Heroin Addiction Treatment Options in San Jose Available Now

Welcome to Silicon Valley Recovery, where hope begins and healing takes root. Our team aims to guide you through the crucial first step of your journey toward recovery from heroin addiction – Heroin Detox. Whether you're grappling with acute withdrawal symptoms within the first 8–24 hours or facing protracted challenges, we are here to support you!

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What is

Heroin Detox

Heroin detox is the first phase of heroin addiction treatment for dependent people. Heroin – a highly addictive illicit opioid – poses many health risks that often require medical attention. Drug detox helps clear an addictive substance from the body in a safe and controlled environment. Detox is an essential step before starting an addiction treatment program. That said, detoxification does not guarantee long-term abstinence. Instead, it prepares and stabilizes a user for additional addiction treatment programs. Heroin addiction treatment aims to:

Relieve your discomfort.
Build trust between you and your provider and other treatment staff.
Prevent complications that may arise when you stop taking heroin (withdrawal symptoms).

Acute Withdrawal

8-24 Hours After Last Intake

Acute withdrawal or simply withdrawal begins 8 to 24 hours after the last intake and can continue for 4 to 10 days. According to the ASAM, withdrawal is the onset of a predictable constellation of signs and symptoms following the abrupt discontinuation of, or rapid decrease in, the dosage of a psychoactive substance.

Nausea & Vomiting

Anxiety

Insomnia

Feeling sick & strong cravings

Hot & Cold Flashes

Muscle Pain

Sweating

Watery Eyes

Runny Nose

Diarrhea

Yawning

Heart Pounding

Protracted

Withdrawal Symptoms

Also, called extended withdrawal, it includes symptoms (of acute withdrawal) that last beyond the expected timeframes. The protracted withdrawal phase may last for several weeks or months. The most common symptoms include sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression.

Visual or auditory hallucinations

Extreme Confusion

Profound Restlessness

Rapid Changes in heart Rate

Sensations of itching and burning

insomnia & Fatigue

Fever

Seizures

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Heroin Detox

Treatment Services

Heroin addiction treatment options can vary, but usually involve a combination of counseling services, medications, psychological support and lifestyle changes. Treatment also needs to be tailored specifically to the patient’s needs, as each person has different issues requiring different types of therapies.

Medications

Detox medication is routinely used to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and prevent seizures.

Acetaminophen

For headaches and other pains from withdrawal

Diazepam

To ease anxiety and restlessness

Loperamide

For the treatment of diarrhea

Vitamins B and C

For nutritional support

Counseling & Psychotherapy

Once you are stable and have mild withdrawal symptoms, you will receive counseling and psychotherapy. These non-drug approaches are crucial to maintaining long-term sobriety.

You will work with a therapist to uncover the underlying causes of your addiction, such as past trauma, stress, and coexisting mental illness. Then, your therapist will teach you skills and tools to replace addiction-related negative thoughts with positive ones.

Psychotherapy sessions may be conducted individually or in a group and can include:

Types of Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Contingency Management Therapy (CMT)
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Couples and Family Therapy
12-Step and Community Programs
Maintenance Therapy

Specific drugs – Clonidine or Buprenorphine may be used if you have severe withdrawal.

Monitoring

A doctor reviews your condition daily. Continuous monitoring ensures you are responding to the treatment.

Emergency Plan

Because heroin users may have life-threatening complications during withdrawal, addiction experts carefully design an emergency plan soon after starting the detox program.

heroin detox timeline

How Long Does it Take to Detox From Heroin?

6 to 24 Hours

You may experience muscle aches, shaking, diarrhea, sleep disturbances, anxiety, poor concentration, and intense cravings.

1 to 3 Days

Some of your symptoms peak within the first few days. Besides, you may have new symptoms, including irritability, tiredness, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting.

4 to 7 Days

The physical symptoms become milder, but psychological symptoms may persist.

Up to 2 weeks

Long-term or heavy users may struggle with psychological symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, anxiety, irritability, and depression. If these symptoms persist, you may need specialized treatment for a co-occurring disorder.

Home Detox

No. Experts do not recommend at-home heroin detox, mainly for two reasons.

Doing so may increase the risk of overdose.
Second, self-medicating to relieve withdrawal symptoms may actually worsen them or cause fatal drug interactions. For example, combining Benzodiazepines (to reduce anxiety) with heroin can cause death.

FAQs

What medication is used for drug addiction?

Medications used for drug addiction treatment include methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone for opioid addiction. For alcohol addiction, disulfiram, acamprosate, and naltrexone are commonly used. These medications help manage withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings, and support recovery by restoring balance to brain circuits affected by substance use.

What are three things that can help with withdrawal symptoms?

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water to help flush toxins from your body. Engage in regular physical activity to boost endorphin levels and improve mood. Ensure adequate rest and sleep to support your body’s recovery process.

What percentage of heroin addicts recover?

The percentage of heroin addicts who recover varies widely depending on several factors, including the type of treatment received, the individual’s commitment to recovery, and support systems. Studies suggest that with comprehensive treatment, including medication-assisted therapy and behavioral counseling, recovery rates can be significantly improved, with some estimates indicating that around 20-30% achieve long-term recovery.

What are the blockers for heroin?

Heroin blockers, also known as opioid antagonists, include medications like naloxone and naltrexone. Naloxone is used in emergency situations to reverse opioid overdoses, while naltrexone is used for long-term treatment to prevent relapse by blocking the euphoric effects of opioids. These medications are crucial in managing opioid addiction and preventing overdose deaths.

What drug is used to treat heroin withdrawals?

Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are commonly used to treat heroin withdrawal symptoms. Methadone and buprenorphine help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms by acting on the same opioid receptors in the brain as heroin, but in a safer and controlled manner. Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids and is used after detoxification to prevent relapse.

What is the new drug for opiate withdrawal?

The new drug for opiate withdrawal is Lucemyra (lofexidine hydrochloride). It is a non-opioid medication approved to mitigate withdrawal symptoms in adults discontinuing opioids. Lucemyra works by reducing the release of norepinephrine, which is believed to play a role in many withdrawal symptoms. It is not a treatment for opioid use disorder but can be part of a broader treatment plan.