Many women struggle to find a treatment facility that is focused on their comprehensive well-being and health. Unfortunately, sometimes women also fear the stigma associated with substance use disorders, making the decision to seek treatment for opiate addiction difficult. When it comes to receiving treatment for heroin addiction in Austin, Emerge Recovery TX provides clients a safe and caring environment designed to women the on the journey to recovery.
Substance Use Disorder: Heroin Addiction Treatment in Austin
Heroin is a Schedule I drug, meaning it has a high risk for abuse and is not currently accepted for medical use in the United States. Heroin is classified under the opioid family and is derived from morphine. It can be consumed by snorting, sniffing, injecting, or smoking.
The Value of Gender-Specific Treatment
It is estimated that more than 17% of women used illicit drugs in the past year, and of this, 0.2% use heroin. It’s important to note that substance abuse can affect men and women differently. For example, most research suggests that males are more likely to abuse illicit drugs. Because of this, many drug rehabilitation facilities provide programs that unconsciously cater more toward males than females.
The Effects of Heroin Addiction on Women’s Health
Heroin addiction can affect both a woman’s individual health as well as the health of an unborn child. Unborn children of mothers struggling with substance use disorder are at high risk of acquiring neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). This occurs when a drug, such as heroin, passes through the placenta, affecting the fetus’s central nervous system resulting in a fetal dependence on the opioid. Babies who experience neonatal abstinence syndrome usually experience symptoms of heroin withdrawal after birth. These babies may demonstrate excessive crying, seizures, tremors, acute diarrhea, and fevers. Unfortunately, this condition can be detrimental to the health of a newborn, often requiring hospitalization.
Heroin Addiction Treatment: Getting Treatment for Substance Addiction
Treating opioid addiction requires the aid of medical professionals and counselors. Rehabilitation facilities utilize a multi-dynamic approach which includes behavioral and pharmacological therapy. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, implementing a pharmacological aid into an addicted persons treatment program can help restore brain function and lower the risk of treatment failure.
An opioid medical detox utilizes FDA-approved medications administered during the detox phase to help a client cope with the physical symptoms of heroin withdrawal. Although it may seem counter-intuitive to use drugs to treat substance abuse, medical detox can greatly reduce the withdrawal symptoms and decrease the relapse rate in a patient, and are always done under the supervision of medical professionals.
Behavioral Therapy for Substance Abuse Disorder
Heroin addiction can significantly affect one’s mental health, so it’s crucial to establish a holistic treatment plan that prioritizes the client’s long-term mental health. The treatment for heroin addiction should be comprehensive and should extend beyond just medical detox, utilizing various forms of behavioral therapy to support continued abstinence.
Heroin Drug Addiction: Withdrawal Symptoms
Consistent consumption of heroin or other opiates can lead to a physiological reliance and need for the substance. This reliance or dependence on a drug can make quitting very difficult. Withdrawal symptoms often develop when stopping or reducing the amount of heroin consumed over time. For this reason, those seeking treatment for heroin use disorder typically undergo a medical detox as part of their treatment program. While symptoms may vary from person to person, The American Addiction Centers lists following symptoms as being associated with heroin withdrawal:
With a mild heroin addiction withdrawal, a person may experience…
- Abdominal cramps, muscle and generalized body aches
- Nausea
- Sudden chills and/or sweats
Moderate signs of heroin withdrawal can include…
- Agitation coupled with restlessness.
- Fatigue
- Vomiting and Diarrhea
Emerge Recovery TX: Comprehensive Treatment for Women in Austin TX
Emerge Recovery TX takes pride in providing world-class treatment programs designed to provide women with the tools they need to recover from an addiction to heroin, trauma, and co-occurring mental health disorders. We understand that heroin addiction and unresolved mental health problems can leave women feeling isolated and alone. Our team of medical professionals and therapists are skilled at guiding clients toward wellness and recovery, encouraging long-term sobriety, positive socialization, and more.
Situated in Austin, TX, the Emerge Recovery TX women’s-only outpatient facility is here to provide women with a wide range of treatment programs designed to support them on the road to recovery. We offer our clients:
- Individual therapy: One-on-one counseling services designed to help patients accomplish their personal treatment goals.
- Group therapy: Following guidelines set by medical professionals, group therapy allows women to converse with other women in treatment, discussing various aspects of drug addiction.
- Trauma-Informed Yoga: We understand that many women may have experienced some form of trauma before or during their addiction. Emerge Recovery TX Trauma-Informed Yoga empowers women to reconnect to their bodies in a positive way.