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Goals The goals of addiction treatment are to attain and sustain long-term abstinence. This outcome allows men and[...]
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Drug and alcohol rehabilitation center at 546 Hamilton Street Costa Mesa California 92627
Heroin tolerance, dependence, and addiction are all manifestations of brain changes resulting from repeated heroin use. The struggle for heroin abuse recovery is in great part a struggle to overcome the effects of these changes.
A variety of heroin dependence treatment options are available to help men and women kick the heroin habit, including detoxification services, pharmacotherapies, behavioral therapy, and cognitive therapy. These are proven strategies that help to restore a degree of normalcy to brain function and behavior resulting in decreased risk of HIV, Hepatitis C and other infectious diseases.
Heroin Withdrawal Syndrome, should always be prevented, because the longer a person uses opioids, the longer it may take to safely detox. Our opioid detoxification program ensures your health, safety, and comfort with the highest standards of excellence. We offer professional services that are also cost-effective.
Fortunately, there are helpful pharmacotherapies that act upon the same brain structures and processes as addictive opioids, but with protective and normalizing effects. Despite the usefulness of these beneficial medications, they must be used in conjunction with appropriate behavioral-based treatments in order to achieve sustainable health benefits.
Pharmacotherapies used for treating opioid addiction work predominantly with mu opioid receptors (MOR), which are the receptors most responsible for heroin’s drug-effects. Currently, there are three FDA approved pharmacotherapies used to treat heroin addiction and they include: (1) full-agonists, like methadone, which fully activate mu opioid receptors; (2) partial agonists, like buprenorphine, which partially activate mu opioid receptors and produce minimal drug effect; and (3) antagonists, like naltrexone, which block mu opioid receptors.
Scientific research has established that pharmacotherapies increase retention in addiction treatment programs. When people initially quit, they often develop withdrawal symptoms (pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting), which can sometimes be quite severe. We have found that pharmacotherapies are very helpful for treating heroin withdrawal symptoms.
Heroin withdrawal treatment a.k.a. heroin detoxification, is typically the initial treatment strategy. Detoxification is designed to treat heroin withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings using appropriate medications. Typical treatment centers implement Behavior Therapy and/or Cognitive Therapy following the detox program, but our center may implement all three simultaneously on a case by case basis. If the client is healthy enough we begin therapy that day.
The many effective behavioral treatments available for heroin addiction can be delivered in outpatient and residential settings. Behavior Therapy has been shown to effectively treat heroin addiction, especially when applied in concert with Cognitive Therapy and pharmacotherapies.
“Cognitive” literally means to think. The thinking aspect of Cognitive Therapy addresses how thinking influences feelings. The cognitive approach emphasizes directly changing how we think in order to improve how we feel. The concept being that by modifying one’s thinking, a person can improve the way they feel and change behavior.
Goals The goals of addiction treatment are to attain and sustain long-term abstinence. This outcome allows men and[...]
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How You Can Die From Heroin Withdrawal There are not many rules about what “not” to do when[...]
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How many heroin overdoses in 2016? In 2016 there were 63,632 drug overdose fatalities. Of those fatalities, 42,249[...]
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WHAT IS CBT? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or “CBT” is an integration of two different therapies, Behavior Therapy and[...]
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Understanding Addiction Drug addiction is a neurobehavioral syndrome characterized by tenacious seeking, and compulsive using plus an inability[...]
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Tolerance to heroin Heroin tolerance is is a complex process of neuroadaptation. It is defined by reduced response[...]
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INTRODUCTION We get calls every day from disillusioned men and women who realize they cannot get off methadone.[...]
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Alcohol Dangers: We know the subjective effects of alcohol appear to be greatest in men and women[...]
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Androgens and Testosterone Androgens are sex hormones. They are made primarily in the male testes, female ovaries,[...]
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MEMORY IS A FUNCTION OF THE BRAIN Among heroin addicts there is an unofficial term used to describe[...]
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Drug Addiction Treatment: The process of drug addiction treatment can be summed up in one word – “change.” [...]
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“Doctors who enable addicts betray their profession,” – Nick DiGiulio. United States Attorney Zane David Memeger, and Drug[...]
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Heroin targets your brain’s reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in[...]
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Nobody completely understands why a person who drinks less than most, becomes an alcoholic, while another person who[...]
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WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME Chronic substance abuse may lead to physical dependence, which is a biological condition characterized by susceptibility[...]
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Alphabetical This is an alphabetical list of opiate terms and definitions. We compiled them here in one place[...]
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DEFINITION Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS) refers to a spectrum of signs and symptoms that develop after a person,[...]
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Heroin tolerance, dependence, and addiction are all manifestations of brain changes resulting from repeated heroin use. The struggle[...]
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Addiction is a Family Problem Drug addiction has a negative impact on the family and just about everyone[...]
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OPIOIDS and BENZOS No doubt about it, cold-turkey opioid-detox is a nightmare, but the most difficult detoxes are[...]
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Our small intimate setting provides you with a place of support, encouragement, and safety. You’ll receive a customized, one-on-one treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.