DrugFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction

Revised January 2016

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Heroin Addiction, History, & Treatment

Methadone Addiction & Treatment

Understanding Drug Abuse & Addiction

Understanding The Disease of Addiction PDF

Commorbodity: Addiction & Other Mental Illnesses

Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction

NOTE: This fact sheet discusses research findings on effective treatment approaches for drug abuse and addiction. If you’re seeking treatment, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov for information on hotlines, counseling services, or treatment options in your state. 

What is drug addiction?

Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive, or uncontrollable, drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences and changes in the brain, which can be long lasting. These changes in the brain can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who use drugs. Drug addiction is also a relapsing disease. Relapse is the return to drug use after an attempt to stop.

Silhouette of a man standing in a dark tunnel.©iStock/Evgeny Sergeev

The path to drug addiction begins with the voluntary act of taking drugs. But over time, a person's ability to choose not to do so becomes compromised. Seeking and taking the drug becomes compulsive. This is mostly due to the effects of long-term drug exposure on brain function. Addiction affects parts of the brain involved in reward and motivation, learning and memory, and control over behavior.

Addiction is a disease that affects both the brain and behavior.

Can drug addiction be treated?

Yes, but it’s not simple. Because addiction is a chronic disease, people can’t simply stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Most patients need long-term or repeated care to stop using completely and recover their lives.

Addiction treatment must help the person do the following:

  • stop using drugs

  • stay drug-free

  • be productive in the family, at work, and in society 

Principles of Effective Treatment

Based on scientific research since the mid-1970s, the following key principles should form the basis of any effective treatment program:

  • Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior.

  • No single treatment is right for everyone.

  • People need to have quick access to treatment.

  • Effective treatment addresses all of the patient’s needs, not just his or her drug use.

  • Staying in treatment long enough is critical.

  • Counseling and other behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of treatment.

  • Medications are often an important part of treatment, especially when combined with behavioral therapies.

  • Treatment plans must be reviewed often and modified to fit the patient’s changing needs.

  • Treatment should address other possible mental disorders.

  • Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of treatment.

  • Treatment doesn't need to be voluntary to be effective.

  • Drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously.

  • Treatment programs should test patients for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases as well as teach them about steps they can take to reduce their risk of these illnesses.

How is drug addiction treated?

Successful treatment has several steps:

  • detoxification (the process by which the body rids itself of a drug)

  • behavioral counseling

  • medication (for opioid, tobacco, or alcohol addiction)

  • evaluation and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety

  • long-term follow-up to prevent relapse

A range of care with a tailored treatment program and follow-up options can be crucial to success. Treatment should include both medical and mental health services as needed. Follow-up care may include community- or family-based recovery support systems.

How are medications used in drug addiction treatment?

Medications can be used to manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent relapse, and treat co-occurring conditions.

Withdrawal. Medications help suppress withdrawal symptoms during detoxification. Detoxification is not in itself "treatment," but only the first step in the process. Patients who do not receive any further treatment after detoxification usually resume their drug use. One study of treatment facilities found that medications were used in almost 80 percent of detoxifications (SAMHSA, 2014).

Relapse prevention. Patients can use medications to help re-establish normal brain function and decrease cravings. Medications are available for treatment of opioid (heroin, prescription pain relievers), tobacco (nicotine), and alcohol addiction. Scientists are developing other medications to treat stimulant (cocaine, methamphetamine) and cannabis (marijuana) addiction. People who use more than one drug, which is very common, need treatment for all of the substances they use.

  • Opioids: Methadone (Dolophine®, Methadose®), buprenorphine (Suboxone®, Subutex®), and naltrexone (Vivitrol®) are used to treat opioid addiction. Acting on the same targets in the brain as heroin and morphine, methadone and buprenorphine suppress withdrawal symptoms and relieve cravings. Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids at their receptor sites in the brain and should be used only in patients who have already been detoxified. All medications help patients reduce drug seeking and related criminal behavior and help them become more open to behavioral treatments.

  • Tobacco: Nicotine replacement therapies have several forms, including the patch, spray, gum, and lozenges. These products are available over the counter. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two prescription medications for nicotine addiction: bupropion (Zyban®) and varenicline (Chantix®). They work differently in the brain, but both help prevent relapse in people trying to quit. The medications are more effective when combined with behavioral treatments, such as group and individual therapy as well as telephone quitlines.

