrawal include:

• Abdominal cramping
• Diarrhea
• Dilated pupils
• Goose bumps
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Opioid withdrawal reactions are very uncomfortable but are not usually life threatening. Symptoms usually start within 12 hours of last heroin usage and within 30 hours of last methadone exposure. As pointed out the majority of these symptoms and sometimes all of them are alleviated during your prescribed detox regime here at the Project.

Please note, detox alone is not the solution for the ‘addict’ or ‘alcoholic’. It is often necessary and is the beginning of the treatment recovery process but without the necessary therapeutics interventions that treatment offers the chances of long term recovery are slim.

If you need further information regarding detox or treatment, please call 0800 9550945 or complete the call back request form and we will call you back immediately.