Heroin addiction is not a disease in the metaphorical sense. Even though it infiltrates communities, destroys families and costs governments and healthcare systems millions of dollars every year and is certainly a disease in that sense, it is also a medical disease. The chemical changes that occur in the brain when heroin is used continue and become semi-permanent – at least – when heroin abuse becomes chronic and turns into heroin addiction. Physical dependence and psychological cravings are entwined in the brain and even the user undergoes heroin detox, those changes remain. Medical treatment is required in order for recovery, and continued psychological treatment and support groups are needed for the long-term in order to sustain recovery.

Here are a few more notes on heroin addiction as a disease:

• Heroin addiction is not caused by lack of willpower. It is not something that individuals do but something they have. Remember to separate the person from the behavior and recognize relapse for what it is: a manifestation of the disease that the individual needs help fighting.
• Relapse or heroin abuse is an automatic response and a sign of addiction. A heroin addict cannot control themselves when they are actively addicted to heroin. They cannot simply stop using without suffering serious consequences. The urge and drive to use is an automatic response and a characteristic of a chronic disorder like addiction.
• Heroin addiction is a dangerous disease. It is not normal to live with heroin addiction. It is not an acceptable way to live. Life will be shorter than it would be otherwise and the quality of life for the individual will be considerably lower if heroin addiction goes untreated.
• Heroin addiction is a lifelong disease. Even with treatment, heroin addiction will always be a risk for a heroin addict. Treatment can put the disease in remission and extended care options like addiction counseling and 12-step meetings can help the addict to keep it there. But relapse is a concern as long as the addict feels triggered to use and is a higher risk when he or she stops attending support groups and personal therapy sessions.
• There is no cure for heroin addiction. Treatment can help the heroin addict safely and healthfully stop using heroin and then provide him or her with the tools to remain sober after treatment, but it is not a cure. Heroin addiction recovery requires a great deal of effort and work on the part of the addict. It’s not easy, but it is worth it.
• A slip does not have to mean a return to heroin addiction. Even if you make a mistake and get loaded in early recovery after heroin addiction, it doesn’t have to mean a wasted trip to rehab or that you’ve completely lost all that you’ve gained in recovery thus far. If the relapse is serious and reawakens the physical addiction, it may be necessary to re-enter heroin detox. Some may even feel that a long-term heroin relapse requires a trip back to inpatient rehab, while others prefer to take advantage of outpatient options or sober living.

If you would like to learn more about how we can help you fight heroin addiction, contact us today at The Canyon.

Buprenorphine is the latest drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of heroin addiction. Different from methadone, little is known about the drug, but studies are coming out annually to support its efficacy in the treatment of opiate addiction. Many heroin addicts who use buprenorphine for low-dose addiction treatment report how easy it is to use and applaud the anti-depressant effects of the drug.

The drawback? Many are not fond of the taste or the need to allow multiple lozenges to dissolve under the tongue every other day. But it’s not a bad trade-off, in the opinion of most, and the heroin addiction detox benefits are undeniable.

Here are a few quick facts about the drug, for those who are unfamiliar with what it is or how it works:

1. Buprenorphine was first created as an analgesic in England in 1969. During the 1970s, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) researchers recognized that the drug could be an effective treatment for addiction and, in 1994, the organization contracted the original developer to market the drug in the United States. Buprenorphine was approved by the FDA in 2002.
2. Buprenorphine is sold as Subutex (pure buprenorphine) and Suboxone (a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone).
3. Buprenorphine can be prescribed by a physician, allowing you to take the medication at home rather than come into a drug rehab facility daily as is necessary for methadone addiction treatment. It is the first drug that can be taken at home for the purposes of treating opiate addiction.
4. Approved for opiate addiction treatment by the FDA in 2002, buprenorphine is the only drug that is approved for no other purpose. Even methadone is approved for pain management.
5. Buprenorphine works by binding to the opiate receptors in the brain but does not trigger the pleasure pathway like other opiate drugs.
6. Buprenorphine in the form of Suboxone cannot be abused because the naloxone blocks the effects of other opiates.
7. Buprenorphine is highly regulated by the federal government; it is necessary, for example, for the prescribing physician to undergo a special training in order to be qualified to prescribed the drug.
8. As of yet, there have been no reported deaths due to buprenorphine overdose. Though it is possible to take too much of the drug and experience negative effects, the risk of overdose is far lower than for comparable opiate addiction medications.
9. Buprenorphine has a low level of opiate dependence so those who stop taking the drug experience minimal withdrawal symptoms as compared to methadone.
10. In the middle of 2010, it was estimated that more than 19,000 doctors were certified to prescribe buprenorphine across the United States.

