​1. It’s the right thing to do: No matter what we’re trying to do in our lives, we should always be striving to do what is right in every area of our life while refraining to do that which is wrong, simply because it’s the right thing to do. And when we strive to do what is right, then good things can begin to happen and life can begin to change. And the right thing to do is to strive to live a clean, healthy, drug-free life no matter how old or how young you are. And in doing so, your life will begin to change, and you will begin to change, and in the end you will have a much better life than what you have now.

2. For your parents: Yes, you need to quit this drug for yourself, but you also need to quit this drug for your parents as well. Because there’s nothing more heart breaking for a parent than to have a kid who’s using drugs; and worst of all - heroin. And if your parents are not aware of the problem right now, then sooner or later they will find out and it’s going to crush them in the worst way. But when we put others first, and do things for others first, then as a result, things can begin to change and things can begin to work out for you as well. And in the end, you can make your parents proud and allow them to live a happy and peaceful life knowing that their son or daughter is living a clean, healthy, drug-free life.

3. For yourself: Do this for yourself because it’s the best thing that you can ever do in your life. Quit heroin, stay clean and turn your life around because it’s the best thing that you can ever do for yourself. You’re still young. You have your whole life ahead of you. And the best is yet to come. And you can have a much better life than what you have now once you get heroin out of the picture. You won’t have to worry about getting dope sick any more. You won’t have to worry about scrambling for money to buy a bag just to feel normal. You won’t have to worry about any of that stuff, ever again. You can be free! And you can begin to get your life back and become the best person that you could possibly be.

Do this because it's the right thing to do. Do this for your parents to give them peace. Do this for yourself because it's the best thing for you. And if you have a kid then do this for your kid and become the best parent that you can possibly be. Quit heroin, stay clean, and turn your life around.
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And for those of you who do have a messed up life then don’t worry, and don’t give up yet. You can still put a stop to all of this, once and for all, starting right now. It won’t be easy, but it can be done. ​

I know what you’re going through. I’ve been there myself. I wasted my teenage years on drugs; heroin, coke, crack, weed. But my main daily drug was heroin. And the end results were disastrous to say the least. But I also know that if you really want this, then you can do this, and you can have a much better life without drugs in the picture. And after this, your life will never be the same again. Guaranteed!

These are the most important years of your life. Because what you do now, will determine how the rest of your life turns out. So please, don’t waste your teenage years on drugs. You can quit now. You can change now. And you can become the person that you were meant to be - starting now.​
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Now that you have a few reasons to quit heroin, then it’s time to start planning and start quitting. And the first thing that you need to do is to make a firm decision to quit this drug and get your life back. You’re going to have to give it your best shot and then keep moving forward, no matter how hard it gets. Think about your life. Think about your future. And think about all the positive aspects of quitting heroin; because all of this is going to help you to quit heroin and stay clean for good.

Don’t worry about the withdrawals for now and don’t let that stop you. You’ll learn everything you need to know to help minimize withdrawals and stay clean. But for now, all you have to do is commit yourself to quitting heroin and then do it.
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OTC meds along with frequent hot baths throughout the day, makes quitting heroin cold turkey a lot more easier to do and a lot less painful as well. In fact, you might be able to get by on 24mg to 30mg of Imodium and 400mg of Tagamet alone for the first few days and then after that it’s just a matter of time and recovery. And for some of you, this may be your only hope. But don’t worry, you can do this. And if you have no other choice then cold turkey it is. But of course, that’s entirely up to you. (OTC meds such as Imodium and Tagamet can be purchased at your local Walmart store or any local pharmacy.)

For step-by-step instructions on how to quit heroin cold turkey please read my article, “How to Quit Heroin Cold Turkey with OTC Meds” followed by “How to Survive the First 7 Days”.
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Quitting heroin warm turkey: If you’re going to quit heroin warm turkey then do it warm turkey. But in order to quit heroin warm turkey you’re going to need some lesser evil pharmaceutical drugs such as Xanax, Tramadol or whatever medication you’re able to get for pain and anxiety. With this method you would still need to take the hot baths throughout the day but you would be able to get more help for the withdrawals from the pain and/or anxiety medications. And if you’re able to obtain such meds such as Xanax and/or Tramadol then this method may work for you.

For more information on quitting heroin warm turkey please read my article, “Quitting Heroin Warm Turkey with Meds”.
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But all you have to do is get a few Suboxone tablets or a few Suboxone film strips, make your taper plan, wait 24 hours for all of the heroin to leave the brain and then take that first sub, (under your tongue). And after you get that first sub in your system then you’re almost home free. The rest is just a matter of tapering (weaning down), time and recovery.

