How to Quit Heroin

To begin, let it be said that this is not an easy task. In fact, the easiest part is the withdrawal, which everyone knows is complete hell. But that pain is physical and somewhat mental. The deep emotional stuff starts a little later. Anyway, it's a combination.

Remember, coming off junk is the best thing in the world. It makes you stronger and helps you grow. When you kick, all the dope-dependent cells die and are replaced by new ones. When you get to the other side, you are the phoenix. Remember this and take strength from it. You'll need it.

Steps -The kick.

The best approach is medical. This reduces the chances of caving in early. For this, you can go to a detox, either state or private, but this takes time.
You can find a local methadone clinic and start treatment there for minimal fee.

If possible, try the suboxone/subutex approach. Suboxone/Subutex is much much better than getting on methadone. If you choose to enter the methadone program, you are basically replacing a heroin addiction with a methadone addiction. It's not ideal. Also, in the end, methadone is even harder to kick than heroin. Taking Suboxone/Subutex will greatly help with cravings, and is much easier to taper off of than methadone. The amount of time you will take Suboxone/Subutex is much shorter than methadone as well.

Suboxone/Subutex maintenance generally lasts for 3 to 6 months, depending on the person and doctor. If you go on methadone, you will be on that drug for years if not your entire life, sadly.

These days, you can easily find a private doctor who can prescribe these miracle drugs to ease a user off dope in the comfort of his/her own home. These doctors have a special license to prescribe this medication and know how to use it. This is best.

If you are determined to kick cold turkey, stock up on amino acids. Protein is key here. Get chamomile tea, lots of water and Gatorade. Vitamins (see above) and isotonic mixtures do wonders. Get some glutamine and methionine from your local GNC or whatever. These help heroin addicts, specifically. Concentrate on blood sugar and fluid, have some chicken soup handy. You get the idea. It won't be pretty and not much helps to ease the pain.

If you can, get some clonidine (non-narcotic BP med, given by most addiction docs) or phenobarb and ativan. These are narcotics but are not very strong; they can take the edge off.

The highs.

Right after you come off dope, you feel great, powerful, strong. Use this. Take a shower, exercise regularly (don't overdo it) and keep the body strong. Lots of protein, vitamins and the same amino complex as before. Many people feel that junk addiction is a metabolic condition that stimulates histamine reaction.

When the going gets tough, try these tips:

It can be tough to sleep. Have a pile of bed sheets handy because the night sweats can be rough.

Exercise helps the body excrete all the junk inside and can regulate the metabolism.

When you feel bad, remember that it's just your body adjusting to the changes within. Think: is my blood sugar low? Do I need to eat? How's my metabolism? Do I need to rest? All these things are crucial. But the most important thing is to relax. Don't beat yourself up! You are doing an amazing thing and deserve some time to grow. Give yourself a break and don't stress every little thing. In early recovery, the brain can go nuts. Don't let it get the best of you!

The lows.

After the initial period of two weeks to two months, you reach a holding pattern where things can seem boring, lifeless and dull. This is the part where most addicts relapse. You may feel depressed or rejected and not feel like doing anything.

-Remember to keep busy!
-Keep with the diet and exercise.
-Try some new hobbies. Also, find some cool books, movies or video games, whatever your thing is.

Put a reward system in place. Remember how much cash you were spending on that habit? A fraction of that can buy some really cool stuff! Get yourself a prize for sticking with your recovery.

Try NA meetings for a good outlet. The 12-step program can seem bizarre and hokey at first, but it can really help. Go to meetings. Share what's going on and meet some people. This will help push you through these difficult stages.
Maintenance. Here, different people take different approaches.

If you are doing well, are completely clean and going to NA meetings, stick with that.

Some go on a methadone or suboxone maintenance and stay with it for years.

Whatever you do, just keep doing all the right things. Don't neglect the diet and exercise that got you where you are. Stick with the tea and amino acids and vitamins.

Recognize that staying sober is hard. There are good days and bad days. Believe that anyone can do it, even you!

Remember how much you have lost to drugs and addiction. Remember those times when everything seemed to keep getting worse.
This is your chance! Take it! Do whatever needs to be done to get well and stay well.

Tips

-Make a list of things you've lost to heroin and things you want back.
-Find support, tell people what you're doing, and let them cheer you on and care for you.
-Find a safe place to return to life. Don't go back to the same people and situations.
-Don't beat yourself up. Be proud of what you're doing.
-If you stumble, you don't have to go back full force. Pick yourself up any way you can and move on.
-Focus on your recovery and all the things that make it possible.
-It is great if you can find support in your parents and family.
-Take up a new activity

Warnings

-Watch out for old friends and places
-Cravings
-Triggers (things that make you want to use)
-Depression can freeze you in your tracks
-Euphoric recall will occur often. You will obsess on how great the first shot or line will be, and will fail to remember all of the pain and problems that follow it. --Remember, only the first shot/line will be good. After that, you pick right back up where you were, and it usually gets only worse.

More coming soon.... 

The largest majority of those who sought to rid themselves of the trap of heroin addiction felt these devastating realities including the failure of relapse due to ineffective drug rehab technology which did not help the person handle every aspect of their addiction.

When the cravings, guilt and depression of addiction are not handled completely the individual is more likely, than not, to reuse their drug of choice or other drugs and thereby fall back into the addictive life style once again.

The Narconon drug rehab program has been helping those addicted to heroin and many other drugs and alcohol leave their addiction behind permanently for over 40 years.

With over 76 % of heroin addicts remaining drug free years after completing the program, the Narconon Arrowhead Program has become the most successful choice for those who seriously intend on leaving addiction behind.

To find out more about trap of cravings, guilt and depression associated with heroin addiction, as well as how a person can truly overcome these barriers and free themselves once and for all from the addiction that has them bound, call our counselors today.

CALL Narconon 800-468-6933 or visit stopaddiction.com NOW 

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