About Heroin Detox Clinics

There are different ways to treat heroin addiction, all of which which are most effective if the addiction is discovered early. Many heroin detox clinics use a variety of methods to help a user get the heroin out of his system, including methadone, other drugs such as LAAM, and behavioral treatments to help ease the process.

Identification

Heroin detox clinics work by trying to relieve the symptoms of withdrawal until the user has adjusted to his drug-free state. Detoxification centers do not offer addiction treatments per se. Instead detoxification is used as part of a process including long-term rehab that either involves being drug-free (in either a residential or outpatient setting) or one that uses medications as part of the process. The most successful detox clinics are those that are part of community treatment centers that often require three to six months of treatment.

Types

Methadone treatment is a common method of treating opioid addiction which has been used effectively for the past 30 years. If properly used, methadone is not intoxicating or sedating and as such will not impair normal activities, including complex processes like driving an automobile. Taken orally, methadone suppresses the symptoms of withdrawal for 24 to 36 hours, though patients are still able to retain certain essential functions, such as perceiving pain and being able to respond with emotions. Most importantly, methadone reduces the craving for heroin, leaving users with an ability to get intoxicated off of a normal street dose of heroin after methadone treatment. Since methadone's effects last up to 24 hours, people receiving treatment need to only take it once a day.

Types

Another medication that is commonly used in heroin detox clinics is LAAM (levo-alpha-acetyl-methadol). Much like methadone, LAAM is a synthetic opiate which can be used to treat withdrawal symptoms. LAAM can block heroin effects for up to 72 hours and has few side effects. Its long-lasting effect means that treatment is only necessary three times per week and eliminates the need for "take home" doses over the weekends.

Types

Another more recent medication which may soon be approved for use is buprenorphine. One of the advantages of buprenorphone is that it has much weaker opiate effects and is less likely to result in overdose, as well as having fewer withdrawal symptoms once a user ceases taking it. As a result, it may be useful for a wider variety of treatment settings, as the currently available medications require careful monitoring to prevent overdose and other unwanted side effects.

Types

Many clinics will also use behavioral therapies to help ease heroin users off the opiate. While this approach is successful on its own, it is most effective when combined with drug-mediated approaches. Contingency management therapies reward users with "points" for negative drug tests, which can be traded in for items and privileges. Cognitive-behavioral approaches work to modify the patient's thinking and expectations, as well as to increase coping skills. Both behavioral and pharmaceutical approaches are shown to help reduce addictive behavior, allowing for better employment rates and reduced chances of HIV infection and criminal behavior.

Warning

All opioid analogs are chemical compounds that are similar in structure to the substances for which they reduce withdrawal. Some are produced for legitimate medical reasons, while others, sometimes termed "designer drugs" are produced illegally to be more potent and dangerous than the street drug. One such example is fentanyl, an extremely potent opioid analog which is responsible for many street deaths. As with any medication, use of opioid analogs should be used only with careful supervision from a licensed professional, and must be carefully coordinated with other medications and conditions to prevent unwanted side effects.