Heroin addiction treatment

Heroin Treatment in West Virginia

Heroin shows a low but growing threat to West Virginia. Heroin addiction levels in West Virginia are moderate; however, state and local police report that abuse is rising in cities such as Martinsburg and Weirton where the drug is being used in place of OxyContin. Throughout the state, heroin availability is low. South American heroin is the type that is found the most.

Treatment information shows that the level of heroin addiction in West Virginia is low overall. The rate of heroin-related rehab admissions to government funded facilities has changed from 214 in 1998 to 138 in 1999 and 160 in 2000, according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.  Men accounted for 59 percent of all heroin-related rehabilitation admissions in 2000.

Often addicts ask themselves .How do I stop using heroin?.The majority of heroin addiction treatments in the U.S. utilize the 12 steps derived from the Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous programs as their foundation. In the past, the 12 step philosophy was combined with inpatient treatment in a hospital setting for a duration of at least 28 days. Addicts would attend AA or NA meetings while receiving group therapy.

Unfortunately, this model proved to be not successful with heroin addiction and the insurance industry has become unwilling to pay for extended therapy stays. The current trend is to admit an individual with a heroin problem to a hospital just long enough to get them through the worst of the physical withdrawal and then to send them to outpatient counseling. This method of treating heroin dependency is the most widely used and also the least successful.

Medical Consequences of Heroin Use:
Heroin abuse is related with important health conditions, including fatal overdose, spontaneous abortion, collapsed veins, and infectious disease, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.  Because heroin abusers do not know the actual strength of the substance or its true contents, they are at risk of overdose or fatality. It also poses special concerns because of the transmission of HIV and other diseases that can occur from sharing needles or other injection equipment. Heroin is a highly addictive substance, as elevated doses are used over time, physical dependence and addiction develops.