Recovery can feel like a lonely process, but we’re here to find you the kind of support that makes you feel heard, valued, and part of a community in Liverpool. That’s the Scouse way!
To explore your options for heroin detox in Liverpool, from rehab to home detoxing, please give us a call on 0800 140 4690.
Before we get into the details of heroin detox in Liverpool, it’s worth exploring whether this is an essential step in heroin addiction recovery.
Let’s not beat around the bush. Heroin detox is essential for anyone who’s got a mild to severe heroin problem.
You may not necessarily realise the extent of it, but when you can’t stop using heroin, you’re physically and emotionally dependent on it. A detox is required to help you to let go of this damaging dependence.
Some people may be wondering “why can’t I just stop taking heroin on my own?”
The main answer is safety. Quitting heroin cold turkey is a dangerous choice, and you can’t predict the impact on your mind or body. It isn’t as high-risk as quitting alcohol cold turkey, but it’s still problematic, and could cause you to experience a dangerous heroin withdrawal.
Firstly, when you withdraw from a drug as powerful as heroin, there will always be health risks. Please don’t assume that withdrawing at heroin rehab will make for an extremely smooth detox journey. You may experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
The difference is that rehabs are ready to respond to situations with urgency. If you started experiencing dangerous withdrawal symptoms alone, these symptoms could quickly escalate and become a medical emergency, whereas at rehab, treatment can be given straight away.
Professional heroin detox is safer than quitting cold turkey because:
When you detox professionally, you’ve also got the option of getting psychological treatment. Most patients do this once their detox has finished, but some begin to work on the psychological impact of addiction earlier than this.
It’s proven that combining the two approaches (physical and psychological) is the most effective way to recover from heroin addiction, as it keeps the relapse risk much lower.
So, we know that professional detoxing is safer than cold turkey quitting, but is it more effective?
Absolutely. Professional detoxing is a comprehensive style of treatment, meaning the sole focus isn’t just the literal withdrawal from heroin. Patients have access to a range of support types, from mental health care to symptom monitoring, and this means they’re more likely to stay sober long-term.
Detoxing in a clinical environment also introduces the tapering method, which is when patients gradually reduce their heroin intake (the opposite of cold turkey). This approach works much better, as it’s less of a shock to the system, and is linked to fewer or less intense withdrawal symptoms.
There are three key stages of heroin withdrawal:
Early withdrawal is often considered the hardest phase of heroin detox. It’s the patient’s first experience of tapering off heroin, which means they begin to experience withdrawal symptoms, such as:
At peak withdrawal, symptoms become more powerful, and new symptoms can kick in. It’s a challenging phase as it requires patients to maintain their motivation to get sober, whilst they’re suffering from symptoms.
The end of the detox isn’t clearly defined, but it’s when symptoms start to fade, which is usually after several days to a couple of weeks.
Some patients will be fortunate enough to have no withdrawal symptoms by the end of their detox journey, whereas others will have persisting symptoms for further days or weeks.
Detoxing from heroin usually involves withdrawal symptoms. As the body gets used to its new way of functioning (not depending on heroin), patients may feel some physical and/or mental effects of withdrawal.
We can’t say how many of these symptoms you will experience, as it’s a unique journey for everyone. Normally, symptoms start to appear within a day of the last dose of heroin, and they can last for days or weeks.
Lots of people suffer with:
If you have any questions while you’re going through the detox phase, please speak to the medical professionals that are supervising you.
They’re highly experienced, and can put your mind at ease by explaining exactly how they’re managing your symptoms, and when you can expect to feel better.
For most people, this is after a couple of weeks. Withdrawal symptoms can fade completely by this time (though not always), and the peak of the detox is over.
Rehab4Addiction has contacts with inpatient and outpatient facilities all over Liverpool. We work with highly successful treatment providers that offer unique benefits and tailored treatments for heroin addiction.
Each patient requires a different kind of care, so don’t be surprised if we ask you some questions over the phone to understand more about your situation. We may ask about:
We ask these questions to give you the best possible chance of recovering somewhere that suits you, so please know that they aren’t intended to provoke shame. Our advisors are wholly non-judgemental, and many of them can relate to your experience, as they are in recovery.
