It’s not unusual for parents to ask, “is heroin an opioid?” if they suspect their child is using this drug. Others who use heroin may want to know so they can find a drug detox center in Palm Springs, CA to start heroin addiction treatment.
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Is Heroin an Opioid?
If you enter the terms “is heroin an opioid” into an online search engine, you’ll immediately learn that heroin is an opioid. The drug is made illegally from morphine, a natural substance in the opioid poppy plants. The prescription drug Morphine is another morphine-derived opioid that is often taken as a substitute for heroin. Heroin abuse is also part of the opioid crisis due to the increased rate of first-time use, abuse, overdose, and deaths in the US.
Is Heroin an Opioid that Causes Addiction?
Heroin is a Schedule I controlled substance with no known medical benefits and is, therefore, illegal. The opioid is notorious for its ability to cause addiction very fast. It can “hook” a person right away after the first use. Once the psychoactive drug enters the body, it quickly attaches to the opioid receptors in the brain and creates a euphoric feeling.
From this point forward, the user may keep smoking, snorting, or injecting heroin to re-experience the pleasurable sensations. The return for the high is what, essentially, makes a person become dependent or addicted to the substance. Prolonged heroin use also causes both short and long-term effects on physical, emotional, and mental health.
While the drug has a high risk of addiction, you can overcome dependence by going to a heroin drug rehab in Palm Springs, CA.
Why is Heroin Difficult to Quit?
Regular use and building tolerance for heroin makes the brain and body depend on and persistently crave for the substance. At this stage of addiction, drug use is more of a compulsive than willing act to feel high.
Additionally, the person may deny the addiction or want to get “clean” but is unable to do so on their own. Some people try to quit “cold turkey” only to experience unpleasant or severe withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings.
To avoid this, they continue to use heroin. It is usually more challenging to stop using the drug when it is taken with other addictive substances. Polydrug abuse is combining two or more addictive substances. People with certain disorders or underlying mental conditions such as depression or anxiety often need professional help to kick the habit.
Treatment for Heroin Addiction
There are steps to heroin addiction treatment. The main steps are detox and behavioral therapy.
Detox and withdrawal are vulnerable stages of substance abuse recovery. As such, the process may be best done in a safe, medically-supervised environment. Here, you or your family member can receive care and support from the doctors and therapists on-site as you taper off the opioid.
A prescription opioid such as methadone may be administered to block the effects of heroin on the brain. This helps to reduce cravings over time. You may continue to receive medication to help with the long-term effects of ceasing drug use long after withdrawal ends.
Mental health therapy after withdrawal is a critical stage of addiction recovery. It helps to increase your chances of remaining sober. Therapy helps to identify any underlying disorder that pushes you to do drugs. It equips you with relapse prevention tools and resources to resist going back to drug use. Examples of core treatment programs or services are:
- Group Therapy Program
- Holistic Therapies
- Aftercare Program
- Sober Living Homes
- Extended 90-day Care
- Neuro and Biofeedback Therapy
Quit heroin and rise like a Phoenix
Heroin abuse affects men and women of all social classes and ethnicities. The good news is the qualified professionals at Phoenix Rising can help you to get over substance abuse. Our addiction treatment facility is located in Palm Springs, California. We offer a range of programs, including Dual Diagnosis, detox, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Our inpatient and outpatient facilities suit the varying needs of our residents. Call 8552328211 to find out how you or a loved one can begin the recovery process.
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