With almost 900,000 heroin users in the United States, buprenorphine is increasing the ability of medical professional to provide treatment to those who need it. It is most effective when used as part of a larger, overall program that addresses opiate addiction on multiple levels. If you would like to find a heroin rehab that can address heroin addiction effectively and safely, contact us at the number listed above today.

Congratulations! You’ve not only decided to go to heroin rehab, but you’ve found a heroin addiction treatment facility, enrolled and you’re on your way. You may have a few days or a few weeks depending upon the situation, but you do have a start date, even if it’s tentative and you’re waiting to get started. The wait time need not be a bad thing. You can use the time to prepare yourself for the best, most effective experience possible at heroin rehab. Here’s how.

Prepare for Heroin Rehab: Don’t Overdose

Common sense, right? Avoiding heroin overdose is always a good idea, obviously, but a huge percentage of heroin overdoses occur right before, during or after heroin rehab. Scared of the prospect of living the rest of their lives without heroin, many addicts decide to binge and do more than usual. The resulting overdose can be deadly, and if not deadly, it can mean a hospital stay that makes you miss the start date to heroin rehab. Not good.

Rather than overindulging in heroin, alcohol or other drugs, take the time to shave a dose off your usage if you can. If you are about to enter heroin detox, you should avoid cutting back so much that heroin withdrawal symptoms start until you have medical supervision. Cutting back just a little bit, eating healthy and getting lots of rest will give you a solid start in heroin detox without causing any health issues.

Prepare for Heroin Rehab: Talk to Your Family

Disappearing into a heroin rehab facility without touching base with friends, family and co-workers is unnecessary. You’ll appreciate their support while you’re going through treatment if you give them the opportunity to provide it to you by letting them know what’s going on. Many don’t want to talk about the details of their treatment before they go because they are embarrassed or they are afraid that they will fail in front of everyone. Telling those you care about should have the opposite effect in reality: those who care about you will be happy for you and supportive, giving you someone to reach out to you as you go through treatment and supportive base when you come home.

Prepare for Heroin Rehab: Take Care of the Details

A big part of preparing for a successful stay in heroin rehab means taking care of the details. Here are some you should check off your list before you go:

• If you live alone, have your mail held while you’re away and cancel subscriptions, cable, et cetera.
• Bring pets over to a friend or family member.
• If you are employed, talk to your boss about how long you’ll be away and find out whether or not you’ll have a job when you come back.
• Pack according to the guidelines provided by your heroin rehab. They’ll let you know what you shouldn’t bring – and what you should.
• Get to know the rules before you start. It’s better not to be surprised when you arrive.
• Bring a few personal items (i.e., comfortable pajamas, pictures, a book) to make your stay easier.

Heroin Rehab at The Canyon

If you would like to get started at a luxury heroin rehab, call us at The Canyon. We’re ready to help when you’re ready to get heroin addiction treatment. Call now.

Heroin addiction is a problem that increases in scope in the United States every year. People are younger and younger at the time of their first use of the drug and the percentage of new clients at drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers claiming heroin as their drug of choice is on the rise as well.

Compared to the heroin addiction problem in Swansea in Britain, the United States has its H issues under control. A new film out that documents the heroin use and abuse in Swansea is blowing everyone away, both in Britain and on this side of the pond.

The documentary, called “Swansea Love Story,” claims that there has been a 180 percent increase in the number of heroin users and addicts in Swansea over the four years that the film was made. The largest portion of the population who become new users? Young people.

This number is in keeping with what the United States is seeing at least. A decade ago, the average age of first time use of heroin in the United States was 26. Now, it’s closer to 21. No longer is heroin something that only scary people use or full blown drug addicts with a long history of abuse. It’s now a drug of experimentation, often used in high school and college.

