Treating heroin addiction will involve many steps to make the recovery process effective. For most people, there will be a need for a medical detox to alleviate the symptoms of heroin withdrawal before going to a drug rehab center.

DETOX: Heroin addiction can sometimes include other drugs so it is very important to make sure that you disclose all of the drugs you are currently taking and have taken in the past 6 months. This will help the detox center better diagnose and prescribe the best medications to make your detox go smoothly and as pain-free as possible. Do not try to detox on your own. Heroin withdrawal can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the length of heroin use, and the amount of heroin being abused on a daily basis.

Inpatient rehabs: Detox should be followed by an extensive stay, at a heroin inpatient treatment program. Most of the people who have fought heroin addiction have one thing in common: They recovered from their addiction at an inpatient heroin rehab center. Some people can find sobriety in an outpatient treatment program but due to the temptations and availability to go find heroin, this type of program is less effective in treating the addiction as a whole.  The typical stay for someone recovering from heroin addiction can vary from center to center and usually consists of 30-90-day programs.

Private Inpatient drug rehabs offer the best results for long-lasting sobriety from Heroin addiction. The best treatment facilities for heroin will offer different types of treatment models and detox options for the person who is suffering from the adverse effects of heroin.

Court-ordered treatment: There are many Drug Rehab Facilities that accept criminal justice clients and people with open court cases as an alternative to jail. County and state courts will often suggest treatment in place of jail time for some first-time offender cases.

State-funded heroin treatment programs: Maine has set aside some resources for the treatment of heroin addiction. Please call our specialists to find out if you qualify for these state-funded rehab programs that are offered in Maine.

Sometimes a medical intervention can be used to help wean a person off of heroin at a slower rate, alleviating the withdrawal symptoms normally associated with heroin detox. 

Buprenorphine: Being an opioid, Buprenorphine accesses the same receptors in the brain that heroin interacts with. This allows for a seemingly painless transition while managing cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Methadone: Over the last few decades this drug has become a bit controversial, due to the fact that the body can build up a tolerance quickly if taken too often, and is under investigation for being potentially addictive. Methadone is considerably stronger than Buprenorphine but works in the same manner, offering alleviated symptoms from withdrawal.

Naltrexone: Designed to block opioid receptors, blocking the effects that would normally take place once Heroin or an opioid is entered into the system. Also used in treating alcoholism.

Suboxone: Specifically designed to work in combination with Buprenorphine and Naltrexone. This combination of drugs not only manages the addiction but also alleviates the temptation to use heroin due to the opioid-blocking drug Naltrexone.

*To locate a doctor who can prescribe medications for a painless withdrawal, please give us a call and we will help you find the closest addiction doctor to you in Maine.

Addiction No More has been helping people recover from heroin addiction in Maine since 2002 and will continue to be on the front lines fighting for the rights of addicts to receive treatment for their addictions to drugs or alcohol. Give us a call and we can discuss the various treatment options that are available in and outside of Maine.  Give us a call, toll-free 24 hours a day 7 days a week. We have set up a hotline for those who need to find a good solution for their addiction to heroin. Sometimes, it may be right for the individual to seek help outside of their area for anonymity, and safety issues that sometimes follow a Heroin dependency in Maine.