Heroin Addiction Treatment

Heroin Addiction Treatment Near You in NJ, PA, & NY

Heroin addiction can feel like an endless cycle, but there is hope. Recovery is possible, and it’s achievable through the heroin addiction treatment programs offered at Rubicon Recovery Center. We serve individuals from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania with compassionate, evidence-based outpatient treatments for substance use disorders (SUDs). Learn more about heroin use and our heroin addiction treatment near you in Watchung, NJ.

Key Takeaways

• Heroin is a highly addictive drug that can cause symptoms such as drowsiness, cognitive impairment, slow breathing and heart rate, and more.
• The risks of heroin addiction include withdrawal, overdose, and lasting physical and mental health effects, including mental health disorders, abscesses, and lung disease.
• Heroin addiction treatment typically combines medications, such as methadone and naltrexone, behavioral therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and holistic therapy like mindfulness and meditation.
• At Rubicon Recovery Center, we provide 3 levels of outpatient care for heroin addiction, including Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and Outpatient Program (OP).

Understanding Heroin Addiction

Heroin is an opiate, or a drug that is derived from opium. It is illegally manufactured from morphine, which is derived from the seedpod of opium poppy plants. Heroin is highly addictive and is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States.

Once a person uses heroin – whether by injection, smoking, or snorting – it is converted into morphine by binding to opioid receptors in the brain. Most people experience a pleasurable surge of emotions, often accompanied by flushed skin, dry mouth, and limbs that feel heavy. After the initial effects of heroin use, users may experience drowsiness, cognitive impairment, and slow breathing and heart rate.

Heroin addiction, also called heroin use disorder, is marked by an intense, overwhelming urge to use heroin, even when it leads to detrimental effects on health, relationships, and other parts of life. Since individuals with heroin addiction get stuck in a cycle of compulsive use, professional treatment is often necessary for successful recovery.

Prevalence of Heroin Addiction

The opioid epidemic in the U.S. is an ongoing public health crisis that has led to hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths over the last 2 decades. It started in the 1990s when the overprescribing of opioids resulted in subsequent addiction. The second wave of the epidemic is linked to heroin use as people could no longer access prescription drugs at the same level and turned to heroin, although the current wave is marked by synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

When a person uses prescription opioids, whether through their own prescription or others’, they can quickly develop dependence. When access to the pills is harder to maintain, many people turn to heroin, as it is a street drug that is cheaper and easier to get.

The statistics for heroin use nationwide and in New Jersey are concerning. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), nearly 4,000 annual opioid overdoses involve heroin, and 50.9% of heroin users have also misused prescription opioids. NCDAS also reports New Jersey statistics, which show that opioids are a factor in 87.4% of all overdose deaths, and heroin is a factor in 6.6% of opioid overdose deaths. These statistics show that heroin remains a major part of the opioid epidemic and is still impacting people around the country and in New Jersey.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Addiction?

Heroin addiction can lead to many different signs and symptoms. However, not everyone will experience the same symptoms, as it depends on factors like the amount of heroin use and whether other drugs and alcohol are also used. Potential symptoms include:

• Behavioral symptoms: These include acting secretively, neglecting responsibilities, withdrawing from their social circle, and participating in criminal behavior, especially to get money for drugs.
• Physical symptoms: These can include drowsiness, increased sleeping, constricted pupils, scabs or bruises, needle marks, weight loss, and slurred speech.
• Cognitive symptoms: These may include disorientation, brain fog, and difficulty concentrating or solving problems.
• Psychological symptoms: These often involve cravings, depression, anxiety, mood swings, and surges of euphoria.

Along with shorter-term symptoms, people who use heroin long-term may also develop serious health problems, such as mental health disorders, abscesses, and liver, kidney, and lung disease.

How Is Heroin Addiction Diagnosed?

Heroin addiction isn’t diagnosed through toxicology screening or lab tests. It requires a comprehensive clinical assessment to determine patterns of drug abuse and the severity of the addiction. Some screenings that providers may use in the diagnostic process include:

• Conducting a clinical interview: The provider will ask about the person’s medical history, family history, behaviors, substance use, and specific symptoms over the last year.
• Utilizing standardized criteria: The provider will use standardized guidelines, such as the 11-point checklist from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), to assess the patient’s symptoms and gauge the severity of the addiction.

