Detoxing from heroin doesn’t have to be a traumatising experience. By opting for a professional heroin detox in London, and avoiding quitting cold turkey, you’re embracing a much safer form of detox.
Where does Rehab4Addiction come in?
We arrange referrals to brilliant heroin treatment centres in London and beyond. If that’s something you’re ready to consider, or research on behalf of a loved one, get in touch with us on 0800 140 4690.
Heroin is a powerful central nervous system depressant that slows brain activity and masks pain, making it incredibly addictive.
It’s an opioid, alongside drugs such as codeine, methadone, morphine, and fentanyl. Of these, heroin is considered one of the most addictive.
Although the dangers of heroin are widely known, it still gets misused in London for various reasons, such as:
These factors contribute to heroin dependence, which is when someone is physically reliant on heroin. It can happen regardless (even with one-off use), but it’s much more likely to happen if any of the above apply.
Let’s take the first factor as an example: “people turn to heroin in difficult times”. If any heroin use can lead to dependence, then emotionally-driven heroin use carries an even higher risk.
Users begin to associate heroin with its calming effects, and potentially even before their brain catches up, their body gets hooked on the drug.
Before long, many people get addicted to heroin. Their brain has adapted to their heroin use, and they keep consuming it even if it’s interfering with their life in severe ways.
In London, 4.2 per 1000 of the general population misuse opiates (1). Whilst this figure isn’t specific to heroin, we do know that heroin is one of the most commonly misused opiates, so it’s likely to make up a significant part of this statistic.
In reality, figures are higher, but heroin use is underreported. Research from King’s College London found that 13,000 heroin and opioid deaths were not included in official statistics between 2011-2022, which meant deaths were 50% higher than figures stated (2).
The heroin problem in London goes back many years. A study published in 1994 revealed 43 of 128 Londoners with heroin addiction had died within the 22-year follow-up period. Deaths were primarily linked to drugs, with 18 deaths caused by overdose (3).
Over the years, heroin addiction figures have fluctuated. However, we know that there has been a recent increase in the proportion of older heroin users in treatment with poor health, often experiencing multiple physical and mental health conditions (4).
This combination of vulnerabilities makes ongoing addiction particularly harmful for this group.
You won’t be thrown into the detox phase without warning. Once you’ve chosen a provider in London, you’ll discuss your addiction together, before receiving a personalised detox plan (or a full treatment plan if you’ve enrolled onto a comprehensive programme).
Withdrawal can be physically and emotionally draining, so your personalised plan will prove very useful in terms of easing symptoms and providing you with sufficient support.
Detoxing works quite quickly, so you may feel withdrawal symptoms in just a few hours. This could be:
There’s no fixed timeline for detoxing, so some people will only experience these symptoms for a few days or a couple of weeks, and others will experience what’s known as protracted withdrawal (when the symptoms don’t ease after the acute withdrawal period).
In terms of risks, heroin detoxing is less dangerous than detoxing from alcohol, so it’s rare for people to experience life-threatening symptoms. Yet, it’s still extremely valuable for doctors to be on-hand in case of emergency.
The right environment for your detox depends on:
As you can probably imagine, detoxing in a residential rehab facility is going to feel very different to detoxing at home, or even in an outpatient treatment centre.
If your addiction is moderate to severe, inpatient rehab is usually recommended, as you can receive a high level of support, from round-the-clock care to integrated psychological treatments.
It’s a time to let go of your usual concerns and fully focus on recovering from heroin addiction. Lots of people appreciate this separation from their work, chores, and life admin.
It can even be a relief to take some time away from family, as addiction brings a lot of tension to family homes, which sobriety can begin to heal.
If someone has an unsupportive family, all the more reason to get some space and bond with people who value recovery.
There are times that people with a severe addiction are advised against rehab, and this is because they require long-term care, whereas rehab is a temporary service that doesn’t reflect real-life sobriety.
However, it can still be very effective at helping people get sober from heroin, so it’s always something to look into while researching other options.
Outpatient detox in London is an appealing option for many Londoners. Although it doesn’t lower the relapse risk as much as inpatient rehab, it’s an effective treatment, especially if the client opts for a full treatment programme (with therapy and aftercare included).