  • Alcohol: Three medications have been FDA-approved for treating alcohol addiction and a fourth, topiramate, has shown promise in clinical trials (large-scale studies with people). The three approved medications are as follows:Co-occuring conditions: Other medications are available to treat possible mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, that may be contributing to the person’s addiction.

    • Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors that are involved in the rewarding effects of drinking and in the craving for alcohol. It reduces relapse to heavy drinking and is highly effective in some patients. Genetic differences may affect how well the drug works in certain patients.

    • Acamprosate (Campral®) may reduce symptoms of long-lasting withdrawal, such as insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, and dysphoria (generally feeling unwell or unhappy). It may be more effective in patients with severe addiction.

    • Disulfiram (Antabuse®) interferes with the breakdown of alcohol. Acetaldehyde builds up in the body, leading to unpleasant reactions that include flushing (warmth and redness in the face), nausea, and irregular heartbeat if the patient drinks alcohol. Compliance (taking the drug as prescribed) can be a problem, but it may help patients who are highly motivated to quit drinking.

Graphic of components of comprehensive drug addiction treatment with an out and inner circle. The outer circle lists vocational services, mental health services, medical services, educational services, HIV/AIDS services, legal services, and family services. The inner circle lists assessment, evidence-based treatment, substance use monitoring, clinical and case management, recovery support programs, and continuing care. The caption is the best treatment programs provide a combination of therapies and other s

How are behavioral therapies used to treat drug addiction?

Behavioral therapies help patients:

  • modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug use

  • increase healthy life skills

  • persist with other forms of treatment, such as medication

Patients can receive treatment in many different settings with various approaches.

Outpatient behavioral treatment includes a wide variety of programs for patients who visit a behavioral health counselor on a regular schedule. Most of the programs involve individual or group drug counseling, or both. These programs typically offer forms of behavioral therapy such as:

  • cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps patients recognize, avoid, and cope with the situations in which they are most likely to use drugs

  • multidimensional family therapy—developed for adolescents with drug abuse problems as well as their families—which addresses a range of influences on their drug abuse patterns and is designed to improve overall family functioning

  • motivational interviewing, which makes the most of people's readiness to change their behavior and enter treatment

  • motivational incentives (contingency management), which uses positive reinforcement to encourage abstinence from drugs

Treatment is sometimes intensive at first, where patients attend multiple outpatient sessions each week. After completing intensive treatment, patients transition to regular outpatient treatment, which meets less often and for fewer hours per week to help sustain their recovery.

Inpatient or residential treatment  can also be very effective, especially for those with more severe problems (including co-occurring disorders). Licensed residential treatment facilities offer 24-hour structured and intensive care, including safe housing and medical attention. Residential treatment facilities may use a variety of therapeutic approaches, and they are generally aimed at helping the patient live a drug-free, crime-free lifestyle after treatment. Examples of residential treatment settings include:

  • Therapeutic communities, which are highly structured programs in which patients remain at a residence, typically for 6 to 12 months. The entire community, including treatment staff and those in recovery, act as key agents of change, influencing the patient’s attitudes, understanding, and behaviors associated with drug use. Read more about therapeutic communities in the Therapeutic Communities Research Report at https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/therapeutic-communities.

  • Shorter-term residential treatment, which typically focuses on detoxification as well as providing initial intensive counseling and preparation for treatment in a community-based setting.

  • Recovery housing, which provides supervised, short-term housing for patients, often following other types of inpatient or residential treatment. Recovery housing can help people make the transition to an independent life—for example, helping them learn how to manage finances or seek employment, as well as connecting them to support services in the community.

Is treatment different for criminal justice populations?

Scientific research since the mid-1970s shows that drug abuse treatment can help many drug-using offenders change their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors towards drug abuse; avoid relapse; and successfully remove themselves from a life of substance abuse and crime. Many of the principles of treating drug addiction are similar for people within the criminal justice system as for those in the general population. However, many offenders don’t have access to the types of services they need. Treatment that is of poor quality or is not well suited to the needs of offenders may not be effective at reducing drug use and criminal behavior.

In addition to the general principles of treatment, some considerations specific to offenders include the following:

  • Treatment should include development of specific cognitive skills to help the offender adjust attitudes and beliefs that lead to drug abuse and crime, such as feeling entitled to have things one’s own way or not understanding the consequences of one’s behavior. This includes skills related to thinking, understanding, learning, and remembering.

  • Treatment planning should include tailored services within the correctional facility as well as transition to community-based treatment after release.

  • Ongoing coordination between treatment providers and courts or parole and probation officers is important in addressing the complex needs of offenders re-entering society.

