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The Carter Treatment Center The Carter Treatment Center

Heroin Addiction Treatment in Suwanee & Cumming, GA

DRUG REHAB TREATMENT IN GEORGIA

Heroin one of the most abused illegal drugs in the United States. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 745,000 people in the U.S. over the age of 12 report having used heroin at least once in the past year. Both heroin and painkillers are made from opiates, which is why heroin is often the next phase for people who have become addicted to painkillers. Heroin is extremely potent and the effects are felt quickly, making it very easy to develop an addiction. It is possible to develop an addiction to heroin after only a few uses, making it one of the more deadly forms of addiction.

Recovering from heroin addiction is possible, but only with commitment and resolve. Relapse rates for recovering heroin addicts are high, which is why treatment at The Carter Treatment Center was designed to help patients resist the temptations of relapse. We utilize alternative therapies that teach patients new skills that combat the physical, mental, and emotional effects of addiction. Our support doesn’t end once your rehab has ended, we’re here for you the rest of your life.

Our heroin addiction rehab centers can be found in Cumming and Suwanee. Call (678) 737-4430 today.

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The Link Between Painkillers & Heroin

Many prescription painkillers are made from opioids or opiates, which are key heroin ingredients. It is not unusual for a person someone to try heroin after abusing painkillers. Likewise, anyone who uses heroin should avoid opioid painkillers as they can trigger old cravings.

When prescribed a painkiller, patients must only take them exactly as prescribed. Do not take them as soon as the initial effects wear off. This greatly increases your risk of forming a dependence. Click here to learn more about the dangers of prescription drug addiction.

If you or a loved one suffers from heroin addiction, call (678) 737-4430 today. Our supportive team is here to help.

What Heroin Does

Knowing how heroin affects your mind and body can be helpful when working through recovery. Heroin is extracted from morphine, and once it enters the brain it turns into morphine once again, where it binds to the body’s opioid receptors. This creates a sense of euphoria, reducing anxiety and minimizing the effects of pain. It is this pleasurable sensation that contributes to the addiction. The brain is highly susceptible to “good feeling” and will start to seek them out whenever possible.

While the drug has a pleasurable effect on the brain, it does terrible damage to the body. The effects of euphoria only last for a few minutes, followed by a 10- to 20-minute “rush” period, which is the true “high” feeling the drug creates. Once the drug wears off, the body begins to feel the effects.

Heroin has many detrimental effects on the body, including:

  • Nausea
  • An itchy feeling on the skin
  • Confusion and difficulty thinking
  • Sudden feeling of “sleepiness”, more akin to falling unconscious than actual sleep
  • Irregular heart rate
  • Difficulty breathing

These are only the short-term effects of heroin, and even these can be life-threatening. Long-term use can create a tolerance, which leads to people using the drug in greater quantities. This will exasperate the symptoms and increase the risk of an overdose.

Signs of Heroin Addiction

  • Dry mouth
  • Flushed skin
  • Itching
  • Nausea/ vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Confusion
  • Memory loss
  • Hard time making decisions

Long-Term Effects of Heroin

It does not take long to develop a tolerance to heroin, so people who have been abusing it for a long time usually take it in large quantities. Heroin dependency grows at a similar rate to the tolerance, and people will experience withdrawal symptoms not long after their last high fades. It is of the utmost importance that a person admit themselves into a certified detoxification center when they decide to stop using. Cutting off cold-turkey is dangerous, increase the risk of relapse, and could be life threatening.

Some long-term effects of heroin abuse include:

  • Kidney disease
  • Heart and vascular disease
  • Liver disease
  • Skin infections
  • Pulmonary disorders
  • Pneumonia
  • Seizures
  • Impaired decision making
  • Difficulty controlling moods and dealing with stress

No matter how long you have been using heroin, you can improve your life and health by making the decision to stop.

