Pinelands Recovery Center of Medford - What We Treat

Heroin Addiction

Heroin Addiction Treatment in New Jersey

If you or a loved one are struggling with heroin use, Pinelands Recovery can help. We offer residential heroin addiction treatment in New Jersey in a comfortable, welcoming setting. Our programs are designed to help you maintain sobriety long-term.

Heroin is an illegal opioid, derived from morphine that is either smoked or injected through the skin. This lethal and very addictive opioid can result in death within minutes of use. Because heroin is illegal, it can land you in trouble with the law, and can take a heavy toll on your personal and professional life. It can also cause severe harm to your mental and physical health. Opioids are generally used to relieve pain, but they have high addiction potential. Common prescription opioids include morphine, Lortab, and Percocet. You may turn to heroin after becoming addicted to opioid prescription painkillers for two reasons:

If you have had a painful surgery or accident and required prescription opioids to ease the pain, this could have spiraled into an opioid use disorder. Once the prescription painkillers can no longer be filled, you may turn to purchase heroin to feed your opioid use disorder.

Over time, a tolerance to prescription opioids develops and you may no longer feel the euphoric effects. As a result, you may turn to heroin.

Heroin is sold illegally on the street under common names such as chasing the dragon, China white, junk, smack and H. Heroin is one of the most addictive drugs because it produces a sensation of euphoria and also leads to severe withdrawal symptoms if stopped.

Heroin Addiction Statistics

In 2018, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reported that 354,000 people in the United States (12 years old or older) reported using heroin.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2015 there were 81,326 emergency department visits occurred for unintentional, heroin-related poisonings in the United States.
Among new heroin users from 2000 to 2013, approximately three out of four reported having misused prescription opioids before using heroin, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Heroin-related overdose deaths increased nearly five times from 2010 to 2017, according to the CDC.

Risk Factors for Heroin Addiction

Prescription pill misuse
Severe, untreated pain
Younger age (18 to 25 years old)
Male gender
Caucasian race
Untreated mental health disorders

Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Addiction

Anxiety
Mood swings
Hostility toward others
Agitation and irritability
Lying about drug use
Avoiding loved ones
Weight loss
Fatigue
Scabs or bruises from skin picking

Delusions
Disorientation
Hallucinations
Financial troubles
Relationship turmoil
Illegal activity
Paranoia
Decreased attention to personal hygiene

Periods of hyperactivity followed by periods of exhaustion
Inability to fulfill work or school responsibilities
Apathy and lack of motivation
A decline in occupational or academic performance
Heroin cravings

Pinelands Recovery Center of Medford - Heroin Toxicity

Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Toxicity

Excessive drowsiness
Pinpoint pupils (meiosis)
Confusion
Slurred speech
Constipation
Respiratory depression (shallow and short breathing)
Track marks on skin or fresh puncture wounds
Weight loss
Mood swings
Frequent nose bleeds (if heroin is snorted)

Pinelands Recovery Center of Medford - Heroin Withdrawal

Heroin Addiction Withdrawal

Severe physical side effects can occur during heroin and opioid withdrawal. These withdrawal symptoms are one of the main reasons why quitting heroin cold turkey is nearly impossible. Major withdrawal symptoms are at the highest between 24–48 hours after the last dose of heroin and subside after about a week. Although heroin withdrawal is not life-threatening, medications are usually administered to alleviate the painful withdrawal symptoms. These medications also help prevent future cravings.

Pinelands Recovery Center of Medford - Heroin Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Addiction Withdrawal

Nausea/vomiting
Muscle aches
Bone pain
Severe sweating
Agitation
Restlessness
Diarrhea
Excessive tearing and runny nose (lacrimation and rhinorrhea)
Shivering
Abdominal pain

Seeking Help for Heroin Addiction

Heroin addiction is life-threatening. Heroin can cost you your job, family and financial success. If you are abusing heroin, you may be in denial. Family and friends are usually the first ones to notice your opioid use disorder patterns and will often be the ones who help you seek professional treatment. These are signs that you should seek treatment for your heroin addiction:

Bloodborne disease from intravenous drug use
Tolerance
Withdrawals
Hiding your heroin use disorder from friends, coworkers or family
Engaging in illegal activity

Academic decline/poor work performance
Sleep disturbance
Weight loss
Cravings for heroin
Violent behavior
Strained/broken relationships

Medication-Assisted Treatment for Heroin Addiction

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of medications in addition to counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders. MAT is primarily used to treat opioid addiction and alcohol addiction. Regardless of how or why you became addicted to heroin, MAT combined with psychotherapy is the first-line treatment for heroin use disorder. MAT is known to decrease heroin use, heroin-related overdose deaths, criminal activity and infectious diseases. MAT also improves social functioning and treatment retention rates. Buprenorphine and naltrexone are the three FDA-approved medications to help alleviate heroin withdrawal symptoms.

Medications Used to Treat Heroin Addiction

Naltrexone (Vivitrol)
Bunavail (buprenorphine and naloxone) buccal film
Cassipa (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual film
Probuphine (buprenorphine) implant for subdermal administration
Sublocade (buprenorphine extended‐release) injection for subcutaneous use
Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual film for sublingual or buccal use, or sublingual tablet
Subutex (buprenorphine) sublingual tablet
Zubsolv (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual tablets

In addition to addressing the physical consequences of heroin addiction, it’s important to get therapeutic support. Psychotherapy helps to uncover the underlying triggers, thoughts and negative emotions associated with heroin use disorder and help you develop healthy coping skills to deal with these triggers in the future. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are three types of behavioral therapy that can be used to help treat heroin addiction.

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