Sometimes, providers may review urine or blood tests to determine which substances are involved. They may also reach out to the patient’s inner circle, if consent is given, to gather additional information. Using all this information, a diagnosis of heroin use disorder can be confirmed or ruled out.

Who Needs Heroin Addiction Rehab?

Seeking treatment for an addiction can be overwhelming, and many people don’t believe they need professional help to get sober. Others don’t want to get treatment even if they believe it would help them. However, there are some signs that can demonstrate when professional addiction treatment is needed:

• Inability to quit independently, even with numerous attempts
• Continuous use, even with negative consequences, such as relationship problems or health issues
• Severe withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, anxiety, and agitation
• Increased tolerance that requires larger amounts of heroin to achieve the same effect
• Prioritization of heroin use over other personal and professional responsibilities
• Withdrawal from family, friends, social interactions, and hobbies

These are just some of the signs that can indicate a need for heroin addiction treatment. Acknowledging the need for help is also a major sign that someone is ready to explore treatment options.

How Does Heroin Addiction Treatment Work at Rubicon Recovery Center?

If you’re seeking outpatient rehab programs in a compassionate and judgment-free setting, look no further than Rubicon Recovery Center. We provide heroin addiction treatment that is rooted in an evidence-based, whole-person approach. We also use a holistic, threefold disease model that addresses physical, mental, and spiritual health. We have 3 main levels of substance use treatment programs to meet patients where they are:

• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): As our most intensive outpatient program, this program runs for 6 hours a day, 6 days a week. It typically lasts 30–45 days.
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): This program acts as a middle ground between PHP and the Outpatient Program. It runs for 3 to 5 days a week, 3 hours a day. It generally lasts for 10 to 12 weeks.
• Outpatient Program (OP): This is our lowest-level program and is typically only for current patients who need a step-down of care from IOP or PHP. It runs for 2 to 3 days per week with an hour of treatment each day.

At Rubicon Recovery Center, our programs are run by our multidisciplinary team, which includes licensed therapists and counselors, medical staff, and support personnel. The team collaborates to provide personalized treatment plans for each patient, helping them address their addiction and get sober.

What Are the Treatment Options for Heroin Addiction?

Heroin addiction requires a comprehensive treatment approach that combines different therapies and modalities. Each person’s treatment plan will be different, but commonly used techniques at Rubicon Recovery Center include:

Medical Detoxification

Detoxification (detox) is the process of slowly weaning a person off substances like heroin. It is often the first step in recovery. Medically supervised detox is recommended for heroin use disorder because withdrawal symptoms can be intense and need proactive management.

At Rubicon Recovery Center, we don’t directly provide medical detox services, but we work with other reputable detox centers to provide referrals for medically supervised detox. This helps ensure a safe start to recovery.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Medication-assisted treatment is often used as part of a heroin addiction treatment plan. It involves the use of certain medications that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat opioid use disorder. It also involves counseling and behavioral therapies. Medications used for MAT for heroin addiction include methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. These medications help reduce cravings, lessen withdrawal symptoms, and reduce the rewarding effects of opioids. At Rubicon Recovery Center, we can coordinate MAT as part of your treatment plan to help you prevent relapses and achieve long-term recovery.

Therapy and Counseling

Behavioral therapy is a large part of addiction treatment, as it helps patients get to the root cause of their substance use, develop stronger coping mechanisms, and recognize triggers. At Rubicon Recovery Center, we provide both individual and group therapies, including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of talk therapy that helps patients recognize and change negative behaviors and thought patterns relating to addiction.
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): This subset of CBT is designed for emotional regulation using techniques like mindfulness and distress tolerance.
• Motivational interviewing (MI): This is a person-centered communication style that aims to improve the patient’s motivation for and commitment to change. 
• Group therapy: This involves therapy sessions with other people in the Rubicon community, designed to help promote connection and peer support.
• Family counseling: This involves the patient’s family members participating in therapy sessions with the goals of increasing understanding, improving relationships, and creating a supportive home environment.

We may use one, all, or a mix of these therapeutic modalities to help patients with heroin addiction restore balance and improve their overall well-being.

Holistic Therapies

At Rubicon Recovery Center, we take a holistic approach to substance use treatment. We don’t want to just treat the symptoms; we want to address the root causes and give patients tools they can use in difficult moments. Our holistic therapies include things like yoga, meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, qigong, art therapy, and nutritional therapy.

What Are the Recovery Expectations for Heroin Addiction?

