Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms and Treatment

The Detox Center Coronavirus Policy Update

As we closely monitor the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, we are taking every precaution to ensure our top priority remains the health, safety, and well-being of our clients and staff. This guides each and every decision we make.

We have and will continue to follow the guidelines of our local health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC} the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Broward and Palm Beach County Health Departments. As a result, we stay current on this evolving situation, we want to assure you that we are taking the appropriate and precautionary measures, such as:

• Ensuring proper and rigorous cleaning and sanitation of common surfaces

• Requiring hourly sanitization of all staff and clients

• Provision of additional sanitizing products to our clients and staff

• Ongoing staff training to enhance cleaning and disinfecting procedures to maintain a healthy environment

• All employees are required to remain home in the event:

o They display any signs or symptoms of being ill. Employees who report to work ill will be sent home in accordance with these health guidelines.
oIf the employee has traveled outside of the state of Florida by any means or if an employee has traveled via cruise or airplane to any destination, that employee must report to management and Human Resources and self-isolate at that time.

Regarding current and admitted patient's change of schedule, the following has been implemented:

• Some programs and therapies have been temporarily postponed due to COVID-19

• Grocery shopping will be completed by the facility staff

• Clients are urged to keep a safe distance from other persons

• Hourly mandatory hand washing breaks are in effect

• Clients have been instructed to report to medical staff any symptoms

• Additional Health screenings will be conducted at that time of admission

• Clients will not be admitted to the facility if any of the following symptoms are present:

o Fever above 100 degrees
o Consistent Dry Coughing
o Shortness of Breath
o Severer body aches, that surpass PAWS range and/or
o Sore Throat

If a client does contract coronavirus, they will be isolated and quarantined on location. The client will only be handled by designated staff with the proper PPE. The local Department of Health (or equivalent agency) will be informed so that they may come out and provide further guidance on how to best handle the individual. All suspected cases are reported to the Department of Health (or local agency) who will be handling it accordingly. A deep cleaning will occur at the identified location.

Additional information regarding the virus can be found on the Broward Health Department's website or the Centers for Disease Control website.

We will continue to work together to ensure the safety of our patients and team members and adhere to any new regulatory changes as they come.

Heroin is a very addictive and intense drug. Making the choice to discontinue heroin use is an important step to taking control of your life again. The first step for treatment for heroin addiction is detox. It’s necessary to detox your body from drugs before you can begin the work of recovery. During the detox process, your body will go through uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms that can vary in intensity depending on many different factors. Read on to learn more about heroin withdrawal symptoms and treatment.

What is heroin?

Heroin is an opiate that suppresses some of the body’s vital central nervous system functions. This means it affects the heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and body temperature regulation. The drug binds to opioid receptors in the brain, causing intense feelings of pleasure and euphoria. Because of the physical and psychological effects of heroin, it is one of the most highly addictive drugs.

What are heroin withdrawal symptoms like?

Because of the intensity of heroin’s addictive qualities, withdrawal from this drug is extremely intense as well. Withdrawal symptoms are essentially the opposite of the powerful euphoria effects it has while it is being abused. These symptoms can include reduced heart rate, sedation, extreme mood swings, nausea, headaches, vomiting, and confusion. Because of the intensity and severity of heroin withdrawal symptoms, medical supervision is necessary.

What is heroin treatment like?

After the 1-2-week detox period, treatment for heroin addiction can begin. This can include immersive one on one therapy, group therapy, and other methods. If the addiction was long-term and severe, in-patient treatment is recommended. The important thing is to stay clean and focus on the underlying reasons for the drug addiction.

If you or someone you love has a heroin addiction and is ready to seek treatment, we can help. Reach out today to find out more about our heroin detox programs.