Helping a Heroin Addict - How to Get Clean

One of the first questions I often get from heroin users is: "Is it really possible to end this addiction or will I be a drug addict for the rest of my life?"

The story in the UK in the field of drug rehab, is that heroin addicts are just not getting the help that they need and deserve. A drug addict is a person too. Friends and loved ones who once had hopes and inspirations.

This is failed help! How often did someone fail to help you or rather, betray you in its place?

The drug pusher tells you that the drug will help you feel better, have fun, be uninhibited, relax, act as a pain killer - but this is not help, this is betrayal. Drugs lead to addiction lead to ruined lives and a living hell. Just ask an addict.

A heroin addict can be anyone - dads, mums, contractors, lawyers, salespeople, musicians, engineers, bankers, shop owners, sons, daughters, children - heroin addicts are regular people caught in a trap.

It is so easy these days with the various forms of heroin available that it is no longer the old image of a junky with a needle in their arm. Today many addicts I speak to across the UK do not inject heroin they smoke or sniff or snort it.

Is there a way out of the trap of addiction? Many now believe that help is not possible but remember that maybe just today, you helped someone or someone helped you. Help is possible.

How to Get Clean - Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is - to restore or bring to a condition of health or useful and constructive activity AND to restore to a former state or capacity. This can be done with the heroin addict and obviously does not include alternate drug substitutes as an answer.

How To Get Clean - The Cause of Drug Cravings?

When you drink continuously or use drugs the body becomes super-saturated with metabolites (chemicals the body converts the drugs or alcohol into). These metabolites may become trapped in the fatty tissues and remain there for years. When released into the bloodstream they trigger drug and alcohol cravings. How do these drug metabolites get released? A simple jog to catch the bus, dancing, a hot day anything that gets your blood pumping. Your veins are surrounded by fatty tissue and so it doesn't take much. Suddenly you feel the urge to use, feel high, feel foggy, confused, dull, or simply focussed on nothing other than getting a fix.

How To Get Clean - Eliminating Drug Cravings

The right program will actually consist of detoxification as part of the rehabilitation. Meaning actually removing the poison (drug) or poisonous effect from the body. This is being achieved everyday. The result is a person free of drug and alcohol cravings, reduction or elimination of other addiction symptoms like depression, irritability, fatigue. Also, a regained ability to think more clearly, improved memory and attention span, increased energy and sense of well being and the kicker - Enthusiasm toward life!

A UK Success Story of Getting Clean

"I have completed the sauna program and without any doubts or reservations, I believe that my body and my mind feel cleansed. Physically I am stronger, no longer lethargic and so much more alert. Mentally, I am in fantastic shape and able to learn. The process of detoxification is something that I have needed for such a long time. My potential could never be truly fulfilled without mental clarity and physical strength, both of which I believe have been restored to me as a result of completing this part of the course. All my dreams and aspirations suddenly feel much more achievable. I can't remember when I last had such a positive outlook on life." J.D.

Would you like to help a loved one end addiction? Go to: http://www.detox-narconon.org

Paula Dewar is a professional rehab consultant and refers clients to Drug-free Detox and Rehab Programs which End Addiction for Life. Paula speaks English and Portuguese.

PS: To subscribe to our free newsletter giving our Latest Discoveries go to: http://www.detox-narconon.org/family-training/subscribe.php

Heroin Addiction Symptoms and Signs

An opiate that belongs to the morphine-codeine family, heroin goes by the chemical name of diacetylmorphine. This vastly illegal drug is derived from the opium poppy.

Heroin is among the easiest of drugs to become addicted to. Many heroin addicts need no more than just one attempt at the drug to become addicted, even if mildly at first. Like many other drugs, heroin is used intravenously, or through smoking or snorting through the nostrils. Of these, the method most abusers prefer is injection, because the effect that is got from this method is considered the highest. This makes it the most popular method of use of heroin.

Effects of heroin: Heroin has its own way of working on the system. It primarily acts on the central nervous system initially. It starts acting within seven seconds of ingestion, when taken intravenously. In the few seconds of its being absorbed into the system, heroin can cause euphoria.

Immediately after being taken in, heroin enters the area that is the barrier between the brain and blood. This causes heroin to get converted into morphine. Once the euphoria settles down, it leads to dry mouth, skin flushing, and a feeling of heaviness. This in turn can lead to vomiting, nausea and itching. Following this, the heroin addict normally becomes sedate and sleepy for many hours. Many of the vital cognitive functions slow down and get impaired momentarily. These include the ability to reason. Heart beat and breathing slow down considerably.

The most important long term effect of heroin is its ability to be an addictive drug. Drugs are in themselves addictive, but heroin addiction is found to be the fastest to get into, and the most abusive of all addictions. This addiction has its own detrimental effects on the brain, mind and body.

Physically, long term heroin addiction leads to damage to the arteries, lungs, liver, kidneys and veins, and several infections, abscesses and bone diseases such as arthritis.

Emotionally, heroin addiction can very soon reach a point where seeking the drug becomes the sole objective of life for the addict. This has various serious ramifications, such as social isolation, family dislocation and professional under performance.

Heroin withdrawal symptoms, which start within hours of the last ingestion, include pain in the muscle and bone, restlessness, diarrhea, insomnia, cold flashes with goose bumps, or what are called "cold turkey", strong body movements, convulsions and vomiting. Sometimes, these symptoms can last months. These however, are seldom fatal, and a heroin detox center can take care of these symptoms.

Treatment for heroin dependency: For heroin dependency, a combination of methods has to be tried to bring the heroin addict out of the "zone". The first step is detoxification, wherein the effects of abuse are purged; this is followed by systematic lessening of craving tendencies. Drugs that help in this are buprenorphine and methadone. Finally, behavior therapies are introduced; typically at a heroin rehab center. These may include cognitive behavioral interventional therapies which are aimed at redesigning the outlook the addict has towards life, and help him deal with stressful situations without recourse to the drug. A method that combines the two approaches "medical and behavioral" is considered the best.

The author of this article knows all about heroin addiction. He has written many articles on cocaine rehabs. He has wide knowledge about the heroin rehab centers. He uses his knowledge for helping people to find the best heroin detox center.

Harmful Effects of Heroin 24" X 36" Laminated Poster

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