Challenges of Re-entry

Drug abuse changes the function of the brain, and many things can "trigger" drug cravings within the brain. It’s critical for those in treatment, especially those treated at an inpatient facility or prison, to learn how to recognize, avoid, and cope with triggers they are likely to be exposed to after treatment.

How many people get treatment for drug addiction?

According to SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 22.5 million people (8.5 percent of the U.S. population) aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit* drug or alcohol use problem in 2014. Only 4.2 million (18.5 percent of those who needed treatment) received any substance use treatment in the same year. Of these, about 2.6 million people received treatment at specialty treatment programs (CBHSQ, 2015).

*The term "illicit" refers to the use of illegal drugs, including marijuana according to federal law, and misuse of prescription medications.

Points to Remember

  • Drug addiction can be treated, but it’s not simple. Addiction treatment must help the person do the following:

    • stop using drugs

    • stay drug-free

    • be productive in the family, at work, and in society

  • Successful treatment has several steps:Medications can be used to manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent relapse, and treat co-occurring conditions.

    • detoxification

    • behavioral counseling

    • medication (for opioid, tobacco, or alcohol addiction)

    • evaluation and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety

    • long-term follow-up to prevent relapse

  • Behavioral therapies help patients:People within the criminal justice system may need additional treatment services to treat drug use disorders effectively. However, many offenders don’t have access to the types of services they need.

    • modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug use

    • increase healthy life skills

    • persist with other forms of treatment, such as medication

Learn More

For more information about drug addiction treatment, visit:
www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/acknowledgments

For information about drug addiction treatment in the criminal justice system, visit:
www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-abuse-treatment-criminal-justice-populations/principles

For step-by-step guides for people who think they or a loved one may need treatment, visit:
www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/treatment

References

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBSHQ). 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; 2015.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS): 2013. Data on Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; 2014. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-489. BHSIS Series S-73.

This publication is available for your use and may be reproduced in its entirety without permission from NIDA. Citation of the source is appreciated, using the following language: Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

This page was last updated January 2016

Source: NIDA, NIH

Heroin & Pain Pill Addiction


BUPRENORPHINE (Buprenex®; Butrans™; Subutex®, Suboxone)

What it does: Buprenorphine was approved by the FDA October 9, 2002 as a new treatment for heroin and other opioid addictions. It can cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms when stopped and is the first narcotic drug approved for addictions that can be prescribed by physicians in their offices.

It has major advantages compared to methadone or naltrexone. Buprenorphine is more effective at reducing drug cravings than naltrexone. While methadone is typically prescribed daily, buprenorphine is only needed every other day and there is a lower risk of overdose occurrence compared to methadone.

Two formulations were approved. The first, Subutex, has only buprenorphine and is used in the first few days a patient starts treatment. The second, Suboxone, contains buprenorphine and naloxone. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids and is likely to cause intense withdrawal if misused intravenously. It’s used for people on maintenance drug therapy.

How it works: Opioids attach to receptors in the brain. Buprenorphine works by stimulating the brain opioid receptors but only partially satisfying them by not being a perfect fit. Thus Buprenorphine helps to ease withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings by activating the opiate receptors but not in an intense enough way to produce the heightened feelings of euphoria that heroin would produce. If a user attempts to take another opiate such as heroin while taking buprenorphine, there will be no effect.

Side effects: Headaches, flu-like symptoms, dizziness, constipation, upset stomach, sleep problems.
For a more complete list of side effects visit this NIH page.

Availability: This medication can be obtained by a prescription from any physician who has taken the required 8-hour training. Physicians who are already certified as addiction specialists are exempt from the training requirements.

Research: A clinical trial compared counseling and short-term detoxification with suboxone (2 weeks) with counseling and extended suboxone treatment (12 weeks) in 154 patients aged 15 to 21. The extended suboxone treatment led to better control of symptoms of opioid withdrawal, a reduction in drug use on long-term follow up, and better treatment retention. The medication was well tolerated and people remained alert and could function well during the day. Woody GE, et al. Extended vs. short-term buprenorphine-naloxone for treatment of opioid-addicted youth. JAMA. 2008; 300(17):2003-2011.

