Conquering Heroin Cravings During Heroin Addiction Treatment
Heroin abuse treatment is not always enough to curb the cravings, particularly when you are in outpatient heroin addiction treatment. Fortunately, there are things that you can try to distract yourself from these cravings.
Find a Hobby
Hobbies are an excellent way for you to distract yourself. Hobbies occupy the mind and keep you busy particularly while you are craving heroin. You will want to choose a hobby that you can do anytime. Some hobbies can also be done anywhere.
Find a Part Time Job
By finding a part time job or working extra hours, you can keep busy. This also has the added benefit of earning extra money while you are in heroin abuse treatment. You will also further your career and learn new skills.
Play Video or Board Games
You can play board games or video games but gaming is a great distraction. When you are craving heroin, all you have to do is turn on a console or invite some friends over. Many people use gaming to distract themselves even if they are not heroin addicts.
Hang Out with Friends
Some people choose to conquer cravings by using their support system of friends. Being around people who do not use heroin is sometimes a relief while you are in treatment. They can help find ways to distract yourself from you craving for the drugs.
Get Out
Taking a walk or a drive is another excellent way to distract yourself from cravings. If you are out alone, just make sure you do not drive to your dealer’s house or places you used to use heroin.
Know your Triggers
You need to know what triggers your heroin cravings. If you know what causes them you can learn to avoid the things that trigger them. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, by using a strategy of recognize, avoid, and cope, you can deal with your cravings. Knowing your triggers is part of recognizing them. Once you recognize them you can avoid them and you can cope with being faced with cravings.
How to Talk About Heroin Abuse Treatment
Like it or not, there is a stigma attached to seeking heroin abuse treatment. This stigma keeps many people from seeking the treatment that they desperately need. The stigma also keeps people from using a very valuable part of their support system, your friends and family. Heroin addiction treatment is a frightening prospect. Talking about it to your loved ones may be one of the hardest things that you do.
Understand Your Options
Knowing what options are available to you is important when you talk to your friends and family. You can go to one of three types of heroin abuse treatment centers. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, these are:
- Inpatient or residential facilities
- Outpatient facilities
- Combination facilities
At all of these treatment centers you will find options for counseling and medical treatment. Some of the methods of counseling are:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Group counseling
- 12 step facilitation therapy
- Contingency management
- Multidimensional family therapy
These counseling methods are often used in combination with medications like:
- Methadone
- Buprenorphine
- Suboxone
- Naltrexone
This forms a complete treatment program. You can decide which treatment you want on your own or get input from your friends and family when you speak to them.
Select the People you Want to Tell
Selecting the people that you want or need to tell is also a difficult decision. You might want to make a list of the people who absolutely need to know you are going into heroin abuse treatment. These people might be:
- Your significant other or spouse
- Your parents
- Those who will support you in your treatment
- If you choose inpatient treatment your family
It is important to remember that you do not have to tell these people. Having people who understand what you are doing can be a great comfort when you are going through treatment for heroin addiction.
Things to Consider When Choosing Heroin Abuse Treatment
Making the decision to enter a treatment center for your heroin addiction is extremely difficult. The choice of treatment facility does not have to be. When choosing a heroin abuse treatment center, there are several things you need to consider.
What do you Expect Out of Treatment?
This is more goal setting than anything else. You need to know what you want out of treatment when you go in. This is vital to your treatment success. Although these goals may change, knowing your goals is an important part of choosing a heroin addiction treatment center. You may want to make a list of things that you expect from treatment.
How Long you Intend to Stay
Some people choose a short term treatment program that is only a few weeks, while others choose one that is much longer. Most treatment facilities offer both long and short term treatment options. When you are choosing a heroin abuse treatment facility, you will need to decide if you want a quick intensive program with a lower success rate or a long term treatment program with a higher success rate.
How you are Going to Pay for your Treatment
Paying for treatment does not have to be stressful. Most insurance companies now pay for substance abuse treatment and many treatment centers offer sliding scale fees. You should talk with the treatment center about what is the optimum method of payment. Most treatment centers will work with you on how and when you will pay.
If the Treatment Facility will Suit you
You want to choose the right center for your needs, wants, and goals. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, no single treatment is right for everyone. You need to find the treatment that is right for you. It should also change as your needs, wants, and goals change. The treatment should adapt to what your need to end your addiction. Visit addictions.com for more information about heroin treatment.