Heroin Addiction Treatment - Step Away Drug Rehab South Africa

Heroin is synthesised from morphine, a naturally occurring substance that is extracted from the seeds of the poppy plant.

Common names for Heroin include:

• H,
• Smack,
• Brown Sugar,
• Rock, Slow,
• China White,
• White,
• Junk or Dragon.

There are several of ways in which Heroin can be ingested:

• Snorted
• Injected
• Smoked (referred to as chasing the dragon)

The effects of Heroin

Because Heroin is an opioid, the addiction is an intense physical addiction one.

Many addicts continue taking heroin just to avoid the effects of withdrawal.

Additionally, the effects of Heroin give the user a brief, false sense of freedom from their reality, anxiety and pain.

Furthermore, the short and long term effects of Heroin are devastating. With loved ones often giving up hope.

Short-term effects of Heroin

• Nausea, vomiting and constipation,
• Shallow and slowed breathing and pulse rate,
• Itching skin and dry mouth (cotton mouth),
• Slurred, slow and broken speech,
• Reduced coordination and motor skills,
• Insomnia and restlessness.

Long-term effects of Heroin

• Long-term use of Heroin causes changes in the physical structure and physiology of your brain.
• This creates imbalances in your nerve cells and hormonal systems that cannot easily be reversed.
• Additionally, causing the deterioration of your brain’s white matter which affects good decision-making abilities, the ability to control behaviour, and responses to stressful situations.
• Furthermore, Heroin abuse increases drug tolerance and physical dependence.
• Intense withdrawal symptoms occur when Heroin is not present in your bloodstream, even occurring just hours after you last used.
• Withdrawal symptoms include:
• insomnia,
• restlessness and involuntary leg movements,
• muscle pain,
• aching bones,
• diarrhea and vomiting,
• cold flashes accompanied by goose bumps (“cold turkey”)
• Heroin begins to dominate your life, using the drug becomes you primary purpose in life.
• Risk of overdosing, leading to an induced coma, respiratory failure, and death.
• Tetanus, Hepatitis B and C and HIV from sharing needles.

Step Away Rehabilitation Centre South Africa

Our drug addiction treatment centre in Port Elizabeth, South Africa uses several successful therapies to treat dependencies such as Heroin addiction.

Participating in Narcotics Anonymous (NA) programmes, different group therapies, yoga sessions, and workshops and tasks, makes you realise the positivity of the changes you have made in your life and just how destructive addiction is to your life and the people around you.

With support and guidance from our staff and psychologists, you will confront your addiction/dependency without having to fear that you are alone in your battle.

Holistic Treatment

We approach addiction holistically. We do this by helping our patients learn to address their emotions, past issues and traumas rather than using drugs to escape them.

Each of our staff members is fully qualified and experienced in their profession. Each offering their own unique approach to recovery.

Additionally, upon arrival, we will perform a full medical assessment in order to evaluate the severity of your condition and to accurately prescribe the correct form of treatment.

Furthermore, in cases where it is necessary, we provide a drug detox or alcohol detox. This is done safely under medical supervision.

The aim of our treatment, is to help you develop the necessary coping mechanisms needed to manage every day choices and life stressors once you have completed our program.

Your life is the result of the choices you make, if you don’t like your life it is time to start making better choices.

For more information about Step Away or our Heroin Addiction Treatment, please contact us.

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