Choosing the Right Detox for Heroin

Heroin addiction is extremely intense and life-threatening. In fact, 47,600 people died from heroin overdoses in 2017 and the number keeps climbing every year. Heroin is highly addictive, making it extremely hard for people to stop using it on their own. Heroin gives the body a very large amount of opioids, which releases large amounts of dopamine, giving the user a euphoric high. At a certain point, the body will stop producing its own opioids due to the large presence of the ones heroin provides. When someone stops using heroin, it can be hard for the body to adjust back at first. This difficulty results in uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms which are difficult to manage alone without the right detox for heroin.

Outpatient Detox for Heroin

One option for receiving detox for heroin is outpatient therapy services. Outpatient detox for heroin is best for someone who has a mild addiction and a large support system at home. This is because outpatient detox allows for a person to leave the facility, setting up a scenario for relapse.

Advantages

Some of the many advantages of outpatient detox include:

  • Maintaining a home life. People who prefer to maintain their daily routine with their families may find that outpatient detox is a great choice. If someone has children or family that depends on them, outpatient detox offers the freedom to live at home and not be present.
  • Affordability. Outpatient detox can be less costly than inpatient detox. People who need detox services but don’t have the means to pay for inpatient detox can still get all the care they need at a much lower rate.
  • Maintaining a job. A busy work schedule or sole money maker in a family may find that outpatient detox services can fit nicely into their schedule. In addition, keeping a job and a schedule throughout the day can be beneficial for recovery.
  • Access to support system. Outpatient detox can be great for someone with a strong support system at home. If being present with your support system is important to you, such as a spouse or parent, then outpatient detox can be a good choice.

Disadvantages

While outpatient detox offers many advantages, there are some major downsides to go along with it. Depending on your needs, it is best to weigh both sides and see what is best for you.

  • Lower success rate. Outpatient detox has a much lower success rate than inpatient detox. In outpatient detox, you are able to “disconnect” from your recovery process and you may take it less seriously than someone who is in an inpatient detox.
  • Surrounded by triggers. Constantly being surrounded by old triggers before you’ve learned how to properly manage them may prove to be very difficult. This is why having an extremely strong support system is important.
  • The high likelihood for relapse. Remaining in your regular environment means that you know how and where to obtain heroin. This temptation may prove to be too much for many people, and relapse becomes much more likely.
  • Longer program. Outpatient programs tend to be longer than inpatient detox programs, lasting on average from 3 months to a year.

Inpatient Detox

Another option for heroin detox is inpatient detox. This type of detox is best for someone with a more severe addiction, as well as someone with a smaller support system at home. Inpatient detox treatment offers its clients everything they need to overcome their severe addiction, as well as a wealth of support from therapists and alumni.

Advantages

Some of the many advantages of checking into an inpatient detox facility are:

  • Higher success rate. People who check into an inpatient detox are more likely to take their recovery more seriously. The dedication and commitment it takes to enter an inpatient treatment center translate to a higher success rate in recovery.
  • 24-hour medical attention and support. Withdrawal from heroin can be uncomfortable at any hour of the day. Being able to have access to round-the-clock medical attention can be very comforting for many people suffering from severe symptoms.
  • No distractions. Inpatient detox allows its clients to fully focus on their recovery, stress-free. Breaking away from the stressors of everyday life can do wonders in the long-term for learning how to manage everything once they are home.
    Confidentiality.

Disadvantages

While inpatient detox offers many benefits, there can be some disadvantages to entering one. Although it is regarded as the best way to detox from and treat heroin, it might not be the right choice for everybody.

  • Disruption to daily life. Figuring out the logistics of what your daily life will be like when you’re away from your normal environment can be difficult. This is especially true for people with many dependents or a demanding job.
  • Higher cost. Inpatient detox and treatment is more expensive than outpatient detox since the client lives in the facility. Managing this cost and whether or not insurance covers it can be difficult, but admissions specialists are on-hand 24 hours a day to help figure it out.
  • Away from family. Being away from family can be difficult no matter what. This is especially true when checking into an inpatient facility since someone can be away from family for months at a time.

About Pinelands Recovery Center

Whether you want to receive inpatient detox or outpatient detox, we have all the right tools and treatment that you will need to finally kick your addiction to heroin. No two addictions are the same, and neither are two treatment plans. Everyone has different needs, and no matter what yours are, Pinelands strives to cater to just that.

Pinelands Recovery Center of Medford is widely known as one of New Jersey’s finest, most respected addiction treatment facilities. With comfortable 30-bed accommodations and 24-hour professional staff, we can offer clients a serene, relaxing environment amid the lush piney woods. This stress-free setting with its sense of warmth and welcoming enables you to feel comfortable and confident about your clean and sober life ahead.

We will establish clear goals, both general in nature and specific to your needs. We continue to monitor those goals, to make sure that our clients are progressing and buying into their recovery plan. We thrive on assisting clients in feeling connected to the recovery community, share and demonstrate effective coping techniques, help clients to modify attitudes and patterns of behavior and everything else you will need to be happy and productive living a sober, healthy life.

We ensure that clients complete their planned concrete tasks, encourage hope, optimism and healthy living. Our recovery program is not a revolving door treatment program; it is a recovery model designed to help clients go on to lead productive, happy lives. For more information, visit pinelandsrecovery.com