It is so difficult to watch a loved one struggle with heroin addiction or to battle it yourself. The professionals at Briarwood Detox Center understand this struggle and some have experienced it themselves. Our mission is to provide quality care in a clean and welcoming environment where you can safely rid your body and mind of toxins while also preparing for drug rehabilitation and your next steps to sobriety.

About Heroin

Heroin is an opioid drug made from morphine, which is derived from the seed pod of poppy plants. It is typically made in the form of white or brown powder but can also be a sticky, black substance known as black tar heroin.

To use heroin, people inject, smoke, sniff, or snort it. Injecting it straight into the veins is the quickest way to get high, but it’s also the most dangerous because the risk of overdose and infection is very high. Once inside the body, the drug travels to the brain very fast and a person can quickly become addicted even after just two or three uses.

Immediately after using heroin, a person will feel a rush of euphoria but they may also experience other effects of heroin such as nausea, vomiting, itching, slowed heart rate, slowed breathing, and moments in and out of consciousness.

Long-term abuse of heroin is extremely dangerous and can result in many terrible medical conditions, such as:

• Collapsed veins
• Liver and kidney disease
• Infection of the heart lining and valves
• Insomnia
• Sexual dysfunction (for men)
• Infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis
• Mental disorders

Heroin overdoses are also very common and can lead to permanent brain damage, coma, or death.

Do I Need Detox?

If you are addicted to heroin and have developed a dependency, you will most likely need a medical detox program to safely rid your body of the drug and manage any uncomfortable symptoms you experience during withdrawal. Our staff can help you determine if you need detox with a personal clinical assessment.

How Long Does Heroin Stay in Your System?

The rate at which heroin is metabolized in the body will affect how long it is detectable via drug test. Although several factors impact how long heroin will stay in your system, such as weight, body mass, the testing method, and your metabolism, the primary factor in how long heroin is detectable via drug test is how much of the drug was taken.

How Long Does Heroin Stay in Your System?
Urine	Detectable 2-5 hours after use or 2-3 days for heavy users
Blood	Detectable for several hours after use
Saliva	Detectable up to 1-24 hours after use
Hair	Detectable up to 3 months after use

Source: https://addictionresource.com/drugs/heroin/how-long-heroin-stays-in-your-body/

Why Choose A Medically Assisted Detox?

Heroin detox will not be the same for everyone and there are many factors that come into play when determining how to best approach detox. These include:

• How long a person used heroin
• How it was abused
• The dosage that was taken during each usage
• The user’s medical health and mental health history
• Any co-existing mental or medical disorders

Since it’s impossible to predict exactly how you will react when heroin usage is abruptly stopped, the safest course of action is to undergo detox in a clinically monitored environment.

Briarwood Detox Center is fully staffed with a medical team of addiction specialists that have the knowledge and experience to create a personalized heroin detox program for you. Based on your usage history and other factors, your detox plan will be designed to provide the best care possible without risking your safety or severe discomfort.

What Are Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms?

Heroin withdrawal symptoms can be very severe and the detox process can be dangerous without medical supervision. Although withdrawal will be different for everyone, you may experience the following physical symptoms:

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Teary eyes
• Runny nose
• Yawning 
• Diarrhea
• Dilated pupils
• Goosebumps
• Insomnia
• Nausea and vomiting
• Muscle spasms
• Pain in the bones, muscles, and abdomen
• Sweating
• Shakiness
• Strong heroin cravings

The duration of heroin withdrawal varies and withdrawal symptoms typically peak within 1-3 days, but this time frame will vary depending on your situation. Severe physical symptoms can be eased with medication administered by our clinical staff to ensure heroin detox is as safe and comfortable as possible.

How Does Briarwood Detox Manage Withdrawal Symptoms?

Heroin withdrawal is safest when completed in a medically assisted detox facility like Briarwood. Our staff is trained to recognize and treat the symptoms of heroin withdrawal to make sure you are as comfortable as possible throughout the withdrawal process. We use medications to treat any uncomfortable physical symptoms and in certain cases, we may also use tapering medications to gradually bring you down into a sober state of being. Heroin withdrawal will not be the same for everyone and it can be dangerous and unpredictable. We always recommend that you detox in a medically assisted facility where you’ll be closely monitored and supervised.

