Heroin Addiction Treatment in Port St. Lucie, FL
Private Heroin Addiction Treatment
If you or a loved one is struggling with a heroin addiction, you may be unsure where to turn. At NP Addiction Clinic, we’re here to help. Addiction is treatable, and with our exceptional care and expert support, you can achieve long-term sobriety.
Your future is important to us. Our compassionate team will stay by your side every step of the way to help you overcome addictive behaviors, improve your mental health, and rebuild an exciting and fulfilling life free from addiction.
Heroin Addiction in The U.S.
Heroin is a powerful opiate derived from the seed pods of the opium poppy. It can produce overwhelming feelings of calm, happiness, and euphoria. It also acts as a powerful pain-reliever.
Heroin usually comes as a white or brown powder or a sticky tar-like substance called ‘black-tar heroin’, and can be snorted, injected, sniffed, or smoked. A highly addictive drug that comes hand-in-hand with severe consequences, individuals who consume heroin are at risk of suffering a fatal heroin overdose.
The Specter or Heroin Overdose
Research has determined that opioids, such as heroin, cause approximately 70% of drug-related deaths worldwide, 30% of which involve an overdose. The widespread, and growing presence of fentanyl in the supply of street heroin has led to a skyrocketing fatal overdose rate in the U.S.
Heroin abuse also has devastating social consequences, leading to the spread of diseases, crime, and disruptions in family and workplace environments that cost the United States billions of dollars every year.
What Is Heroin?
Heroin is a synthetic opioid drug made from morphine, a natural substance present in the seeds of the opium poppy. You make heroin by heating morphine, adding other chemicals, and then purifying it.
Heroin crosses from your blood into your brain much faster than morphine, with many able to feel the effects within ten seconds of injecting it. The rush of euphoria you experience is also quicker and more intense than with other opiates.
Why Is Heroin So Addictive?
When consumed, heroin floods your body with chemicals like dopamine, endorphins, and dynorphins. These chemicals can cause experiences of euphoria, intense happiness, and pain relief.
Endorphins are opiates that are naturally present in our bodies. Our central nervous system and the pituitary gland release them when we participate in pleasurable activities, such as exercising, eating chocolate, or creating art.
Heroin works by binding to our natural opiate receptors. However, heroin causes sensations of overwhelming pleasure that are much more intense than those that result from natural endorphins.
The reward pathways in our brain connect this ‘reward’ with using heroin, making you want to use the drug again. These new connections produce physical changes in your brain cells, giving way to strong urges to take heroin that are difficult to resist.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Addiction?
The first step to recovery is recognizing that you may need help. If you notice any of these signs of heroin addiction, get in touch with our center today. Our expert team of medical experts is available twenty-four hours a day to offer compassionate advice and guide you through the next steps.
Behavioral signs and symptoms:
Possessing syringes, needles, and other paraphernalia
Being dishonest about where you are going or what you are doing
Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy
Requiring higher doses of heroin to feel the same effect
Physical signs and symptoms:
Constricted pupils
Depressed breathing
Irregular heartbeat
Tiredness
Runny nose and watery eyes
Scabs and sores from injecting
Sleeping difficulties
Weight loss
Heavy legs and arms
Dry mouth
Psychological Signs and Symptoms:
Mood swings
Poor judgment
Difficulty concentrating
Confusion and disorientation
Anxiety
Agitation
Heroin Addiction vs. Physical Dependence
Physical dependence develops when you take heroin repeatedly over time. Your body adjusts to the presence of the substance and, in turn, decreases its production of natural opiates. Gradually, you build a tolerance to the drug and begin to depend on it to feel normal.
Addiction refers specifically to the compulsively seeking or using of a substance, despite any negative consequences. While physical dependence often leads to addiction, it is possible to become dependent on heroin but not exhibit addictive behaviors.
What Are the Dangers of Heroin Addiction?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, repeatedly using heroin causes physical changes in the brain. It may lead to long-lasting imbalances in brain signaling and chemical systems that are difficult to reverse. It can also cause a deterioration of the brain’s white matter, which may impact decision-making, behavior regulation, and stress response.
Injecting heroin with shared needles also puts you at risk of contracting blood-transmitted diseases like HIV and hepatitis B. The injection itself can also harm the body over time.
If you become addicted to heroin, you will also have developed a physical dependence on the drug. When you try to stop, you may experience a series of uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous withdrawal symptoms. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommends that you detox from heroin under twenty-four-hour medical supervision to help manage severe symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms usually present within a few hours of the last time you took heroin. They include muscle and bone pain, diarrhea, vomiting, restlessness, insomnia, and leg movements. Significant withdrawal symptoms tend to last around a week, but some people experience the effects of withdrawal for many months.
What Are the Dangers of Heroin Overdose?
Heroin addiction also increases the chance of an overdose. Overdosing happens when you take more heroin than your body can metabolize at any given time. Opioids are central nervous system (CNS) depressants that reduce your breathing and heart rate. When you overdose, it can slow down so much that oxygen cannot reach your brain. As overdosing on heroin can be fatal, you should seek immediate medical attention if you suspect someone may have overdosed.
Heroin Detox
Heroin addiction can have devastating consequences, but there is a way out. At NP Addiction, our expert team is on hand to guide you through detox and addiction treatment so that you can overcome your addiction, rebuild yourself, and lay the foundations for a new, sober future. Your recovery is important to us, and we offer you the very best support to help you get there.
Your recovery journey usually begins with detox, the process of removing all traces of heroin and its toxins from your body. Without medical supervision, opioid withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable and even dangerous.
At NP addiction, we ensure you are in safe hands. Our professional team of licensed medics remains by your side at all times to monitor your health and prescribe you medication that helps your body cope with the detoxification process.
We make detox as easy as possible to ensure you are in the right mindset to engage in the rest of your recovery program.
Heroin Addiction Treatment
Overcoming addiction involves more than just detoxification. It requires identifying the underlying causes of addictive behavior and developing coping mechanisms to overcome them. It requires holistic healing and personal growth to help you recover from mental health disorders that may be driving your addiction and give you the confidence and self-worth to overcome any challenges ahead.
At NP Addiction, we understand that every client is different. We will design an individualized treatment program to suit your needs and give you the best chance of reaching your recovery goals. We focus on holistic personal growth through 12-steps groups and artistic therapies to help you reconnect with your body and mind as you journey to lifelong sobriety.
Our evidence-based treatment approaches include:
Individual therapy
Group therapy
Support groups
Art therapy
Music therapy
Recreational therapy
Medication assisted treatment
Recovering from heroin addiction isn’t easy, but remember, you are not alone in your struggles. People recover from addiction every day; many of our staff members are in recovery themselves.
With our expert support, exceptional care, unconditional compassion, and respect, you can break free from addiction. Please contact us today to take the first steps.
Why Choose NP Addiction Clinic?
Why our St. Lucie County rehab and mental health center is right for you and your loved ones.
24-Hour Support
We are dedicated to helping people heal, recover and live better lives, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. Count on us to be there when you need us most.
On-Site Detox
Mental Health Treatment Pros
Aftercare and Alumni Support
Our aftercare, alumni support and MAT programs are second to none. We’re invested in your recovery and wellness for the long haul.
Best Heroin Addiction Treatment
The Neuro Psychiatric Addiction Clinic is committed to delivering the best heroin treatment available. We can help you or the one you love too, but you need to make the first move. Call us now at (888) 574-3506 or send us a message using this form.