​For more detailed information on how to quit heroin with Suboxone, please read my article “Quitting Heroin with Suboxone”.
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​Quitting Heroin with the help of Kratom: Kratom is a leaf of a tree which is used as an alternative and natural means of treatment for many conditions such as chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and most importantly, heroin and opiate withdrawals. Quitting Heroin with Kratom is an all natural means of reducing heroin and opiate withdrawals significantly. Kratom has also been used for methadone dependence detox in New Zealand as well.

Kratom (botanical name Mitragyna Speciosa) consists of over 25 alkaloids (chemical compounds), one of which is called Mitragynine. Mitragynine is an opioid agonist, which means that it has an attraction towards the opioid receptors in the brain. When in withdrawal, Mitragynine binds to these receptors and is able to reduce heroin and opiate withdrawal symptoms.

Kratom is not an opioid. It is not a drug. It is a natural leaf which is sold in the US, Canada and in other countries for many different purposes, including heroin and opiate withdrawal. It is sold in the form of leaves, crushed leaves and in fine herbal powder as well. (Fine Kratom powder is preferred). Once a person consumes kratom (by mixing it with juice and drinking it, or drinking it as a tea), heroin withdrawals are reduced greatly within 20 to 30 minutes.

A person only needs to take kratom 4 times per day for the first 3 days and then begin to reduce their intake of Kratom for Day 4, 5 and 6. After that, that’s it. You’re done. You’ve just quit heroin with an all natural plant. And then from there it’s just a matter of time and recovery and rebuilding your health. NOTE: You must be 18 years old or over to buy kratom. If you're under 18 then you can ask someone to buy it for you.

For more information on how to quit heroin with kratom and more please read my article, “How to Quit Heroin with Kratom”.
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Quitting heroin in a detox center: If you’re going to quit heroin in a detox center then do it there. A medical supervised detox with medication can last anywhere from 5 to 10 days but once you’re done, you’re done. That’s it. No more. And you’ll be able to leave the detox center free and clear of heroin and any other opiates. You won’t have to take heroin or any drugs ever again after that.

Quitting heroin in a rehab center: If you’re going to quit heroin in a drug rehab center then do it there. Find a drug rehabilitation center and then go. Going away to rehab can sometimes work wonders as well. And the benefits of relocation, isolation and inaccessibility to opiates such as heroin make rehab a hopeful solution for many addicts trying to quit. ​
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To find a free (state funded) to low cost detox or rehab center, or Suboxone clinic, methadone clinic, (or methadone clinic that offers Suboxone), contact your national drug addiction referral helpline and ask them for help in finding a detox, rehab or clinic near you.
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U.S: Call SAMHSA, the U.S. Substance Abuse Administration office at 1-800-662-4357 and ask them to recommend a free to low cost, detox or rehab center, suboxone or methadone clinic in your city, state or out of state as well. Get the contact details for any or all of these places and then start calling them and ask for costs, details and procedures. You may also qualify for free (state or government funded) financial assistance. If you have insurance, then check with your insurance provider for recommended treatment centers and possible out of state treatment centers as well. 

Canada: If you’re living in Canada, click here for a list of drug treatment referral services for your province in Canada. Call them and ask them for a recommendation for a free to low cost, detox or rehab center, suboxone or methadone clinic in your province or out of your province as well. If you have insurance then check with your insurance provider to see what options are available to you.

United Kingdom: If you’re living in the United Kingdom, click here for a list of drug treatment referral services for your region or nation in the UK. Call them and ask them for a recommendation for a free to low cost, detox or rehab center, suboxone or methadone clinic in your region or outside your region as well.

Ireland: If you’re living in Ireland, click here for a list of drug treatment referral services for your county or province in Ireland. Call them and ask them for a recommendation for a free to low cost, detox or rehab center, suboxone or methadone clinic in your county or province or outside your province as well.

India: If you’re living in India, click here for a list of drug treatment de-addiction services for your city in India. There are many free and low cost, inpatient and out patient, de-addiction treatment centres in India.

Australia: If you’re living in Australia, click here for a list of drug treatment referral services for your state or territory in Australia. Call them and ask them for a recommendation for a free to low cost, detox or rehab center, suboxone or methadone clinic in your state or territory or even outside your territory as well.