Recovery from any addiction is an ongoing journey, and the timeline is different for everyone. Some individuals need mid-level support that lasts for several weeks, while others require intensive treatment for many months.

However, something that’s important for everyone in recovery is aftercare support. You can’t finish treatment and go back into the “real” world without tools to help you prevent relapse and stay sober. At Rubicon Recovery Center, we provide comprehensive aftercare planning for our patients, such as continuing therapy, relapse prevention strategies, and access to community resources like sober living homes. We also have an alumni program that helps patients navigate recovery and gives them an opportunity to provide peer support to current patients.

Why Choose Rubicon Recovery Center for Heroin Addiction Treatment?

When you’re looking for help for a heroin addiction, you deserve high-quality, compassionate care with evidence-based treatments. At Rubicon Recovery Center, we provide personalized and effective treatment for heroin addiction in a supportive recovery environment. Reasons to choose our facility include:

• A comfortable environment with 3 large group rooms, 12 clinical offices, a conference room, and a lounge area
• Assistance with setting patients up with semi-private supportive housing options with 24/7 staffing
• 3 levels of flexible outpatient rehab programs that feature tailored treatment plans for each patient
• A combination of evidence-based therapies and holistic care options, such as yoga and art therapy, to address multiple aspects of recovery
• Medical detox placement to ensure safety during drug withdrawal
• A specialized team of licensed addiction counselors, therapists, rehab professionals, and support staff who is there for support every step of the recovery journey
• A care approach that goes beyond substance use to address underlying barriers that can impact recovery, such as family circumstances, finances, etc.

At Rubicon Recovery Center, we also aim to increase accessibility to substance use treatment. We offer financing options, and we accept most major insurance providers, including Anthem, Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. We provide a quick insurance verification process, where we’ll let you know whether you’re covered and what your potential out-of-pocket costs will be.

Find Heroin Addiction Treatment Near You in NJ, PA, & NY

If you or a loved one is looking for help for a heroin addiction, Rubicon Recovery Center is here to help. We serve people from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York with whole-person, evidence-based treatment in a compassionate environment. Our team is committed to accepting and supporting individuals who may not meet the typical acceptance criteria, while still providing structured treatment that adapts as their needs evolve. To get started with heroin addiction treatment near you in Watchung, NJ, contact us today or call (908)-274-0015 to speak with an admissions specialist.

Frequently Asked Questions About Heroin Addiction

What are the long-term effects of heroin addiction?

Long-term effects of heroin addiction include:

• Increased tolerance
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Abscesses
• Mental health disorders
• Liver, kidney, and lung disease
• Infectious diseases from dirty needles

What are the risks of heroin overdose?

A heroin overdose can cause dangerous health effects, including slowed or stopped breathing, drowsiness, low blood pressure, weak pulse, and even coma or death.

Can someone recover from heroin addiction?

Yes, recovery from heroin addiction is entirely possible, especially through professional treatment programs.

What is heroin detox like?

Detoxing from heroin involves weaning the body of the substance and managing side effects under medical supervision. However, individuals may experience effects like hot and cold flashes, sweating, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, tremors, disturbed sleep, and more.

What treatments are available for heroin addiction?

Treatments for heroin addiction often include a combination of:

• Medically supervised detox
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), such as naltrexone or suboxone
• Behavioral therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and group therapy
• Holistic therapies, including yoga, meditation, and mindfulness

How long does heroin addiction recovery take?

The timeline for recovery varies depending on several factors, including the severity of the addiction, co-occurring disorders, and other substance use. However, treatment programs often last a few weeks to several months.

How does therapy help in heroin addiction treatment?

Therapy is an essential part of heroin addiction treatment. Individual and group therapy help patients address underlying psychological issues that can affect recovery, develop coping mechanisms, and foster relapse prevention techniques.

Will insurance cover treatment costs?

It depends on your insurance plan and benefits, but a portion of treatment is typically covered under the Affordable Care Act and federal mental health parity laws.

Where is Rubicon Recovery Center located?

Our facility is located at 40 Stirling Road, Ste. 208, Watchung, NJ 07069. It can be accessed from several major roadways, including Interstate 78, Route 22, Interstate 287, Garden State Parkway, and Route 206.

How can I help a loved one addicted to heroin?

If you have a loved one addicted to heroin, you can educate yourself about addiction, offer emotional support, and encourage them to get professional help.