The Cabin Chiang Mai

Addiction Recovery Retreat Thailand

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Heroin Addiction

What is Heroin?

Heroin has long been recognized as one of the most highly addictive, dangerous and often deadly illegal drugs. Abuse of heroin is the highest among the opiate class of drugs. Many users who try heroin are hooked instantly. After experiencing profound and intense moments of euphoria, a user succumbs to the drug, rendered powerless against the desire to obtain those feelings again. Addicts lose control of their lives as getting the “next fix” becomes the sole objective in their life.

How is Heroin Made?

Heroin is processed from morphine, a natural substance extracted from certain types of poppy plants. It is sold in the form of a brownish or white powder or as the black sticky substance known on the streets as “black tar heroin.” Most heroin sold on the streets is cut or diluted with additives such as quinine, strychnine, powdered milk, starch, or sugar.

How is it Heroin Used?

Depending on the drug addicts preference and level of dependency, it can be injected, smoked, or sniffed/snorted. Injecting heroin is considered the most extreme form of heroin abuse and can be done either intravenously, also known as "mainlining" in which the user injects the heroin directly into a vein or intramuscularly, in which the user injects heroin into a muscle. Intravenous injection is known to provide the greatest and most rapid intense euphoria while intramuscular produces a slower onset of euphoria. Typically when heroin is snorted/sniffed or smoked, a heroin addict will feel the euphoric peak sensation after 10 to 15 minutes however the intensity or "rush" will not be as great as when injecting.

Heroin Street Names

  • Big H
  • Black tar
  • Brown sugar
  • China White
  • Dope
  • H
  • Horse
  • Junk
  • Mud
  • Smack
  • Skag

Risks Associated with Heroin Abuse

  • Contracting HIV, Hepatitis, and other blood-borne diseases
  • Contracting bacterial or fungal infections
  • Poisoning from contaminants added to cut/dilute heroin
  • Decreased kidney function
  • Death
  • Constipation
  • Addiction/Heroin dependency resulting in extreme withdrawals when ceasing use

Short Term Effects of Heroin Abuse

  • "Rush" or rapid feelings of euphoria
  • Dry mouth, nausea and vomiting
  • Clouded mental functioning
  • Suppression of pain
  • Drowsiness
  • Depressed breathing
  • Spontaneous abortion

Depending on how the level of dependency, how they consume and how quickly the drug enters the heroin addicts brain and binds to the natural opioid receptors will determine the intensity or “rush” of the user feels. The "rush" is typically accompanied by dry mouth, a heavy feeling in the extremities, nausea, vomiting, warm flushing of the skin and severe itching. Heroin addicts typically feel drowsy for several hours. As the heroin takes effect on the users central nervous system, mental function becomes clouded. Heroin use and dependency causes cardiac and respiratory functions to slow often leading to death.

Long Term Effects of Heroin Abuse

  • Addiction/Heroin dependency resulting in extreme withdrawals when ceasing use
  • Contracting HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, and other blood-borne diseases
  • Collapsed veins
  • Contracting bacterial or fungal infections
  • Kidney failure
  • Death
  • Infection of the heart lining and valves
  • Rheumatologic problems such as arthritis
  • Poisoning from contaminants added to cut/dilute heroin

Becoming a Heroin Addict

Addiction or chemical dependency is one of the most damaging long-term effects of heroin abuse. Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disease, characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, and by neurochemical and molecular changes in the brain. Heroin addiction produces profound degrees of physical dependence and tolerance. These combined, are powerful motivating factors for compulsive use and abuse.

Heroin dependency is a dangerous condition that means the individual is unable to stop using this powerful opiate. Understanding heroin dependency means being able to help find the answers to addiction that have remained elusive for so long.

Timeline: Due to the highly addictive nature of the drug, heroin abusers gradually begin to spend more and more time and energy obtaining and using the drug. Once someone becomes an addict, their primary focus in life becomes seeking the next high. Overtime, heroin abuse and dependency begins to alter the brain.

Physical Dependence: As the heroin abuser begins to take higher doses of the drug, heroin dependency and tolerance increases. The users body begins to adapt to the presence of heroin and withdrawal symptoms become severe when the body is deprived of the drug. Use creates an addiction that leads to withdrawal symptoms within a few hours after the last dose of heroin taken begins to wear off.

Symptoms of Heroin Dependency

  • Dry mouth
  • Disorientation, poor mental functioning
  • Signs of infection
  • Shallow breathing
  • Drowsiness
  • Constricted pupils
  • Nausea
  • Unkempt appearance/hygiene issues
  • Runny nose
  • Lying/deception
  • Change in social circle
  • Little or no motivation
  • Slurred speech
  • Loss of interest in usual, healthy activities
  • Broken commitments
  • Hostility towards others

Symptoms of Heroin Abuse Withdrawal

  • Restlessness
  • Muscle and bone pain
  • Insomnia
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Cold sweats with goose bumps ("cold turkey")
  • Leg spasms
  • Depression
  • Sweating
  • Fever

Heroin Rehab

Rehab involves seeking professional help for chemical dependency on psychoactive substances. Heroin rehab in particular requires special addiction treatment due to the serious psychological and physical problems it creates for the heroin abuser. Getting clean under the supervision of drug counselling specialists is critical component of the heroin dependency rehabilitation process.

At The Cabin Chiang Mai, we understand the pain and suffering involved with getting clean. We help our patients overcome their heroin addiction and take back their lives.

Heroin Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms

  • Sweating
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Yawning
  • Uncontrollable crying
  • Insomnia
  • Cold sweats/chills
  • Severe muscle and bone aches
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Cramps
  • Fever

At The Cabin Chiang Mai, our team of addiction counselling specialists work with patients on a daily basis to work through to the root cause of their heroin addiction, offer guidance on dealing with the destruction caused by their abuse and create a framework for a new, drug free life.

Heroin Addiction Treatment Programmes

At The Cabin Chiang Mai, we offer highly effective, affordable heroin addiction treatment programmes. Our programmes range from 14 to 90 days and depending on the severity of your addiction, we will recommend a heroin addiction treatment programme tailored to your individual needs. Our approach to healing heroin addiction is to come from a place of compassion, understanding and strength. We are a 12 step treatment centre and combine Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques and Fitness Therapy to restore your mind, body and spirit to a natural and healthy state. Our innovative programme gives our patients a foundation in heroin addiction recovery and prepares them for long-term sobriety.

Getting clean takes courage, guidance and structure. At The Cabin Chiang Mai, our staff is with you every step of the way.

The Cabin Chiang Mai’s Heroin Treatment Services

  • 12 Step Treatment Programme
  • Physical health evaluation
  • Individual and group counselling
  • Heroin addiction education
  • Health and wellness education
  • Fitness Therapy
  • Art Therapy
  • Massage Therapy
  • Meditation
  • Excursions
  • Heroin relapse prevention planning
  • Managing sober time coaching
  • Aftercare counselling
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