Is Heroin Detox at Home a Safe Alternative to Expensive Treatment?

At-home remedies and detox treatments — including those for heroin addiction — have become popular in recent times due to factors such as convenience and cost. Heroin addicts and their loved ones often choose at-home detox treatments based on cost alone, despite the fact these treatments fail to address addiction as a whole and can put your life at risk. Though detoxing from heroin at detox centers can be costly for some, understand that this option is much safer than undergoing detox at home, and can successfully help you overcome addiction for good.

If you’re suffering from heroin addiction and don’t know where to get help, call our 24/7 confidential helpline at 800-996-6135(Who Answers?) . One of our caring drug abuse counselors will provide you with information about local heroin detox centers devoted to helping you get clean.

Understanding Heroin Withdrawal

When quitting heroin, your body goes into withdrawal as it tries to repair itself after having been dependent on the drug. Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe, based on factors including age, length of heroin use, and amount of heroin used. For instance, those who have used heroin heavily for many years may experience the most severe of withdrawal symptoms.

Common heroin withdrawal symptoms include:

Anxiety and depression are common heroin withdrawal symptoms.

• Fever
• Heroin cravings
• Chills
• Sweating
• Muscle aches
• Abdominal cramps
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Anxiety
• Depression

Dangers of Using At-Home Heroin Detox

Some heroin withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening, depending on their severity. Vomiting and diarrhea increase the risk for nutritional deficiency and dehydration, while anxiety and depression increase the risk for suicidal thoughts, or suicide. Additionally, at-home heroin detox treatments increase the risk for relapse, since these treatments only partially address all the symptoms of heroin withdrawal.

Choosing heroin detox at a treatment center allows you to avoid some or all of these physical symptoms, and connects you with addiction counselors who can treat mental symptoms of depression and anxiety. Going to heroin rehab allows you to overcome addiction as a whole so you can return to living a healthier, more fulfilling life without the need for drugs.

Finding Free or Low-Cost Heroin Detox Treatment

Many heroin addicts avoid going to heroin detox centers under the impression treatment is too expensive and costly. However, heroin detox at a detox center can be made more affordable through health insurance, sliding scales, and private or state funding. Some detox centers even offer free or low-cost treatment to qualifying individuals such as pregnant women, and those who use heroin intravenously.

Many heroin detox centers offer a sliding scale payment method, which is when treatment costs are based on an individual’s income, or on an amount they can reasonably afford. The sliding scale payment method makes addiction treatment affordable for nearly anyone intent on overcoming heroin addiction. Grants, scholarships, and loans are also available at some heroin detox centers to help you pay for detox treatment.

If you’re suffering from heroin addiction and need to get clean, don’t let financing problems prevent you from seeking heroin detox treatment. Call our 24/7 confidential helpline at 800-996-6135(Who Answers?) to speak with a drug abuse counselor about available financing options and payment plans at nearby heroin detox centers.

Sources

1. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2016). Opiate and Opioid Withdrawal.
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Heroin.