NIDA's Clinical Trials Network Prescription Opioid Addiction Treatment Study (POATS)
In this first large scale study on treatment of prescription opioid addiction, more than 600 outpatients addicted to prescription opioids received Suboxone in combination with brief standard medical management. Half of the participants also received varying intensities of addiction counseling as provided by trained substance abuse or mental health professionals. Results showed that approximately 49 percent of participants reduced prescription painkiller abuse during extended (at least 12-week) Suboxone treatment. This success rate dropped to 8.6 percent once Suboxone was discontinued. Participants who received intensive addiction counseling did not show better outcomes when compared to those who did not receive this additional counseling. "The study suggests that patients addicted to prescription opioid painkillers can be effectively treated in primary care settings using Suboxone," said NIDA Director Nora D. Volkow, M.D. November, 2011.

This helpful fact sheet answers many questions about taking buprenorphine and was written by a nurse who's been researching buprenorophine at Yale since 1997: What is Buprenorphine Treatment Like?

For more information: www.kap.samhsa.gov/products/brochures/pdfs/buprenorphine_facts.pdf

SAMHSA Buprenorphine Physician & Treatment Program Locator
A nationwide registry of physicians who have taken this training is available at buprenorphine.samhsa.gov/bwns_locator/index.html. You can choose Physician List Search at the bottom of the page to search by city, county, zip code or state or just click on the state you want on the map.

Suboxone Assisted Treatment (SuboxoneAssistedTreatment.org)
A comprehensive site on buprenorphine containing clinic locators, state and federal regulations, patient success stories, patient forums,and a staff on call coast to coast 24/7 to help anyone in need. Other information on opiates and addiction are covered as well.

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NALTREXONE (ReVia®; Vivitrol®)

What it does: Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist medication that binds to opioid receptors but does not activate them. It may be most useful for highly motivated recently detoxified patients who want total abstinence as well as individuals at the experimenting stage of opioid use or those who are in early stages of their addiction.

How it works: Naltrexone blocks the part of your brain that feels pleasure when taking narcotics. Because it blocks the opioid receptors it prevents the body from responding to opiates It can be taken by mouth once daily or every other day, has minimal side effects and is not addicting. A favorable treatment outcome requires some form of psychotherapy, careful monitoring of medication compliance and effective behavioral interventions.

Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, headache, dizziness.
For a more complete list of side effects visit this NIH page.

Cautions: www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM206669.pdf

Availability: Physician prescription

Research: A recent study on an injectiable long-acting form of naltrexone (Vivitrol) kept more addicts off opioids than placebo did. The six-month study of 250 patients found that 90% of those who received a monthly injection of naltrexone stayed off opioids, compared with 35% of those in the placebo group. (Krupitsky, 2011).

For more information: www.kap.samhsa.gov/products/brochures/pdfs/naltrexone_facts.pdf

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METHADONE (Dolophine®; Methadone Diskets®; Methadone Intensol™; Methadose®)

What it does: Methadone is a long acting medicine that reduces opiate craving and blocks the effect of opiates. It requires frequent visits to a network of clinics that can be found at www.atforum.com.

How it works: Methadone blocks the receptors in the brain that are affected by opiates such as heroin, enabling users to gradually detoxify from opiates without experiencing painful withdrawal symptoms. Methadone occupies the receptors in the brain that opiates use, blocking the high feeling that opiates provide and making the user feel more stable. This reduces the drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms that often lead to relapse. Because Methadone’s effects last between 24 and 36 hours, most patients can be maintained on one daily dose.

Side effects: Drowsiness, weakness, nausea, constipation, headache, loss of appetite.
For a more complete list of side effects visit this NIH page.

Availability: Physician prescription

Research: See the National Institute of Drug Abuse Research Summary on Methadone available here.

For more information: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682134.html

Medical Assisted Treatment (medicalassistedtreatment.org)
This national organization was founded by advocates for the medical treatment of addiction. It supports the idea of addiction as a medical illness rather than a social ill and acts as a mediator for patients to assure that quality treatment is available. Someone is available 24 hours a day for emergency calls at (770) 527-9119, (770) 428-8769 or office (770) 428-0871. Their web site provides a great deal of information on opiate drug treatment, patients' rights, methadone maintenance, legal issues, news, addiction science, an online forum, and over 30 online videos on various aspects of addiction. Click on Opiate Drug Treatment in the left hand menu to find information on methadone, buprenorphine, ibogaine and naltrexone.

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DESIPRAMINE (Norpramin)

What it does: Desipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant that may be useful in facilitating opioid abstinence in opioid maintained patients.

How it works: Long-term use of heroin suppresses the production of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine which help regulate mood and are involved in the development of depression. Thus heroin users are likely to experience post-withdrawal depression which can be treated with an antidepressant such as desipramine that counteracts this suppression.

