Heroin Drug Rehab Hartford CT

 

Hartford has a population of 124,775 and is the capital city of the state of Connecticut. It’s the state’s largest city after New Haven and Bridgeport. Like other areas in the rest of the state, it’s struggling to contain the opioid epidemic. If you or someone you love is in need of a opiate or heroin drug rehab in Hartford please contact the number below.

 

 

Heroin is incredibly addictive. Just one dose may be enough for anyone to develop a heroin addiction. The health consequences are dire still for Hartford residents because heroin is being mixed with other dangerous opioids such as fentanyl. According to the Medical Examiner’s Office, the city with the biggest number of overdose deaths in Connecticut was Hartford which registered 61 deaths followed by Bridgeport and New Haven with 48 and 43 respectively. If you or a loved one is suffering from opioid addiction, the good news is that Hartford has a range of drug treatment centers to help you achieve full recovery. Enter a heroin drug rehab now and start a new life without drug use.

 

High rise in overdose deaths linked to heroin and fentanyl

 

The heroin epidemic and the growing heroin/fentanyl cocktail have been causing alarm in Connecticut over the past few years. In fact, the state’s opioid overdose level is higher than the national average.

 

According to the Medical Examiner, heroin-related deaths increased from 174 to 415 in the 2012 to 2015 period in Connecticut. Deaths from heroin alone rose from 86 to 110 and deaths from the fentanyl-heroin mix rose from 1 to 107 in the same period.

 

The Medical Examiner also revealed that in 2017 in Connecticut, 1,042 people died from drug overdoses. This represented a significant increase from the 917 who died in 2016 and the 729 in 2015. Most of the deaths were heroin-related, with deaths related to fentanyl and the heroin/fentanyl mix on the increase. Hartford police say they are no longer surprised to see the heroin/fentanyl mix in the drugs they seize.

 

What are the health effects of heroin addiction?

 

Heroin is an illegal opioid. It’s extremely potent and when you use it at length, the effects on your mind and body are considerable. You would do well to seek early treatment especially at one of the inpatient heroin treatment centers in Hartford. They have a number of heroin addiction treatment options. Here are the main effects of heroin addiction:

 

• During a heroin high, your breathing may become labored and it may slow altogether. Your heart may stop working and you may die.
• The more you assault your brain cells with heroin, the more they shrink and waste away. You become increasingly unable to control your impulses and make simple decisions.
• Repeatedly injecting yourself may cause punctures that disrupt the flow of blood to the heart. Infections and abscesses may develop, leading to death.

 

If you are already experiencing problems, don’t hesitate to seek treatment for heroin addiction. At the best heroin addiction treatment centers in Hartford, qualified staff will help you to gain the skills you need to stop you addiction.

 

How does heroin addiction start?

 

According to experts, prescription drugs are the pathway to heroin addiction. This is especially so when the pills have been prescribed for long stretches, and then the doctor suddenly stops prescribing them. The patient realizes that they’ve become dependent on the pain medication. They may try to do without the drug for a while but find they can’t because either their pain is acute or their withdrawal symptoms are too severe. They don’t know how to get off opiates without withdrawal either. The next place they go to is the street but find the pills are twice more expensive than a bag of heroin which may be going for a mere $5.

 

Is fentanyl legal?

 

Fentanyl is both a legal and illegal opioid. In its legal opioid form it can be prescribed as pain medication. The prescription may be a patch worn over the skin. In its illegal opioid form, it can be illegally created in a lab just as meth is. It is this synthetic fentanyl that the CDC says may be linked to the rising opioid epidemic.

 

Why is fentanyl deadly?

 

The nature, dosage and composition of synthetic fentanyl’s additives are unknown so people can easily overdose from it. The contents of this fentanyl, like heroin, are not regulated in terms of quality, dose and composition.

 

Fentanyl is said to have 50 times the power of heroin and 100 times the power of morphine which it resembles. Fentanyl is increasingly being mixed with heroin to make it more potent still and heighten the likelihood of even more overdose deaths. This deadly mix is increasingly becoming the drug of choice.

 

Response to opioid epidemic

 

Funds are increasingly being availed by the federal government to beef up prevention strategies with regard to prevent pain pill addiction and overdoses at the state level. Connecticut has been able to pass a law that lessens the amount of days for pain medication prescriptions given for the first time. It also has a plan that spells out preventive measures for drug addiction and overdoses. Federal funds are also being used to increase the availability of medication for treatment programs and the accessibility of Naloxone.

 

Since 2014 when they began moving around with Naloxone (Narcan), state police have used it to revive 133 people who’d overdosed on opioids. Hartford police now regularly use it. West Hartford Town Council has a Substance Abuse Commission which advises it on ways to defeat the opiate scourge. The Council also has a hotline for poison control.

 

How can I get hold of Naloxone (Narcan)?