Says the filmmakers about their journey in making the film:

“It used to be one of the biggest ports in the world, but when Margaret Thatcher helped bring about the end of heavy industry in Britain, the social implications for places like Swansea were dire.

“Funnily enough, it was Thatcher who signed off on a program that meant heroin addicts would be given access to free, sterile needles. This was after she’d closed down the mines, docks, and factories. Mass unemployment and heroin addiction have always made fine bedfellows.

“And so we went to Swansea and lived with a gang of young addicts for a few months and found out just why addiction to heroin in Britain continues to rise at such an alarming rate.

“We found out about love, death, the organized sexual abuse of children and the collapse of the family. We stumbled into a race riot, met old sailors, and listened to a wonderful Welsh male choir. We learned about why dragging yourself out of addiction is such a struggle, especially if you’re a teenager who’s the product of two generations of heroin addicts and whose great-grandfathers were miners, sailors, and steelworkers.”

Want to check out a piece of Swansea Love Story and see for yourself? It’s on the VBS.TV broadband site and also highlighted on CNN.

If you or someone you love is addicted to heroin, help is available. You don’t have to try to go through heroin detox alone and then “white knuckle” it through early recovery and pray that you don’t relapse. Heroin addiction is a medical issue and it requires medical treatment. Contact The Canyon to learn more about heroin detox, heroin addiction treatment and all the options you have to start a new life without drugs.

Drug abuse and addiction problems in Florida are running rampant and every few months a new expose or research study is released that reveals a new troubled area of the state or a drug of focus. From crystal meth to heroin, Florida is a heavy area for drug traffickers bringing substances into the country. The prevalence of prescription drug abuse here, too, is a significant. Here’s a highlight report of some of the largest drug abuse problems affecting Florida right now.

Crystal Meth Addiction

Much of the state’s crystal meth supply is made within the state’s borders. Many rural areas are home to crystal meth labs where the drug is produced from scratch, but more recently, police have been busting labs in apartment buildings and “rolling” labs or labs in RVs and campers. Florida has had increased numbers of reported use of the drug, as well as arrests for possession and distribution of the substance. More and more Floridians are entering crystal meth rehab and attending counseling for their issues with the drug.

Heroin Addiction

The drug trafficking market that goes through Florida is primarily focused on heroin. It’s multiple ports to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean means that it’s relatively easy for boats of all sizes to find their way ashore. Port towns, therefore, are a hot bed of drug and gang-related activity associated with heroin. Studies have shown that heroin abusers and heroin addicts (both the number of people who report using it in the month prior to the survey and the number of people seeking treatment for the disease) have increased in number every year for the past few decades.

Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription drug addiction has long been an issue, especially in larger cities like Miami. There are a disproportionately high number of clinics devoted to filling and provide prescriptions as compared to the rest of the country. For that reason, there are also a disproportionately high number of doctors facing charges for illegal or inappropriate drug dispensation and higher rates of death due to prescription drug overdose.

Getting Addiction Treatment Help

Whether your drug of choice is crystal meth, heroin, or prescription drugs like OxyContin, Percocet, or hydrocodone or a combination of drugs, you can find the help you need to break free from your dependence at a drug and alcohol rehab. At a drug and alcohol rehab, you not only stop using your drug of choice with medical assistance, you also get the addiction counseling you need to understand your addiction, educational classes to understand how addiction works in the body, and therapy in groups and alone to help you gain strength in recovery.

If you would like to learn more about enrolling in drug and alcohol addiction treatment, The Canyon can help. Whether you are looking for a crystal meth detox, a prescription drug rehab or a heroin addiction treatment program, we have what you need. Call us today for more specifics about our California drug and alcohol rehab.

When Jemima Phillips was appointed Royal Harpist by the Prince of Wales, it would have appeared that her life couldn’t have been more perfect. Behind the scenes, however, an out of control heroin addiction had her struggling to hold it all together.

Recently, Phillips was convicted for theft and the arrest revealed a life full of secrets kept from the public, including violent relationships and family tragedy that likely contributed to her abuse of heroin, according to the Daily Mail.

The Appearance of Perfection

As Royal Harpist, Phillips found herself playing at amazing venues. She even played at the wedding of the Prince of Wales to Camilla Parker Bowles. To anyone viewing her life from the outside, it appeared as if she had it all: 28 years old, a graduate of the Royal School of Music, master of her £18,000 harp, and a position as the Royal Harpist.