Side effects: Nausea, dry mouth, constipation, fatigue, nightmares, sweating.
For a more complete list of side effects visit this NIH page.

Availability: Physician prescription

Research: Nunes EV, Levin FR. Treatment of depression in patients with alcohol or other drug dependence: a meta-analysis. JAMA. 2004 Apr 21;291(15):1887-96
Antidepressant medication has a modest beneficial effect for patients with combined depressive- and substance-use disorders including opiate dependence. It is not a stand-alone treatment, and therapy directly targeting the addiction is also indicated.

For more information: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682387.html

 

How to Find the Best Heroin Recovery Center

Written by Deirdre O'Donnell, M.S. Edited by Dan Wagener, M.A.

 

Table of Contents

Patient in recovery

  1. Heroin Recovery Options

  2. How Much Does Treatment Cost?

  3. Does Addiction Treatment Work?

  4. Find a Heroin Rehab Center Today

Choosing a Heroin Addiction Treatment Program

When looking for a rehab center for your heroin addiction, you should:

Heroin Recovery Options

There are two basic forms of heroin abuse treatment; outpatient and inpatient.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment is when you visit a clinic or other facility to receive treatment. These treatments may include:

In many cases, the best treatment includes components of both medication and behavioral approaches. Methadone maintenance may also be recommended, which is the supervised injection of a heroin substitute.1

If you have a more severe and long-standing heroin addiction, you may benefit from more intensive outpatient programs. You will receive a higher level of care by participating in more frequent treatment sessions.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient treatment (also known as rehabilitation or rehab, or residential care) allows you to remain in the facility for a specific length of time while you receive drug-based treatment, psychotherapy, behavioral therapy or a combination of these.2,3 Many inpatient heroin recovery programs also incorporate Suboxone-assisted detox.3 You may be required to stay for the amount of time determined by your treatment plan.

Inpatient rehabilitation facilities may be standard, luxury or executive. The facility and treatment type for each person depends on several factors, such as their history of heroin abuse and any prior treatment.

Treatment for Teens

Is Your Teen Suffering From Heroin Addiction?

Call 1-888-319-2606 today and get them the help they need.

Adolescents suffering from substance abuse require special consideration. In fact, opioids (both in injectable and oral forms) are the second most common drug of abuse among adolescent or young adults.3

Factors such as the abuse of other substances (e.g., marijuana) and psychosocial problems may influence the increased risk of opioid abuse among this group.

Many behavioral therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy, have been shown to help teens struggling with addiction. These programs generally target the teen's family relationships and communication skills, and address co-occurring mental or behavioral health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, as well as polysubstance abuse.

What Kind of Detox Does It Offer?

Detox is not a form of treatment. It is the first step in a recovery process.

Detoxification procedures (most often known as "detox") are processes in which you are treated for the symptoms of heroin withdrawal at the beginning of rehabilitation.3 This may last several hours or several days.

Detox is not a form of treatment for heroin addiction. It is the first step in a recovery process, which is then followed up with other forms of treatment such as psychiatric and/or behavioral therapy.6

While heroin detox may be very uncomfortable, it rarely presents any real health dangers. That said, a structured detox program that uses medication can help ease the unpleasant side effects. Detox is often accompanied by the administration of opioid analogs and/or antagonists (e.g., buprenorphine/naloxone or Suboxone treatment).3 These help with the effects of heroin withdrawal (e.g., sweating, pains, nausea and discomfort).

Nature and Duration of Detox

The nature and duration of heroin detox depends on the facility in which heroin addiction is treated.

Medications Used

Other medications that can help manage symptoms of heroin withdrawal include:

Clonidine and lofexidine are alpha-adrenergic agonists and are used in detox. Their effects in the first 30 days of treatment are similar to those of opioid analogs or antagonists.10

Comparing Detox Medications

Some studies have shown that users between 15 and 21 years are more likely to drop out of buprenorphine-assisted programs.

However, they show an improved response to clonidine and methadone.

Few studies directly compare medications that assist detox and maintenance, and the results from these studies remain mixed.

For instance, while one study indicated that methadone treatment may be associated with improved adherence compared to buprenorphine or naltrexone, other studies have suggested that methadone treatment has serious limitations.

In particular, a large proportion of individuals attending methadone clinics continue to use heroin or other drugs, such as cocaine or marijuana.

Assessment for Medical and Mental Health Conditions?

 

The process of assessing for heroin addiction in addition to a co-occurring mental illness or health issue is known as dual diagnosis. Many heroin users struggle with dual diagnosis, but an increasing number of treatment centers offer this kind of treatment. It's something to keep in mind if you think you may be dealing with a mental illness -such as depression or anxiety- or a health problem in addition to your heroin addiction.