There’s still somewhat of a community feel at outpatient rehab, as you’ll meet people who are also battling addiction and are passionate about staying sober.
However, because the structure is more flexible than residential heroin rehab, you’ve got the benefit of keeping in touch with family and friends whilst you detox.
For the most contact with family and friends, private home detox in London is the way to go. You can withdraw from heroin in your own house, without having to make the journey into rehab every day.
It’s vital that you choose a reputable home detox provider that’s equipped to guide you through the detox and prescribe medication, otherwise there’s a higher risk of severe withdrawal symptoms.
Another important point is that home detoxing is recommended for people with mild heroin dependence, who are confident that they can withdraw safely at home with the support of their loved ones.
If you’re unsure about any of this, please get in touch with Rehab 4 Addiction to talk through your concerns. Home detoxing is only safe for a particular type of client.
Opioid substitution therapy involves offering a different type of opioid (such as methadone or buprenorphine) to people with heroin addiction, to reduce withdrawal symptoms and make detoxing safer.
It’s a type of treatment that must be considered carefully, as it does require further detoxing to get sober from the substitute drug, unless the client is getting maintenance therapy.
This is when the substitute drug is prescribed on a long-term basis, as it lowers the health risk compared to misusing heroin.
People with heroin dependence might be suitable candidates for substitution therapy if:
Addiction is a complicated disease, and the more high-quality treatments you can access, the better.
If you restrict yourself to just a detox in London, you’re not dealing with the emotional and mental nature of addiction, which will make it much harder to stay sober when new and old challenges arise.
So, which treatments and coping mechanisms help you to stay sober long-term?
As well as detoxing, there’s:
These can all be classed as relapse prevention techniques. If you get aftercare at rehab, many of these will feature on your relapse prevention plan, as they’re sustainable ways to keep going when you feel tempted to misuse heroin.
We often discuss how strong cravings can be during the detox, but what’s overlooked is the resurgence of cravings post-detox.
If it’s happened to you, know that it’s normal, and you can overcome it.
Addiction is a lifelong disease, so unfortunately cravings are likely to occur throughout your recovery journey.
Working with a therapist helps significantly with this, as they can help you know when you’re likely to get cravings, what to expect when you get cravings, and how to avoid relapse when it happens.
Generally speaking, cravings return post-detox because:
We’re here for you.
Recovering from heroin addiction is a rollercoaster. We understand that taking the first step can feel impossible, but we’re hopeful that you can successfully detox from heroin with the help of addiction experts.
Please give us a call on 0800 140 4690 if you’re battling dependence or addiction and you’d like to consider a life of sobriety.
Below, we provide answers to common questions around this important topic:
It’s free to call Rehab4Addiction for a consultation. Our initial services are free because we want to support as many of you as possible, and be generous with our addiction expertise.
Opiates are a type of opioid that come from the opium poppy, making them natural (though incredibly dangerous to misuse).
Not all opioids are opiates, as some are synthetic or semi-synthetic, such as methadone, tramadol, and fentanyl.
Yes, routine is one of the most effective elements of heroin rehab in London. While adjustments can be made, such as adapting treatments to suit a client’s mental health condition, the general rule is that all patients will follow a fixed structure at rehab.
Starting each day with an awareness of what’s to come means patients can save plenty of energy for recovery.
Don’t underestimate how many decisions you usually make each day, from what to have for breakfast to when to clean your home.
When you’re at rehab, you get to forget about this for a while, and your only responsibility is to work on yourself. Try to see the routine as a privilege, rather than a restriction.
Individuals who are considered “dual diagnosis” have a diagnosed mental health disorder as well as a substance use disorder (such as opioid use disorder or alcoholism).
It’s a situation rehabs are very familiar with, so if you fit this category, it’s nothing to worry about. Make sure to mention it when you first contact the rehab facility, as they will tell you what they offer for dual diagnosis clients.
We’d recommend asking around so you can find out which rehabs are the most supportive in terms of dual diagnosis.
At Rehab4Addiction, we’ve been doing this for years! Give us a call if you’d like to find a supportive treatment centre in London but you don’t want the hassle of research.
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7804091/
[4] https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2017/07/26/tackling-drug-misuse-and-harm-in-london/
