Why Rehab Treatment for Heroin Addiction

Heroin is a narcotic, a group of drugs that offers pain relief. Providing users with a burst or rush of good feelings, heroin users usually feel high or relaxed as a result. This is then usually followed by nausea and drowsiness.

Heroin is incredibly addictive, and those addicted to it often inject themselves with the drug several times a day. Many users find it hard to stop using heroin, even after the first or second time they’ve injected. Those addicted to heroin will often have needle marks or tracks that become permanent scars on the skin.

Professional rehab treatment can be helpful for those who are looking to quit the drug for good.

Heroin Addiction

Heroin is made from morphine, a commonly used painkiller that can cause intense feelings of elation, which users end up wanting more and more of.

When heroin, a semi-synthetic opioid, is injected, smoked, or snorted, the opioid receptors in the brain and nervous system respond by triggering a substantial release of dopamine. Once the brain gets used to the level of euphoric rush the drug provides, users tend to experience intense cravings for their next hit.

Regular heroin users will often experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using the drug. The experience of withdrawal can be agonizing. Users may try to avoid symptoms of withdrawal and thus continue taking the drug. Withdrawal symptoms can include vomiting, chills, tremors, and even muscle and bone pain.

Contributors to Heroin Addiction

While no two users are the same, there are commonalities among users that are attributed to heroin addiction:

Genetic factors

One factor that may contribute to an addiction is addiction susceptibility. Genes can affect the number and type of receptors in the brain, and genetic variants around several genes are associated with opiate addiction.

Mental health disorders

The mental health of a user can contribute significantly to a heroin addiction, mainly because it’s common for individuals with mental health issues to self-medicate with drugs. Mental health disorders can cause brain changes that then increase the brain’s reward response to drugs like heroin.

Trauma and stress

The use of substances can temporarily help the user cope with feelings caused by previous trauma or stress. Traumatic stress can also cause the brain’s function and behavior to change, making it more likely to rely on the drug and become addicted as a result.

Repeated use of heroin

Repeated use of heroin is likely to lead to addiction. The more it’s used, the more physical changes occur in the structure and physiology of the brain. This creates long-term imbalances that aren’t easily reversed.

There have even been studies that have shown deterioration in the brain’s white matter due to heroin use. This can affect the user’s ability to regulate behavior, decision-making, and their response to stressful situations.

Opioid prescription

The likelihood of heroin addiction or opioid addiction in general is higher for those with an opioid prescription.

Social influences

The people we surround ourselves with or look up to often influence our behavior and decisions. Some users start using heroin because people they know have used it and / or they have given into pressure to use the drug.

Symptoms and Side Effects of Heroin Addiction

Heroin is an almost immediate reaction when it comes to symptoms and side effects. The initial euphoric feeling will be present, and then that blissful feeling will wear off after a few hours. Some of the most common symptoms and side effects include:

Anxiety
Depression
Chills, goosebumps, and cold flashes
Fatigue
Emotional numbness
Heightened reflexes
Intense cravings
Impaired memory
Seizures
Vomiting

These are some identified symptoms and side effects, but these do not form an exhaustive list of what users may feel or experience after taking the drug.

And the impact of the drug is not limited to short-term effects such as those listed. There are long-term effects, too. The physical structure and psychological parts of the brain can become permanently impaired, changing the heroin user into someone that others might not recognize.

Rehab Treatment for Heroin Addiction

Despite the challenges that come with heroin addiction, professional treatment is available.

Jackson House Recovery Centers approaches heroin addiction with a personalized approach. Identifying the addiction’s root cause is an important part of heroin addiction rehab. Our team provides individualized care in working to identify what is at the core of an individual’s addiction.

Treatment begins with a detoxification process for a slow weaning off of the drug. Trying to quit by going cold turkey can be dangerous. Healthcare professionals may administer synthetic opioids to support a successful detoxification process.

In addition to detoxification services, we offer addiction psychiatry, multiple therapy types, and recovery meetings. We also have an aftercare program to support individuals after they have completed their recovery treatment.

As part of our treatment philosophy, we believe recovery is easier when you’ve got a positive network of people around you, cheering you on.

Benefits of Residential Rehab Treatment

There are many benefits to residential rehab treatment for heroin addiction.

Residential rehab allows you a place removed from daily stresses and distractions so that you can focus on your recovery. Other benefits include a structure that can reinforce healthy habits, positive routines, and the development of emotional resilience. In a controlled and supportive environment, rehab treatment can be an effective way to help individuals overcome heroin addiction.

Residential Rehab Treatment for Heroin Addiction

San Diego’s Jackson House Recovery Centers offers individuals residential rehab treatment for heroin addiction. Our

Contact us to learn more about the rehab treatment options available. Let us offer professional care in support of your journey to improved wellness through heroin addiction recovery.

07 Jul 2025

Sobriety