Heroin detox New Jersey: Does Methadone help?
Detox is the only way to treat the drug addicts. Once detox process is carried out successfully, only then can the treatment for recovery start. As per the act of 1914, the usage of opiate for the treatment of opiate addicts has also been banned not only in New Jersey alone but in entire U.S.A. If there has been any exception in heroin detox New Jersey, it is methadone. Methadone can be one of the most effective ways undergoing heroin detox if taken in right proportions. Unfortunately, only few clinics and doctors are entitled to prescribe the drug to their patients due to Federal Governments strict regulations.
The reason for such strict guidelines on this drug is the fact that methadone is an equally addictive drug and could also have severe side effects. It is not encouraged by most of the doctors and clinics. Another reason why people dont want to use methadone for treating addicts is the fact that the patient may soon become dependent on the same drug and rehabilitating him from the drug could become the next cause of concern.
The withdrawal symptoms of heroin detox are severe and after long term usage of methadone for detox, the symptoms may become ten times more severe. Thus, instead of getting rid of the addiction in a weeks time, the patients may take as much as 4 months and sometimes even more to get rid of the heroin addiction. These are some reasons why doctors and medical specialists feel that methadone is more of a problem than solution in the treatment of heroin addiction
Symptoms of Withdrawal
Heroin withdrawal symptoms are severe. It takes 3-7 days in most of the cases to show these symptoms. However, at times the symptoms can come in as less as 12 hours time. The symptoms though vary from person to person, but some of the most common ones are as follows:
Muscle cramp
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Sweating, spasm
Diarrhea
Burning sensation in skin
Dehydration
Weakness
The best way for recovery even as you take these treatments is to take a good and healthy diet and drink lots of water. Since the drug makes the body weak, the patient should eat lots of fruits and vegetables so that the body is able to survive the detox program designed by your doctor. Heroin detox New Jersey programs that are done through medication at least require healthy living for their patients prior to starting with methadone treatment. It is also imperative for the doctors to ask for the consent of the patient before the usage of methadone in treatment.
Steps of the treatment
The doctors give their patients methadone injections or tablets and monitor them for at least 7 days during which the symptoms are expected to be severe. As the withdrawal symptoms decrease, the doctor also reduces the dosage of the drug. This is often the second step in heroin detox New Jersey methadone treatment. The doctors stop giving methadone once the withdrawal symptoms subside and the patient is supposed to undergo counseling programs to take care of the psychological and social aspect of the addiction.