Heroin abuse may be associated with a range of health issues and conditions. Hepatitis C and B are prevalent among users of drugs such as heroin.7 This is because heroin is taken

intravenously, increasing the risk of blood-borne disease contraction among those who use dirty or previously used needles.7HIV is also prevalent among injectable substance abusers.8

It's important to give a full disclosure of your drug history at the start of a program. Withdrawing from alcohol and/or benzodiazepines at the same time as heroin potentially constitutes an emergency situation and will necessitate an even more tightly monitored, medically supervised withdrawal period.

What Kind of Treatment Does It Offer for Heroin Abuse?

Non-drug therapies for heroin addiction focus on identifying and changing the behaviors that led to or maintain the use of substances. Whether used alone or combined with medication management, they can be very beneficial to individuals suffering from heroin abuse and dependence. These options include:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Contingency management)

Matrix Model-based therapy

Art therapy

How Qualified Are the Staff and the Recovery Center?

Find out all you can about the staff, their qualifications and any relevant credentials they should have. Make sure that the therapists on staff have completed the appropriate postgraduate education, such as a master's, PhD, or MD, and have experience treating heroin addiction. In addition, check the staff-to-patient ratio. This may affect how much time and other resources staff allocate to each individual.

Does the Treatment Program Offer Support After You Leave?

Post-treatment support, also known as aftercare, is another factor to consider when choosing a treatment program.

Relapse, or a return to substance seeking and abuse following treatment, is common among heroin users and may be addressed with aftercare plans directed at avoiding relapse.

The treatment program can offer interventions or services to you to help you avoid relapse.

12-Step Programs

12-Step programs, such as Narcotics Anonymous, are considered supportive therapy to be used in addition to alternative treatment. These programs are delivered in a group format and are typically run by a member from the community, as opposed to a certified addiction counselor. They provide you with support as you learn skills to live without heroin.

Sober-Living Facilities or Training

Sober-living facilities or training are a way to bridge the gap between intensive treatment programs, including inpatient and residential facilities, and returning home to the environment you were in before treatment.

Transition to Outpatient

Transition to outpatient treatment, which may include a period of participating in more frequent treatment sessions through an intensive outpatient program before transitioning to traditional outpatient treatment. The treatment sessions can be once a week, every other week, once a month or even once every few months.

Relapse may also be associated with the failure of medication-assisted maintenance treatment. Naltrexone is associated with these ineffective results.10 This may be due to different effects on the body's response to heroin compared to other medications used in maintenance programs.10 Relapse following naltrexone treatment also has a high risk of overdose because of reduced tolerance.10

How Much Does Treatment Cost?

The cost of treatment for heroin addiction and dependence will vary widely from program to program, and depends on a number of factors. In general, inpatient and residential treatment programs are quite a bit more expensive than outpatient treatment programs. This is because inpatient and residential facilities are more intensive in nature. These centers also include room and board, along with food, which dramatically increases the cost.

Yes, I Have Insurance

Call 1-888-319-2606 to discuss mental health and substance abuse coverage options.

Ask about any potential out-of-pocket costs and what they are, including your deductible and any copayments required.

A treatment representative can help you find a program that accepts your insurance.

No, I Don't Have Insurance

Look for programs that offer treatment based on a sliding scale fee schedule. This means that the fee you would be expected to pay is adjusted based on your degree of need. In many cases, sliding scale fees are based on your annual income.

Contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) to learn about payment and financing options without insurance.

Does Addiction Treatment Work?

Many studies have demonstrated the success and effectiveness of methadone treatment.10 Some people may respond well to a program of detox followed by a course of therapy, while others may be more suited to longer-term medication-assisted maintenance with simultaneous therapy.

A study comparing 12-week courses of these two options, including adolescent and young adult users, found that 36% in a detox group dropped out between the second and fourth week, but that only 8% in the maintenance group left in the fourth week.3

The best way to avoid relapse is to have a determined commitment to recovery and aftercare.

Find a Heroin Rehab Center Today

Call 1-888-319-2606 to speak with one of our treatment support specialists. We're here to help you find your way to treatment and your recovery goals.

Find out more about rehab and recovery:

  • Top 10 Questions for Finding a Drug or Alcohol Rehab

  • 15 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Rehab

  • Choosing Inpatient Rehab vs. Outpatient Rehabilitation

Sources

Featured TreatmentCenter Providers

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