We’re proud to operate a 24/7 helpline for anyone who has questions about getting professional help for their dependence or addiction.
Heroin detox is one of the many treatment types we help you access. If you’re ready to consider this option, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 0800 140 4690.
Getting to know the signs of heroin dependence and heroin addiction helps you to know how severe your problem is.
However, even if you believe your heroin use disorder is only mild, that’s still cause for a heroin detox in Bristol.
Staying mildly dependent on heroin risks unpleasant and dangerous symptoms, and can prevent you from living your life to the full. For many people, it affects everything from their health to their social life.
What’s more, your mild problem could quickly develop into a moderate or severe issue, which comes with more intense symptoms and more dangerous outcomes.
The mild stage of dependence is when it’s easiest to get sober (although it’s still a difficult journey), so if your problem hasn’t yet progressed beyond mild, now is the best possible time to withdraw from heroin in Bristol.
It’s mostly down to heroin withdrawal symptoms.
When you detox from heroin, it’s not long before you start to feel physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms, such as:
These aren’t guaranteed, but the vast majority of clients will experience several withdrawal symptoms for some days or weeks.
If severe symptoms are experienced, it can be life-threatening, which is why many clients choose to recover in a clinical environment, where emergencies can be quickly attended to.
Rehab is one of the most typical environments for heroin detox. It’s secure, structured and safe, making it a great place to withdraw from heroin without external pressures.
We understand that some people want to avoid heroin rehab at all costs. Our question would be, what’s causing you to avoid it?
In some scenarios, it’s sensible to avoid rehab. For example, rehab should be carefully considered if someone:
If any of these apply to you, we wouldn’t advise ruling out a rehab detox immediately. Speak to an addiction specialist, such as a Rehab4Addiction advisor, to find out whether any adjustments can be made to ensure you can recover safely at Bristol rehab.
For example, outpatient rehab is a version of rehab that allows clients to stay at their own home overnight, which would be beneficial for people who have a strong support system at home and would struggle to leave that.
Generally speaking, most people are fit for inpatient rehab. The reason this option is highly recommended is that it’s linked to improved recovery rates. If someone completes a full treatment programme at inpatient rehab, they’re more likely to stay sober permanently.
Going to inpatient heroin rehab for a detox alone (instead of a full treatment programme) is much less effective, as you wouldn’t be unpacking the root of your problem.
However, it still comes with a lower relapse risk than less structured options, such as quitting cold turkey (which is very dangerous), professional home detoxing in Bristol, or even getting an outpatient detox.
Once you’ve found the right provider, they’ll inform you of your next steps. Most likely, you’ll get started with an initial assessment, where you tell them about your medical history and addiction history.
After the assessment, staff will craft a personal treatment plan for you. They’ll adapt the detox according to your needs, without changing its essential structure.
For example, the standard method of tapering with 24/7 monitoring will most likely be used, but the following things could be adapted:
Then, it’s time to get started with the detox. You’ll be supported throughout, so don’t worry about having to deal with this alone. As well as receiving care for your physical health, you’ll also get emotional support as you cope with this early stage of recovery.
We’ve listed some of the common withdrawal symptoms that occur in heroin detox, from headaches to cravings. But why does the body respond in this way?
Heroin significantly impacts our reward system, mood regulation, and experience of pain. The “high” someone feels when they take heroin can act as a painkiller, mood booster, and gives such a hit of dopamine that the user feels deeply rewarded.
All of these effects make someone want to keep using heroin, even if they logically understand the risks that come with the drug.
Eventually, even if they decide they want to stop taking heroin, they’re going to experience withdrawal symptoms when they reduce their dose or refrain from using the drug. This can keep people trapped in addiction for a long time.
So, when someone gets a full detox, withdrawal symptoms are at their peak. It’s the body trying to function in a completely new way, without the painkiller, mood booster and dopamine-giver of heroin.