New Zealand: If you’re living in New Zealand, click here for a list of drug treatment referral services for your town, city or district in New Zealand. Call them and ask them for a recommendation for a free to low cost, detox or rehab center, suboxone or methadone clinic in your district or out of your district as well.

Most countries offer state funded (free) and low cost, detox and rehab programs, suboxone and methadone treatment for their residents. And you may qualify for free, (government funded) financial assistance as well. If you have insurance, then check with your insurance provider for recommended treatment programs and possible out of area treatment programs as well. Call the programs, get complete details, costs and procedures and then make your final decision on how you're going to quit and where you're going to go and then do it.
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You may have to go see a suboxone doctor or admit yourself into a detox or rehab facilities and your parents may be able to help you out with that too. You may have insurance for rehab, but your parents will have to help you out with that as well.

If you humble yourself, come clean and ask for help then most likely your parents will show you mercy. But if you get caught then you will be shown less mercy as well. Furthermore, one of the best things about coming clean is that you won’t have to live a double life any more. And if you've been lying to your parents, then you wont have to lie to them any more. You can be honest with them from here on out. And the more people who know about your drug problem then the greater your chances will be for success. Furthermore, they’re going to keep an eye on you as well making it that much more difficult for you to slip up and go back to your old ways.

And if your parents are already aware of the problem then the best thing to do is to promise them that you’re going to do your best to quit this drug and change. And if you’ve done them wrong in any way, shape or form, then the best thing to do is to apologize to them, ask for forgiveness and then ask them for help to quit this drug, once and for all. And then keep moving forward and make things right. Once you know how you’re going to quit, then it’s time to burn your bridges so that you won’t turn back.
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If you’re going to do this then do it right. Destroy and get rid of all your drug paraphernalia, once and for all. Get rid of your foil, get rid of your straws, and get rid of your empty baggies. And if you’re shooting up then break your needles, all of them, and get rid of them once and for all. Get rid of your spoons, get rid of your tie belt, and get rid of your cotton balls too. Destroy and get rid of everything, for good. And doing so will help you to keep moving forward without looking back.
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If you’re going to do this warm turkey then get whatever pain and/or anxiety medication that you can get and start from day 1- no heroin. And then begin to take the meds as needed, and not to get high and comfortable but just enough to get by and only for the first several days as well. For more information on quitting heroin warm turkey please read my article, “Quitting Heroin with Meds”.

If you’re going to do this with Suboxone, then get the subs and wait 24 hours or as long as you can before taking that first Suboxone tablet or film strip as taking Suboxone too soon can cause you to go into precipitated withdrawals. However, during that waiting period one could take frequent hot baths until it’s time to take that first sub. Once you get that first sub in you effectively, then that’s it – you’re safe. And then from there it’s just a matter of tapering, time and recovery. For more detailed information on how to quit heroin with Suboxone, please read my article “Quitting Heroin with Suboxone”.

If you're going to quit heroin with the help of Kratom then do it. Get the best quality kratom that you can find. Stop using heroin and then start taking the kratom every 4 hours, or as needed for the first few days. Then by day 4 you can begin to reduce your intake of kratom and be done with it by Day 5, or Day 6. For more detailed information on how to quit heroin with the help of kratom please read my article "How to Quit Heroin with Kratom".

If you’re going to do this in a detox or a rehab center then go. Find a detox or rehab center to go to and then go. Get there, get in there, go through the detox or rehab and then come out a new, strong young man or a new, strong young woman. But whatever you do, don’t stand still. Figure out how you’re going to quit this drug and then do it. Quit this drug and get your life back. For more detailed information on how to quit heroin in a drug rehab center please read my article "How to Quit Heroin in a Rehab Center". 
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​After you quit heroin, you’re still going to go through a battle. But at least for now, the worst is over. The heroin is out of your life. And now it’s just a matter of time and recovery and doing everything you can to avoid relapse as well. If you did this cold turkey then you’re going to go through an emotional state during the next several weeks otherwise known as PAWS, or Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome; or the after effects of coming off of heroin and opiates. 

There will be no more opiates in your brain to block pain or emotions so you’re going to feel everything, raw - the ups and the downs. But don’t worry, you can still do this. And you can get through the healing process quicker than most people do by doing your part in helping your brain and body to heal.