 

You can get a Narcan overdose kit via prescription. In Connecticut, those who may legally prescribe Narcan include physicians, dentists, podiatrists, surgeons and those pharmacists with the training and certification for such. The Good Samaritan Law of 2011 allows individuals to seek medical help for anyone they think is overdosing without fear of being arrested. It’s important to note that Naloxone (Narcan) does not work for cocaine overdose and there’s not yet a corresponding medication to undo its effects. Naloxone only reverses opioid effects.

 

What are the signs of a heroin overdose?

 

• The person appears lifeless or unconscious
• The person is conscious but can’t talk
• Their breathing is labored or they can’t breathe at all.
• Their pulse is irregular or slow or there’s no pulse
• The skin around the lips and fingernails is blue-gray
• They’re vomiting or they’re choking, or snoring strenuously

 

What is in a Naloxone overdose kit?

 

It usually has 2 naloxone doses, two wipes for disinfecting the place of injection, a glove set, and the instructions for use. There may also be a breathing mask. When administered the right way, the Naloxone takes effect in 5 minutes or less. If this fails to revive the person concerned, another dose may be administered.

 

 

Heroin Treatment in Hartford, Connecticut

 

If you live in Hartford, Connecticut and are suffering from heroin addiction, or fentanyl addiction, or a combination of the two, the following information will help you to choose from among the best heroin addiction treatment centers.  Heroin and fentanyl are both opioids and the treatment for heroin addiction would apply to both.

 

1. What are the different levels of heroin treatment?

 

A successful heroin treatment program has the following phases:

• Assessment phase to work out a heroin treatment plan based on your specific needs.
• A medical detox to completely rid the body of heroin.
• A period in rehab to work on the psychological causes of your heroin addiction
• Post-treatment period when you’re back in your normal life and have a support network to help you remain heroin-free

 

2. What do the best treatment centers offer?

 

Getting rid of your heroin addiction is a long and difficult process and you’ll want a center that will give you the best deal. Here’s what the best heroin addiction treatment centers will offer:

 

• Medical detox
• Smooth transition to inpatient treatment
• Outpatient treatment as a supplementary measure
• Proven treatment methods
• Behavioral therapy and care in individualized, group and family settings
• Medication if needed
• Minute-by-minute care and attention
• Trained and licensed staff
• Provision for aftercare to help you maintain your sobriety after treatment.
• Behavioral Couples Therapy for substance abuse (for couples in treatment together)

 

Payment Issues

 

1. How much will it cost to kick my heroin addiction?

 

Having peace of mind is important to successful heroin treatment, but if you’re constantly worrying about payment, you’ll end up relapsing. The best heroin addiction treatment centers in Hartford know this so they have a sliding scale of payment based on what you can afford. Most PPO insurance carriers cover drug rehabilitation. Major carriers include, Aetna, United, Cigna, Blue Cross and others. To learn more about health coverage for rehabs, visit a recent Aetna drug rehab post by clicking the link.

Here are some factors they take into consideration:

 

• Your income level or lack of
• Whatever insurance coverage you might have
• Your specific treatment requirements
• Other medical issues you might have

 

2. What other non-insurance options are there?

 

It’s important to note that if you don’t have insurance, you may be able to enter a program funded by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). These programs are obliged to take on some patients who don’t have insurance. There are also programs specifically for those without insurance. Check all these out on the DMHAS website.

 

 

The Assessment Level

 

What happens during assessment for heroin treatment?

 

When you enter your heroin treatment center in Hartford CT for the first time, staff will want to assess you first so they can draw up a treatment schedule just for you. Your assessment will likely be done in a private room. A heroin treatment specialist will discuss generalities with you and make you fill in a form giving details about how long you’ve been on heroin, when and how your heroin addiction started, whether you’ve been using it with another drug like say, fentanyl, and whether you’ve relapsed before. You will also give details of your lifestyle and family background. Tests may be conducted to determine the level of heroin in your system.  All this helps to work out how intense your heroin treatment should be.

 

Some centers will allow animal assisted therapy programs for drug addiction that allow patients to bring their pet into treatment along with them. Animals have been proven to reduce stress and depression, and can be helpful for some during this difficult time.

 

Medical Detox Hartford CT

 

It’s the first phase in your treatment for heroin addiction. It’s a necessary step because it paves the way for the next stage of your heroin treatment. Detox for heroin safely expels from the body, toxins caused by dependence on the heroin chemical substance and takes your body through a healing process.

 

 

    1. What is medical detox?

 

If you’ve been using powerful opioids such as heroin and fentanyl or a mix of the two, you have serious addiction and you need to detox off heroin in a medically-controlled detox center with constant surveillance by addiction pros. Detox for heroin may last for 7 days and all assistance is given as the heroin slowly comes out of your body. Any co-occurring medical problems are addressed and medication often administered.  The meds will ease the withdrawal symptoms while your body gets used to operating without the heroin. Full medication is given at first and then tapered off bit by bit so that by the end of your heroin detox you won’t be taking any meds. It’s expected that by that time, your heroin withdrawal symptoms will be under control.