Over time, it gets easier for the body to function. It may only take 1-2 weeks for withdrawal symptoms to stop. However, those weeks can be incredibly draining, which is why it’s crucial to remember it’s temporary, and lean on the professional support you get at heroin rehab in Bristol.
As detox is a physical withdrawal, its emotional impact isn’t spoken about too much. Let’s remember that the emotional toll of addiction and recovery doesn’t just start when therapy begins. It’s present from the detox phase.
When we say heroin acts as a painkiller, that’s true for emotional pain, too. It can numb emotions and make people feel much less stressed, anxious, and depressed. This is all temporary.
Emotions can fluctuate quite dramatically during detox, as heroin no longer has an input. It’s common for clients to feel anxious, irritable and distressed, and to experience mood swings.
Please know that this is a normal experience. On top of the brain’s emotional adaptation, you’re also going through a process that’s notoriously stressful, so shifts in mood are to be expected.
To prepare yourself for this, consider:
The best thing you can do to manage withdrawal symptoms safely is get a professional heroin detox. It’s safe because:
If you opt for a home detox for heroin, risks are higher, as you’d be withdrawing on your own, with only online support to help you.
In this case, there are still ways to manage withdrawal symptoms, lowering your risks substantially:
Most treatment facilities in the UK will strongly advise you to abstain from heroin completely, for the rest of your life. This is what’s known as full abstinence.
The reason it’s such a common approach is that it’s proven to be more successful than harm reduction (which involves easing the risks associated with heroin use, but still using it).
When you fully abstain from heroin, it’s easier to stay sober long-term. Even small amounts of heroin can quickly shift your mindset back to when you were dependent, and tempt you to keep using.
Ultimately, it’s your choice. However, we’ve seen the consequences of heroin dependence, and we firmly believe that abstinence is the best path for anyone who’s dealt with problematic heroin use, dependence, or addiction.
It’s tricky to stay motivated to stay sober, but that’s why we recommend full treatment programmes instead of a singular detox, as they prepare you for a life of sobriety. You will find different methods of resisting temptation, from therapy techniques to a solid education in how addiction affects the brain.
Studies show that people are motivated to stay abstinent by:
Thanks to these motivations, one third of all dependent heroin users become abstinent over a 20-year period (1).
However, that leaves two-thirds who stay attached to heroin, risking the loss of relationships, health issues, unemployment, legal problems, overdose, and death.
We don’t say this to scare you. We understand that quitting heroin is one of the most difficult things you’ll do. However, we can’t ignore the risks, so holding onto the above motivations is just one way to keep going when temptation strikes.
Heroin detox in Bristol can look very different depending on where you go, what your addiction severity is, and how much research you do into your options.
We’re here to make the process smoother for you. We’re very familiar with the different options in Bristol, and we use our expertise to find the most suitable treatment provider for you.
Interested? Call our 24/7 helpline on 0800 140 4690.
Below, we provide answers to common questions around this important topic:
After heroin detox in Bristol, you can pursue different paths depending on what’s best for you.
Many clients choose to continue with heroin addiction treatment, as it lowers their relapse risk, and helps them to heal from all sorts of challenges stemming from addiction (such as trauma, isolation and shame).
This could look like completing a full treatment programme as an inpatient or outpatient, moving to a sober living home, accessing local drug and alcohol services, or getting a sober coach (amongst other things).
Other people simply go home after their detox. As tempting as this may sound, it’s not recommended, as the detox only helps with physical withdrawal, rather than psychological withdrawal.
Don’t worry! If you don’t live in Bristol, we can still find a treatment provider for you. Our locations are based all over the UK, so you have plenty of choice.
Even if you live rurally, please don’t assume you’ll have to travel far for treatment. There are many different types of providers in both urban and rural areas, so it’s always worth getting in touch with Rehab4Addiction regardless.
Some people don’t get withdrawal symptoms when detoxing from heroin, but the vast majority will experience one or more symptoms.
A higher number of symptoms is more likely if you’ve got a severe heroin addiction, additional health issues, or you attempt to quit cold turkey (which can be highly dangerous).