After being convicted for handling stolen goods, Phillips confessed to a heroin addiction. Even without the conviction, the admission of heroin addiction pretty well secured the loss of her position of Royal Harpist and left her with a destroyed reputation. The long story of losing her brother during childhood, developing her musical gift to soothe her siblings (one of who suffered brain damaged, the other severely autistic), emotional alienation from her father, abusive boyfriends, abortions, and burglary only served to solidify her fate.

Heroin Rehab for Heroin Addiction

If she recognized that she was struggling with heroin addiction, why didn’t Phillips seek medical help at a heroin rehab? Simple: she was trying to keep the secret and if it got out, she feared the loss of her job and the possibility of being denied the ability to work in the United States. She attempted to get clean on her own and, occasionally, was successful for a few months until something would happen to trigger her and start it all again. She was trapped by the cycle of relapse in addiction and couldn’t break free before her choices under the influence revealed her to everyone far more dramatically than a stay in heroin rehab ever would have.

Heroin Addiction Treatment: Get Help Now

If you are struggling with heroin addiction, going through the cycle of attempting to get clean every few months only to relapse as soon as something stressful comes your way, then you need heroin addiction treatment. For those who are lucky enough to be completely free of withdrawal symptoms, an outpatient heroin addiction treatment program that focuses on the emotional and mental aspects of heroin addiction will assist you in learning how to make better choices and avoid relapse. Many will provide therapies that allow you to explore your drug history for clues as to why heroin addiction became an issue for you.

For those who are currently experiencing withdrawal symptoms, a heroin detox will need to precede heroin addiction treatment either at an inpatient heroin rehab or separate from outpatient treatment.

Whichever style of heroin rehab you choose, don’t wait. Call Canyon for more information.

Heroin addiction is a rampant problem across the United States that doesn’t diminish with time. Determining how best to fight heroin addiction has focused mostly on criminalizing the behavior and providing treatment for those who need it. However, not enough is said about the nascence of heroin. Where does the sticky black tar come from that is so popular in the western United States? How does it get here and why is how the drug produced and distributed as big a problem as the addiction itself?

How Heroin is Produced

Heroin is created in a process by isolating and concentrating the morphine produced by opium poppy plants. By combining this substance in a “cooking” process of sorts, it can be reduced and boiled to create a white or yellow power. Although the process of production is complicated, it can be carried out in a home laboratory, which makes it particularly dangerous. If an untrained person were to add too much of a particular chemical or too little of another, they might produce heroin that has deadly side effects in the form of poisonous chemicals or dangerous purity levels.

The basic recipe follows like so: Opium is placed into a pot of very hot water, out of which are taken bits of flotsam and jetsam like twigs, leaves, etc. Chemicals are then added to the mixture to create an alkaline solution, which is then filtered through cloths and rinsed. After the addition of other chemicals and a heating and cooling process, the heroin is taken out, allowed to dry, and is then ready to ship to distributors.

The Dangers of Heroin Production

Although initial steps of the heroin creation process are easy to perform in a home setting or makeshift laboratory, later steps in the process can be fatally dangerous. This is because caustic chemicals are used in the solution, and all of them require large quantities and are dangerous to handle or even be around. The last step of the process is the most dangerous of all, as it involves flammable gases that are pressurized. If these gases ignite, the result is an explosion of devastating proportions, and certain destruction of the laboratory or residence used to create the drug. It also almost certainly spells the doom for the person who was mixing the chemicals.

Heroin Addiction, Heroin Distribution and War

It’s not just the United States who if waging a war against drugs. All around the world, every day, there are bloody battles over the distribution and production of heroin specifically. Afghanistan produces about 90 percent of the world’s supply of heroin and the countries along its major distribution routes to get to the west suffer the most in terms of heroin addicts per capita. The lives lost in service to trafficking the drugs across well protected borders are countless, nameless people who are desperate to make money for their families or find a better life for themselves.

Though heroin addiction is tragic in action, the tragedy begins long before you call your connection or head out to the corner to score. If you are addicted to heroin, getting help means that you not only save your own life but contribute to saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of others around the world.