Heroin Recovery in Oklahoma City

Overcoming a substance abuse problem like heroin addiction comes with many stages of the recovery process. There are many programs available if you or a loved one is struggling with heroin addiction including inpatient and outpatient services. Due to the highly addictive nature of heroin though, it is recommended that addicts seek help from a professional rehabilitation center where patients can receive proper mental and physical support services. Landmark Recovery of Oklahoma City can help you understand your rehab and recovery journey and help you achieve sobriety.

What is Heroin?

Heroin is an illegal and highly addictive substance classified as an opioid. Like other opioids, heroin activates special opioid receptors in the brain to reduce pain and provide a mental escape accompanied by feelings of euphoria. ¹ The drug can be smoked or snorted but is typically injected, as this method provides the user with the most intense high. Due to the common practice of needle sharing, people who inject heroin are at increased risk for acquiring infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis C as well as medical complications like bacterial infections of the skin, bloodstream, and heart. ² People who use heroin are also at risk for overdose, a dangerous health consequence of heroin use that can result in depressed heart rate and breathing, unconsciousness, coma, permanent brain damage, and death. ³

Heroin Abuse in Oklahoma

There has been a recent surge in heroin use in Oklahoma coinciding with the current opioid epidemic. People suffering from opioid addiction are finding it much more difficult to obtain substances like prescription opioids, and many have turned to heroin as an easier-to-find alternative. ⁴ The National Drug Intelligence Center reports that heroin can be obtained throughout the state, although it is most readily available in major metropolitan areas like Oklahoma City and Tulsa. ⁵

According to results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, around 1 in 300 Oklahomans have used heroin in the past year. ⁶ Heroin is most common among young adults, with 1 in 128 Oklahoma residents aged 18 to 25 reporting past-year use. Around 1 in 500 Oklahoma high school seniors currently use heroin, and nearly 1 in 100 Oklahoma high school students (grades 9 through 12) have tried heroin at least once. ⁷

Admissions data indicate that heroin is a major concern for many Oklahoma residents seeking substance abuse treatment. According to recent Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), heroin use was reported as the primary drug of choice in 1 out of every 11 admissions to Oklahoma addiction treatment facilities in 2019. ⁸ Sadly, many Oklahomans never receive the support they need to recover from heroin addiction, as they do not seek out help from an addiction rehabilitation center or local support programs.

Heroin Addiction Recovery in Oklahoma City

Many people who suffer from substance addiction try getting clean by themselves but find that they can’t. Heroin withdrawal is notoriously hard to overcome, and the sad reality is that heroin addicts tend to find themselves stuck in a vicious cycle of withdrawal and relapse. If you abuse heroin you should consider seeking professional help immediately, especially if you are experiencing any signs of heroin withdrawal or dependency.

Landmark Recovery can help you face your heroin addiction and get you on the road to recovery with our comprehensive rehab programs centered on both physical and mental health and wellness. Conveniently located in Oklahoma City, our facility offers medically supervised detoxification services that will allow you to undergo heroin detox in a safe and secure environment under the care of trained clinical specialists. Our team will closely monitor your health throughout the entire detox process for potential complications of heroin withdrawal while providing around-the-clock care and support to keep you as safe and comfortable as possible. In addition to medically supervised detoxification, Landmark Recovery also provides residential heroin treatment, partial hospitalization care, inpatient and intensive outpatient services, family therapy, case management services, and aftercare planning.

Landmark Recovery of Oklahoma City’s heroin recovery center offers a variety of behavioral and pharmacological treatments for heroin recovery. A variety of behavioral therapies can be used to help identify underlying causes of heroin addiction and teach new habits and behaviors needed to prevent relapse. Our science-backed behavioral therapies for heroin include cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, contingency management, and other reinforcement and incentive-based strategies. ⁹ Medication-assisted-treatment is another evidence-based approach to heroin recovery that is very effective. This proven form of treatment combines behavioral therapies with medications that reduce withdrawal symptoms and prevent cravings. ¹⁰

Several medicines have been approved for the treatment of heroin addiction. One of the most well-known is methadone, an opioid agonist drug that binds to the same opioid receptors in the brain as heroin. ¹¹ Methadone produces similar effects to heroin without the associated high, helping to eliminate drug cravings and relieve withdrawal symptoms so that the individual can focus on therapy. Other drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of heroin addiction include naltrexone, buprenorphine, suboxone, and lofexidine. ¹²  Different medications can be used at different stages of recovery; some may be used to help stop the abuse of heroin while others may help you stay in treatment and avoid relapse.

How Can I Get More Information?

Are you or a loved one ready to begin the journey to wellness and recovery from heroin addiction? If so, please call Landmark Recovery of Oklahoma City at  405-896-8426 to discover more about our inpatient programs which include medically supervised detox. Our personalized heroin rehab programs combined with outpatient support services can help make this journey a success.