For example, you can help your brain and body to heal much faster by drinking lots and lots of water daily which is the most important element of them all. You can start eating small but healthy meals to feed your body with protein, energy and nutrition. You can also start taking vitamins and supplements such as L-Tyrosine, Niacin (a form of vitamin B), vitamin B6, vitamin C, Tribulus (for men), wide-spectrum mineral supplement containing Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper, Magnesium and Potassium.

You can start doing some form of exercise 4 to 5 days per week such as taking long fast walks, jogs or runs. You can even start lifting weights, (light weights) just to become toned and to get blood circulation flowing through your body and your brain.

All of these things combined can help your brain and body to heal much, much faster than if you were to continue without them. And you can use this opportunity to take on a new and healthy lifestyle as well. And a healthy lifestyle will help you to counter act drug addiction from here on out.

And if you quit heroin with Suboxone or any other type of medication then you’re still going to have to taper down as quickly and as safely as possible and begin to rebuild your health just as mentioned above. But don’t worry. You can do this. And you can become a new and better person sooner than you think.
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You’re going to be tempted every day to use heroin and go back to your old ways. That’s normal and everyone goes through this. But it’s up to you to fight those urges to use and remain on guard at all times. No one can do it for you. You have to do it yourself. But don’t worry, you can do this. And you can quit this drug, avoid relapse and stay clean for good.

If at any time, you become overwhelmed with a strong urge to use then you can begin to fight those thoughts immediately. Start telling yourself aloud, “no, no, no” and then begin to think about the rewards for staying clean. Think about the negative aspects of heroin addiction and the positive aspects of staying clean for good. Then take action and do something different right away.

Go out for a walk; go out for a jog; go to the park or go to the mall. You can even take a replacement supplement such as Valerian Root capsules for example which work well for relieving anxiety. You can also take a hot bath to help you to relax. But whatever you do, don’t stand still and don't allow yourself to think about heroin for more than a second. Start fighting those thoughts, take action and do something to deter yourself right away. And you can always reach out for help as well.

If you feel that you’re going to relapse then reach out for help. Call, text or email a friend and reach out for help. Go to a local NA meeting or dial your national drug addiction helpline. Do whatever you can to avoid relapse and stay clean for good.
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If you have personal problems or family problems and need someone to talk to, then don’t be afraid to reach out for help. If you’re suffering from loneliness, depression, low self-esteem, anxiety disorder or even boredom then don’t be afraid to reach out for help, guidance and instruction on what to do, how to handle your problems, and how to proceed from here.

Talk to your parents. Talk to a friend. Talk to a counselor. Or you can locate and attend an NA meeting in your area as well. And if NA meetings are simply not for you, then you can see a private drug counselor for one-on-one counseling sessions. (Contact your national drug addiction referral services and ask for a referral for a free to low cost drug addiction counselor in your area).
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The sky’s the limit and you can become whatever you want to be. Because if you can manage to quit heroin then you can accomplish anything in life.

​So you might want to start figuring out what you want to be, what you want to become and what you want to do with the rest of your life and then start heading in that direction. And if you’re not sure about what you want to do, then you can go to the library and start doing some research on all of the different types of careers that are available. And you can do more research for career choices online as well.

Start writing down all the things you enjoy and all the things that you can do in your life and take special note of those things that pull on your heart strings the most. And as the saying goes, “do what you love and the money will follow”.

You may have to work some odd jobs for now, but at least you’ll have a goal and know what to shoot for and you can start heading in that direction from here on out. Then start planning and start moving forward. Write down your goals on paper and then write down a step-by-step plan on how to achieve those goals and get started right away. And if school is not enough to keep you busy then consider getting a part time job as well. Work is an excellent way to keep yourself busy and productive and to keep you out of trouble. Furthermore, without heroin in the picture, you’ll be able to earn and start saving some money.

And I realize that some of you may have other responsibilities or live under different circumstances where going back to school right now may not be the best option for you, i.e. debts, children, expenses, living circumstances etc. And if that be the case then you may want to find yourself a full time job while trying to obtain your G.E.D in the evening time. Don’t get me wrong, it is possible for you to begin to live your life in such a manner to where things can begin to work out for you even without a high school diploma or a college degree. But you’re still young and you still have time to get the training and education needed to get a good, stable, high paying job. And who knows, maybe some day you can start your own business as well. 

School, training and education are all important and essential as well. But the most important things in the world are honesty and integrity - everything else is secondary.