We serve the communities of Johns Creek, Gainesville, Alpharetta, Canton, Milton, and Dawsonville, Duluth, Buford, Lawrenceville, Peachtree Corners, and Gwinnett County. Contact us today to start your journey through heroin addiction recovery.

Recovering From Heroin 
& the Importance of Rehab

Once the body develops a dependency on heroin, cutting yourself off from the drug is hard not only mentally, but physically. Withdrawal can cause anxiety, agitation, diarrhea, stomach cramps, muscle spasms and a variety of other symptoms. If you or a loved one experience any of these after taking heroin, it means an addiction has formed and it is imperative that you receive help.

At The Carter Treatment Center, we support patients with counseling, group therapy, outdoor activities, and life coaching skills that help them learn new ways of coping with stress in order to overcome addiction.

We have dedicated outpatient treatment centers so that our patients can continue recovery after their inpatient rehab program. Through outpatient rehab, you will be able to discuss the successes and challenges you’ve encountered during your recovery with rehab counselors and others in recovery. These services give patients an opportunity to vent, gain new insight on how to deal with temptations, and build a sense of community.

Quitting heroin is a life-changing commitment that takes resolve, but moments of weakness are expected, and we’ll be there for you when you need us.

Heroin ADDICTION FAQS

  • How do you get off heroin safely?

    Heroin withdrawal can be uncomfortable and even dangerous. It is not recommended that you suddenly stop taking heroin altogether, as this can have potentially life-threatening effects. Rather, the safest method of getting off heroin is medical detox. With medical detox, you receive 24-hour care and support from a team of professionals. During this time, you are required to live full-time in a facility where your withdrawal symptoms will be carefully monitored. If appropriate, approved medications can be used to ease some of the symptoms of withdrawal. In most cases, heroin withdrawal begins within 6 to 12 hours of the last use, with symptoms peaking around 2 to 3 days. Overall, heroin withdrawal typically lasts about a week or about 5 to 10 days. The best way to set yourself up for success is to undergo supervised medical detox, followed by a heroin addiction treatment program. Studies have shown that people who seek professional help for heroin addiction have significantly higher rates of remaining sober after 3 years. 

  • How long does it take to get addicted to heroin?

    Addiction is a complex disease that affects every individual person differently. Some people may use heroin many times before developing an increased tolerance, dependency, and, ultimately, addiction to the drug. For others, just a couple of uses—or even a single time—is enough to lead to addiction. Heroin is a powerful, highly addictive drug. It is also unpredictable. On average, it takes several weeks for an individual to become physically dependent on opioids, including heroin. But a variety of factors, such as genetics and environment, can speed up the process of opioid dependence. The good news is that, no matter how long you have been using heroin or how severe your addiction is, recovery is possible. With professional heroin addiction treatment, many people are able to overcome addiction, avoid relapse, and maintain long-term sobriety. 

  • Why is heroin so addictive?

    Heroin is notorious for being one of the most powerfully addictive substances. The reason it is so addictive is at least partly due to how rapidly it alters the brain’s chemical processes and pathways. Once ingested, heroin binds to brain receptors known as mu-opioid receptors (MORs). Normally, MORs naturally bind with various neurotransmitters to help regulate hormones, pain, and feelings of general wellbeing. When heroin binds to MORs, it causes the brain to release large amounts of the neurotransmitter dopamine, causing an instantaneous rush of euphoria and reinforcing the behavior. This can be extremely addictive, as an individual is sober one second and high the next. This intense rush can dull less-extreme releases of feel-good neurotransmitters, meaning an individual who uses heroin will be numb to other, smaller amounts of pleasure. Over time, the brain loses its ability to produce dopamine and other feel-good chemicals on its own, meaning heroin users will experience an inability to feel happiness or contentedness without taking drugs. To make matter worse, heroin withdrawal is extremely uncomfortable, both physically and mentally. These factors combined work together to make heroin highly addictive and incredibly difficult to stop using without professional treatment. 

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Located in Both Cumming and Suwanee

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