Once we’ve chatted about these factors, we can start to get an idea of appropriate types of detox.
We could recommend:
These options aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, you could get a medication-assisted detox at an inpatient rehab in Liverpool, or via a home detox provider.
There are many different reasons people relapse after heroin detox. Addiction is a lifelong illness, and statistics tell us that relapse happens to all kinds of people.
It can happen because:
Don’t let this dishearten you, as plenty of people stay sober long-term.
It’s rare for this to be achieved through willpower alone, though. People who stay sober are often:
When we talk about addiction support, we’re often talking about supporting our loved ones as they admit their problem, prepare for detoxing, or start therapy.
As crucial as this is, it’s not where support should end. For many heroin users, the end of heroin detox in Liverpool is the time they feel the most vulnerable, and in need of support.
Statistically, it’s when people are most likely to fall back into heroin dependence or addiction.
One of the factors that reduces this post-detox relapse risk is recovery support. Let’s gather around our loved ones as they complete their detox, offering support such as:
It’s also a great idea to offer to attend a 12-step meeting with your loved one. Sometimes, all people need to take that next step is for someone to sit beside them.
If you’ve got a friend or family member with a heroin addiction, please know that your mental health is significant in all of this, too. You may not feel able to be fully present for your loved one if you’re also struggling, so please make sure you set boundaries if you need to.
What’s more, you’re not responsible for your loved one’s recovery. Whilst your love and care are extremely important, only your loved one can choose to stay in recovery.
Leaving rehab is a challenging stage for anyone, as it’s a significant change, and it can cause concerns surrounding long-term sobriety. People worry whether they’ll be able to stay sober without the structure of Liverpool rehab.
It’s important to hold onto hope. Transitioning back into home life will always be difficult, but there are steps you can take to make it easier for yourself.
One of those steps is changing your environment. So, why does your environment matter so much?
Let’s look at the example of chaos. If you’re going back into a chaotic environment, whether that’s an extremely untidy home or one that’s always full of unfamiliar people, it’s bound to be much harder to stay sober. Stress is a key trigger for heroin use, so you’d already be at a major disadvantage.
Another example is location. If someone lived on the same street as lots of clubs and bars, and their neighbours were people they used to do drugs with, their risk of relapse is going to be much higher.
We know you can’t always change your living situation before you leave rehab, but here are some questions to ask yourself ahead of time, in case there are some changes you can make to improve your environment:
If your situation is causing you problems, our top advice is to get out as soon as you can, but that’s not always feasible. Thankfully, there are temporary ways to help your sobriety, without making long-term decisions just yet.
Sober living is a great example. Studies have found improvements in drug use, arrests, psychiatric symptoms and employment for clients who spend time in sober living facilities (1).
This lifestyle involves staying in accommodation with people who are also in recovery, and living in this housing requires you to stay completely sober. Often, people attend self-help groups together, which introduces accountability, and creates a sense of mutual support in recovery.
We’re here 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week, to help you explore your heroin detox options in Liverpool.
Don’t worry, if you’re not quite ready, we won’t pressure you. Our free initial telephone call simply helps us to figure out your needs and introduce you to some options that your future self will thank you for.
Get in touch on 0800 140 4690 for a confidential phone call with us.
Below, we provide answers to common questions around this important topic:
Various medications are used, depending on the challenges the patient faces, and their individual circumstances (e.g., if they are a polysubstance drug user).
Methadone and buprenorphine are two medications that are often included in heroin detox plans, as they reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms and help with the transition to sobriety.
If you live outside of Liverpool, you can still get a professional heroin detox!
Rehab4Addiction can refer you to treatment centres in towns and cities all across the UK. Some of our clients even come to us for referrals to foreign treatment centres, and as always, we ensure they’re put in the best possible hands, with the right treatments for them.
Check out our locations page for more information!
The tapering method helps you to avoid major health issues, as does ongoing monitoring and medication.
Medical professionals will particularly keep an eye on your hydration and nutrition, ensuring you’re maintaining your energy levels to help with a successful withdrawal.
Beyond this, it’s the ongoing support that keeps you fit and healthy. It takes time to heal from addiction, and there may even be some long-term damage, so it’s crucial to keep prioritising your health for the rest of your life, not just during detox.