What Happens During Heroin Detox?

Comprehensive Assessment

Your resident advocate and detox counselor will welcome you to Briarwood with a tour of the facility on your first day. After that, we’ll get you situated and signed in with some paperwork. We realize that sometimes medical paperwork can be overwhelming, but your onboarding documents will all be written in a clear way that is easy to read and understand. And of course, if you have any questions at all, we’re here to answer them.

Next, a nurse will perform a medical evaluation to assess your current conditions. Your detox protocol will begin based on the nurse’s findings and our medical staff will perform a more in-depth comprehensive assessment within your first 24 hours at Briarwood. This need-finding assessment will give us all the important information we need to design an individualized detox program for you.

Supervised Detox

Once your detox has begun, our medical and clinical staff will monitor you consistently to ensure that you are progressing through withdrawal and detox safely and comfortably. Our close level of monitoring allows us to continually adjust and tailor your program to meet your changing needs. Some people say they don’t even feel like they’re going through detox because we take such great care of them.

Individual and Group Counseling

The primary focus of your individual and group counseling sessions during detox is to address your emotional and physical response to detox. The experience will be different for everyone, but your detox counselor will help you through the process as you peel off your old, harmful way of living and put on a more healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Although it’s all about addressing the here and now, this therapeutic component of detox is also a great way to help you prepare your mind and body for the transition into long-term addiction treatment.

How Long Does It Take to Detox From Heroin?

It’s difficult to say how long a detox program will be without having more information about you. Most of our detox programs take 5-7 days, but this will depend on the person’s individual circumstances. Once we perform a physical evaluation, we can let you know how long you can expect to be in detox.It

What is the Recommended Treatment Plan After Heroin Detox?

If you are recovering from heroin addiction, relapse is a real threat and intense cravings to use heroin can sometimes last weeks or months after detox. During detox treatment, we will help you manage your cravings and provide a positive and supportive atmosphere to increase your motivation to stay sober.

After detox, it’s important that you continue with a treatment program that will help you sustain lasting sobriety. Residential treatment is often the natural next step. During rehab, you will learn more about heroin addiction, how to address the issues in your past, and gain important skills that will help you continue to live a stable and sober life.

After residential rehab, an intensive outpatient program and sober living program will allow you to re-establish a more independent living situation while you receive ongoing personalized treatment and recovery support services. Online IOP is also an option if you cannot attend face-to-face IOP sessions. This long-term support will make it easier to return to work, school, and gradually assume other daily responsibilities as you continue to prioritize your recovery and develop the skills you learned in rehab.

Where to Detox From Heroin?

Our medical heroin detox facilities in Austin and Houston are safe and supportive places to begin your addiction recovery. The experienced and friendly staff at Briarwood will ensure that your heroin detox experience is as comfortable as possible and that you are treated with the utmost care and respect. From the moment you enter either of our facilities, you’ll receive nothing less than the highest quality medical and therapeutic care available.

What is the Recommended Treatment Plan After Heroin Detox?

During heroin detox, our treatment staff will treat uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and help you manage cravings with one-on-one counseling, support, and a positive sober environment.

After detox, relapse is always a risk, so it’s very important to continue your addiction treatment. 

Many people do this by enrolling in a rehab or sober living program after detox. 

• Heroin inpatient rehab: During inpatient heroin rehab, you will learn essential skills and make positive behavioral changes that will empower you to stay sober.
• Heroin outpatient rehab: Outpatient rehab offers flexible structured treatment in an outpatient setting that you’ll attend several times a week. Whether you enroll in in-person or online rehab, you’ll receive comprehensive, individualized treatment for heroin addiction. We offer outpatient programs in Austin, Houston and Dallas.
• Sober living: After rehab, a sober living program can provide ongoing long-term support and peer recovery services. This will help you gradually assimilate back into society as a sober person and establish a stable support system.

Getting professional treatment after detox is an important part of maintaining your sobriety and our treatment team will provide professional recommendations for ongoing care after you complete detox.

Heroin addiction will always be a part of your history, but it doesn’t have to define who you are and how you live now. If you’re ready to get your life back, the compassionate staff at Briarwood can help. Call today to get started.

Learn more about what comes after detox.