Realistic Expectations for Heroin Addiction Treatment

Heroin addiction is a very serious disease that is a growing problem. Addiction treatment is well publicized as the best means to end heroin use. Unfortunately, too many people do not really know what to expect with this. That is why you need to know the realistic expectations for heroin addiction treatment.

Is There a Cure?

The first thing to understand in order to have realistic expectations for heroin addiction treatment is that there is no heroin addiction cure. Heroin addiction is a chronic disease that can only be managed. This does not mean that you cannot expect to leave treatment heroin free and be able to remain that way for the rest of your life.

What Treatment Options Exist?

The treatment options that you are most likely to find in heroin addiction treatment are behavioral therapies and medications. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, while both medications and behavioral treatments can be effective on their own, the best results are achieved by combining them. This will give you the most realistic expectation of effective treatment.

Does Treatment Work?

In addition to being a chronic disease, heroin addiction is also a relapsing disorder. This means that you may begin using it again, even after treatment. While this may make you believe that treatment doesn’t work, you need to remember that there is no heroin addiction cure.
However, it is an effective means of controlling the disease for many people. Participating in treatment, having a strong support network, and staying in treatment long enough are the most important factors in you being able to meet the realistic expectation of never using heroin again.

Why Realistic Expectations are Important

Having realistic expectations for heroin addiction treatment is the only real way to not be disappointed. Too often in television and movies, heroin drug abuse treatment is portrayed as some sort of miracle cure for substance abuse that you get in a luxury setting.

In reality, you can only realistically expect medical treatment and a like return on what effort you put into to helping yourself recover. It can be done, but it’s up to you to make it happen.



Comments