Many times, drug use in teens leads to lying and stealing. And if you’ve stolen from your parents for example, then the right thing to do is to make it right as best as you can. And to make it right, we need to come clean, apologize, ask for forgiveness and then do everything we can to replace the item we stole, or its value thereof. Not only are we suppose to replace the item or pay them back for what the item is worth, but in order to make things right, we are supposed to give them double of what the item is worth.

For example, if you stole and sold your mothers' $100 necklace then you need to get that necklace back, replace it with a new one, or give your mother $100. And then on top of that, you need to give her an extra $100 more. We have to rectify the matter and then go the extra mile to make things right. This is called restitution and restitution must be paid in one form or another, before our lives can begin to change. And this may require getting a part time or a full time job or doing some work around the home. You can mow the lawn and mow the neighbors’ lawn as well. And even if your parents are not requiring you to do so, you must still do everything you can to make things right. This is the right thing to do.

And I realize that not everyone lies, cheats and steals, but for those who do come to such because of their heroin addiction – then you can change. You can really change. You don’t have to lie, cheat or steal any more. You can become a clean, decent, honest person and become the young man or the young woman that you were meant to be. You can start your life all over again and have a new and better life.

You can use this opportunity to change and quit all drugs once and for all. Because eventually, drugs ruin lives and tear families apart. But you don’t have to let that happen to you. You don’t have to let your life fall apart. And you don’t have to let your family be torn apart as well. You can begin to change now and you can save yourself and your family as well. Because the family is the most important thing in the world.
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So if you start doing the right thing now then you are in effect setting yourself up for a new and better life.

​Study, work hard and do your best to do the right thing in everything you do and things will begin to change. Contribute to the home and to the family in any way that you can, working around the house, cutting the lawn, cleaning, washing dishes, helping out with the bills etc... Become the type of kid that your parents can be proud of and pleased with every day. And in doing so, you will be rewarded.

Respect your parents in every way, shape and form. Be honest with your parents in everything you say and do leaving them no room for doubt at any time. Because being honest is the most important thing in the world. And there’s nothing more pleasing to a parent than to have an honest, drug-free son or an honest, drug-free daughter. And one of the best things that you can ever do in your life is to do everything you can to please your parents and make them happy in every which way possible.

And for those of you who don’t have a family, then don’t worry, your time will come. As long as you’re trying to do the right thing in your life, and trying to become a caring and loving person, then sooner or later, you will begin to find yourself surrounded by caring and loving people.

Choose your friends and companionship wisely. These days, teenagers are going down hill faster than ever before. But you don’t have to go down hill with them. You don’t have to follow the crowd nor follow the trends. You can be different. You can set the example and some of them will follow. Don’t hang around or have fellowship with people who use drugs, unless of course, they want to change. And if they want to change then help them. But if not, then separate yourself from them and keep moving forward.

Treat others the way you want others to treat you. Because how we treat others will have a great effect upon how others will treat us throughout our life. If we show love and kindness to others, then others will show love and kindness to us. How we act, how we behave, how we conduct ourselves, how we talk to each other, the type of language we use, how we treat people in every manner - everything we do will have an effect upon everyone who comes our way, in one form or another.

Furthermore, you never know what other people are going through and just by showing them love and kindness you can have a positive effect upon their lives. Therefore, be kind and loving to everyone who comes your way. And in doing so, you can touch their lives in a positive manner and have a much better life for yourself as well. And in time, life can begin to change. You can begin to change.

And if you can’t change where you’re at right now then you might want to consider relocation. If you live too close to drugs and are surrounded by drug using friends then you may want to talk to your parents or care takers about moving to another area, another city, another state, or even another country. If you have family members in another area then ask about moving in with them, or even nearby. And if you can’t move or simply don't want to then you may want to change your settings where you are right now. You can re-arrange your bedroom; paint your walls white or any other bright and favored color. You can change your linens and use bright and lively colors. Do whatever you can to change your settings, change your environment, and change your life.

All throughout this website, there is plenty of guidance and instruction on how to quit drugs, stay clean, and turn your life around. Others have done it, and you can do it too! But whatever you do, don’t stop trying and don’t slow down now. Keep pressing on and keep moving forward to a new and better life. Do this for your parents. Do this for your family. Do this for your friends. Do this for yourself. And if you have a kid, then do this for your kid.

You’re still young. You have your whole life ahead of you. And you can begin to change your life today. You can use this opportunity to quit heroin and turn your life around, starting right now. Good luck. And may the good force be with you.

Sincerely,
Jorge (George) Fernandez
Over 20 Years Clean from Heroin
About Jorge (George) Fernandez
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