Columbia Heroin Drug Detox and Rehab Treatment Centers

What are the long-term effects of heroin abuse in Columbia, MD?

Prolonged use of heroin has devastating physical effects. Chronic users may develop liver disease, collapsed veins, abscesses and infections. They may experience pulmonary diseases such as pneumonia. Because heroin sold on the street is not pure, it may contain additives that can clog vessels in the brain, lungs, kidneys or liver. If this complication does not result in death, it can cause infection. It destroys the addict both physically and emotionally if used for a long enough period of time. Call us to find out how we can find you a heroin rehabilitation center that will keep things from going this far.

Rehab Near or Away From Home in Columbia, MD

Whether you should travel or check in to a heroin rehab center that is near you is a personal choice. If there are a lot of family members and sober supports within the community, staying close may be a better choice.

Some individuals find that traveling helps them start the new path of recovery and avoid outside stressors or triggers. The most important aspect is that the individual seeking treatment feels sufficiently safe and comfortable to focus on treating the addiction.

Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Addiction

If someone is using heroin on a regular basis, you may notice many different changes in both their appearance and behavior. Their skin may be flushed. They may keep scratching "itchy" skin. They may experience vomiting, shallow breathing or even fall asleep without warning. If they are using with needles, you may notice needle marks as well, but now that so many people prefer to sniff or smoke heroin, marks (or lack thereof) are not the only thing you should be looking for. Besides those signs, you may also stumble across their equipment — rubber tubing, syringes, metal or glass pipes, or even dirty spoons.

What are the slang names, street names or nicknames for heroin?

Heroin has many nicknames and street names, including:

• Snow, Snowball;
• H, Big H, Hera, Hero, Heron, Herone;
• Chiba, Chieva, Chiva;
• Boy, He;
• Black, Black Eagle, Black Pearl, Black Stuff, Black Tar;
• Brown, Brown Crystal, Brown Rhine, Brown Sugar, Brown Tape;
• China White, White, White Boy, White Girl, White Horse, White Lady, White Nurse, White Stuff;
• Mexican Brown, Mexican Horse, Mexican Mud;
• Junk, Tar;
• Dope;
• Sack, Scag, Scat, Skunk, Smack;
• Dragon;

Heroin Detox in Columbia, MD

The next step in the heroin rehab is detox from heroin. The main objective of detox is to relieve your withdrawal symptoms while your body adjusts to functioning without the drug. Detox from heroin should be completed under medical supervision.

The type of detox program will depend on the facility chosen. Some facilities choose to ease the detox process through medication-assisted treatment. Providing tapering doses of replacement medications such as Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone), buprenorphine, or methadone can reduce the symptoms of withdrawal in a safe, medically monitored setting.

Another type of detox method is abstinence-only or social detox. With this type of detox, there is no replacement drug, and the patient will simply stop using the drug, with no opioid replacement support to minimize the symptoms of withdrawal. Many find this form of detox quite challenging in cases of heroin withdrawal. More recently, medication assisted detox is becoming an increasingly common method for managing heroin dependence.

Dangers of Heroin Abuse and Addiction

Heroin addiction and abuse is the epidemic of our generation and affects people of all race, background, and class. Opiate related deaths are the leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States. The death toll per year of opiate overdoses resulting in death has recently taken the lead to vehicular collisions. Every 19 minutes someone is losing their life to this deadly drug.

Overdose and death are not the only worries for those using heroin. Injecting the drug puts users at high risks of contracting diseases through blood and bodily fluids. HIV and hepatitis C are among the common diseases we see transmitted through sharing needles.

Types of Therapies to Expect During Rehab in Columbia, MD

Therapists use different types of therapy depending on their training and the needs of the patient. The most widely known therapy is CBT, but other examples of potential therapy types include:

• 12-step facilitation therapy;
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT);
• Community reinforcement approach (CRA);
• Contingency management (CM);
• Family behavior therapy (FBT);
• Motivational enhancement therapy (MET);
• Rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT);

Rehab Therapy in Columbia, MD

After you complete detox, you will enter into addiction therapy. There are many different options for therapy at heroin rehab facilities. Most rehab centers provide both individual and group therapy, along with education about addiction. Some facilities will also incorporate family therapy sessions into the treatment process, or provde psychiatric treatment if the individual has an underlying mental health disorder.