Last Updated: October 26, 2022

It seems like a big commitment, but inpatient drug rehab in Ohio is sometimes the best and safest choice for people addicted to heroin. Detoxification from heroin is multilayered, uncomfortable, and often painful. For some, going it alone without the caring supervision of a trained medical team can be dangerous.

Although it is possible to walk away from heroin for good without help, the odds are not in your favor. Heroin is one of the most highly addictive substances in the world and one that poses significant risks to your health and general welfare. With inpatient treatment, recovery is not just theoretically possible, it is attainable.

Here are four circumstances where inpatient drug rehab in Ohio could be the best choice.

#1: There Is a Large Volume of Heroin in Your System or You Are a Long-Time User

At any level of use, detoxification from heroin is difficult, uncomfortable, and risky. For people who use a higher level of heroin or have a long history of heroin addiction, inpatient drug rehab in Ohio is likely the best choice. If Fentanyl is used with heroin, it is also likely the safest choice.

Withdrawal can take several days to a week or longer. At no other time in treatment or recovery is a person more likely to use heroin again than during the intense throes of detox.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse says early symptoms may include:

• Muscle pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

As detox and withdrawal progress, symptoms intensify and may include:

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Stomach cramps
• Shivering
• Aches
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Hyperactivity
• Diarrhea
• Headaches

If you choose outpatient care, opioid agonist medications such as Methadone, Buprenorphine (Subutex) or Suboxone can help. These drugs minimize or dampen the effect of opioids. However, without medical supervision, there is a much higher likelihood of relapse or failing to step down safely.

Time magazine says in East Liverpool, Ohio authorities believe Suboxone and similar drugs can save lives. But there is a risk of dependence, which means that taking these step-down drugs is safer under the supervision of medical professionals.

#2: You Have Limited Access to Support at Home

Changing your lifestyle from one of a drug abuser to a person in recovery is hard. It requires help from as many sources as possible. If you live alone or your friends and family are not equipped to give the support you need, relapse is likely.

Drug treatment specialists have a unique set of skills. They know the stages of withdrawal and how to intervene in an emergency. They understand the tools you need to succeed. They can provide an inclusive environment that revolves around only one thing: recovery.

Inpatient care can also offer a wider range of detox choices, such as:

• Medical: supervision and medication for symptoms as needed
• Rapid: withdrawal under anesthesia achieved within a few hours
• Stepped rapid detox: withdrawal while awake with close monitoring and frequent doses of medications for symptoms
• Ultra-rapid detox: naltrexone administered under general anesthesia, complete in 30 minutes

#3: You Are Surrounded by Other Drug Users or a High-Risk Environment 

Peer pressure is a powerful and potentially dangerous thing. Influences such as the neighborhood where you live or even your place of work can make it too easy for a vulnerable person to choose the wrong path. Inpatient treatment removes you from temptations, pressure, and the people and situations that influence you to use drugs. It puts you in a place where you are safe from negative influences.

TV10 interviewed four recovering addicts from the Columbus suburbs. They all agreed that getting clean was harder than they ever imagined. They all said they tried many times to get clean before they were successful.

For a lifetime of recovery, you may need to cut certain ties permanently. That is difficult if you are surrounded with people who still make bad choices. It is worse if your neighborhood makes using heroin as easy as making a phone call or walking outside.

#4: You Want to Immerse Yourself in Learning Real-World Sobriety Skills

Inpatient care is not just about detoxification. That is only the beginning. Inpatient care gives you access to healthy food, close monitoring for quick intervention if there is a problem, counseling, and coping skills that you will use for a lifetime of sobriety. Although detox is critical, coping skills are what keep you in recovery.

Many of these tools are also available through outpatient treatment. For example, you will have access to addiction recovery medications, therapy, and you will learn coping skills to handle cravings when they arise. However, in an inpatient environment, the hazards of the world are kept at bay while you reprogram your life.

For people addicted to heroin or the more dangerous combination of heroin and Fentanyl, inpatient drug rehab in Ohio offers real hope for a drug-free future. Inpatient rehab is not necessary for everyone struggling with addiction, but the most vulnerable addicts can find safety, medical care, and life-building skills in a healthy environment. Contact us today and learn about your options.