 

2. What is social detox?

 

This is a different type of drug detox where you just quit using heroin without the assistance of meds to minimize the effects of withdrawal symptoms. This is not recommended for heroin sufferers who normally need to quit dependence through meds and in a supervised and monitored environment. Heroin withdrawal symptoms are usually too difficult to overcome without meds. So the inpatient option with meds is regarded as the best form of heroin detox.

 

3. Can I stop at the detox level?

 

Heroin detox is not enough drug addiction treatment on its own. While it will remove all the heroin from your body, it won’t equip you with the skills you need to stop you going back to your heroin addiction. Your chances of relapse and overdose will be high. Studies done by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have shown that the risks of a deadly overdose are heightened when a person returns to their heroin habit soon after detox. That’s because the body’s drug acceptance levels have dropped.

 

So once your heroin detox is over, it’s very important to quickly get into an inpatient rehab program. Many centers in Hartford offer a smooth transition from detox to inpatient rehab.

 

Inpatient Care

 

1. What are the main aspects of inpatient care?

 

Inpatient rehab involves being fully resident at any of the inpatient heroin treatment centers and being constantly treated and monitored by a host of specialists who include social workers, addiction, family and marriage counselors and therapists, psychiatrists and various treatment personnel who should be licensed and certified. So it’s not only physical therapy that’s important but also behavioral therapy which helps you identify what caused and sustained your heroin addiction and what skills you need to overcome these triggers. Individualized sessions are held as well as family and group therapy. The latter is crucial because there’s a give and take with people who have similar problems to your own. It helps to hone your social skills which will stand you in good stead when you have to again interact with family, friends and workmates once treatment for heroin addiction is over.

 

2. 2. How long is inpatient drug addiction treatment?

 

Short-term drug rehab may last 2 to 4 weeks while long-term rehab may go on for 60 or 90 days or even longer. For heroin dependent patients the longer option is considered the best of the heroin addiction treatment options. Your addiction is severe and you need time to adjust to being sober and to learning the skills for remaining drug-free.

 

3. Is inpatient drug addiction treatment restrictive?

 

The environment at the inpatient heroin treatment centers is ordered. You are told when to rise in the morning, have your meals, attend treatment sessions, and take leisure time. This may be too restrictive for some people but many others who completed heroin treatment have pointed to the strict regimen as being responsible for their success.

 

Outpatient Therapy

 

Outpatient therapy has varying heroin addiction treatment options. They are similar in many ways to what is offered at the inpatient heroin treatment centers except that you don’t live in. You attend the center when need be from home. Care can be structured for the more intensive options. Find an outpatient addiction rehabilitation center that offers an outpatient therapy program that best fits your recovery plan, contact our recovery helpline and speak with a specialist.

 

1. Can I choose this option instead of inpatient rehab?

 

For the heroin-dependent, outpatient care is not usually recommended over a stay at one of Hartford’s inpatient heroin treatment centers. You return home every day so you’re not completely away from the influences, temptations and triggers that fuelled your heroin addiction. And with your continuing home and work commitments, you may not be totally focused on recovery. Although there is individualized care and family and group counseling, and although psychiatric help and meds may be offered, you won’t have nearly as much access to professionals as within the inpatient heroin treatment centers. So it’s not as easy to build up the bonds of fellowship with your peers that will later be an important part of your post-treatment recovery process. This fellowship is easier to build up during inpatient care and is an important part of your post treatment recovery process.

 

However, many people find it a useful supplementary step after they’ve finished inpatient heroin treatment in Hartford Connecticut.  Standard therapy involves going to the center few days a week while the Intensive Outpatient Therapy (IOP) and the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) require you to be present for more days and longer hours. They represent good transitional phases from inpatient treatment to normal life. Some patients opt for an implant to block the effects of heroin. A Naltrexone implant can be inserted to block the e

 

Post Heroin Treatment Period

 

Staying the course at one of the inpatient heroin treatment centers in Hartford is a great achievement but your recovery process is not complete. It’s never complete. The risk of relapse will always be with you. So you have to be vigilant. You need to be in long-term programs for heroin relapse prevention.

 

1. What does it involve?

 

Many treatment centers in Hartford will carry on giving you guidance and support beyond the treatment gates. You may be able to continue with medications such as suboxone, and methadone to control lingering opioid withdrawal symptoms and the danger of relapse.

 

Further, individual and group therapy should continue for as long as it consolidates your recovery process. For instance, you may opt to take part in support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) because of the accountability and fraternal atmosphere they provide. Participation is generally free and it can prove invaluable for years.

 

You could also opt for a sober living home which helps you transition from a stint at one of the inpatient heroin treatment centers, to your normal life. There are a number of strict sobriety rules you have to adhere to but there is no medically-assisted therapy. But it’s a way of reengaging with society, piecemeal by piecemeal.