Heroin is reputed to be one of the more dangerous, life-threatening addictive drugs around. Not only does the drug itself cause considerable damage to the human body, especially with long term use, but it also is responsible for most of the drug related fatalities amongst users. Not only is it very hard to get over addiction to this drug, but addiction will happen within days of constant use. Part of the reason for it being very difficult to overcome is that the actual withdrawal process is very difficult and painful for addicts. Heroin detox, however, is the first step in total rehabilitation.
Within around twelve hours after the last shot of heroin was taken, withdrawal symptoms begin and they continue for between two to four days. They are painful and difficult for an addict to go through. Typical symptoms include: nausea and vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhea, chills and sweating, insomnia, runny nose and sneezing, overall tiredness, body weakness and irritability. It is estimated that up to 30% of patients will drop out of a detox program before it is completed as they cannot put up with the physical withdrawal symptoms.
People who want to undergo detox should only do so under medical supervision, at a center where there is trained staff on hand to help during the process. During the treatment, the staff will do all that they can to alleviate the addicts withdrawal symptoms and to keep them as comfortable as possible. Another treatment, recently used in some situations is a rapid detox program, where the addict is either heavily sedated or under anesthesia during the initial detox period. Side effects from this treatment are many, and as such it is not recommended in most cases.
Unfortunately there is no easy, pain free way for people to undertake detoxification. The drug itself is a very dangerous drug and its hold the heroin addict is very strong and hard to shake off. Even after detoxification and rehabilitation it is very common for an addict to relapse back into drug taking again.