Almost every person who suffers from a substance abuse problem feels like they can “kick the habit” on their own. Most every person has even tried to stop their substance abuse problem on their own and perhaps they have failed several times. But they always feel that the next time will be the time that they will succeed. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as it looks.
There are many reasons why going to Atlanta drug rehab centers can actually save the life of the person trying to overcome an addiction.
Detox
Detoxing from the substance being abused is literally a life-threatening situation. In the case of heroin abuse, abruptly stopping the use of heroin can be deadly.
Total detoxification from heroin use can actually take years, but the initial period of withdrawal from the drug usually takes several days. The time it takes to withdraw from heroin depends on how long the person has been using it, and how much heroin they regularly used.
Since withdrawal is such an uncomfortable and sometimes harrowing experience, many people find they cannot do it alone. This is one of the times when detox can become deadly – the patient craves the substance so much that they relapse and overdose trying to overcome those feelings. This is why it’s important to be in a rehab center to keep this from happening.
As the body slowly becomes used to the fact that there is little or no heroin in the system, ingesting just a very small amount can be lethal. If a patient has been off heroin for a while and then relapses in their recovery, they may inject themselves with the amount that they used to take. Since their body is no longer accustomed to that amount, the patient dies from an overdose.
This problem with heroin withdrawal and then overdose is something most patients have not had experience with. They may think that if they relapse they will just go back to their old ways and their bodies will respond as they always did. They don’t realize that their “normal” dose of heroin has now become a lethal dose. It often takes families by surprise as well. They are glad their family member has “kicked the habit” and then are blindsided when that person overdoses a few months later.
Going through detox at an Atlanta drug rehab center can keep these things from happening. Going off heroin is one of the most dangerous situations in drug rehab. In some cases, a patient requires on-going treatment with methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone in order to keep his body from relapsing into cravings.
This ongoing medical treatment is clearly not something the patient can do on his own. This is one of the major reasons why going to a drug rehab center is so important. The doctors at the centers can monitor the ongoing use of the medication and adjust it as necessary to keep the patient safe.
