What is Heroin?
Heroin is a street drug made using a substance harvested from the opium poppy. Though this same plant is the basis for legal prescription drugs, called opiates, those drugs are regulated and approved for doctor-supervised use. Heroin is not. The drug can be smoked, snorted, injected, or inhaled, all of which cause the rapid onset of side effects. Heroin works by bonding to the body’s naturally existing opioid receptors and skewing the brain’s perception of things like pain and pleasure.
Though initially heroin users may feel a certain rush, characterized by an almost overwhelming surge of happiness, that quickly lapses into mental confusion, drowsiness, and a whole host of negative physical side effects like heavy extremities, dry mouth, skin flushing, depressed breathing and heart rate, and more. When heart and breathing rates are suppressed too much, the body literally starves for oxygen, and the results can be deadly.
The biggest danger in heroin is overdose. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the number of deaths as a result of heroin overdoses multiplied more than 5 times between 2001 an 2013. If you’re struggling with heroin addiction, your MVP Health Care heroin detox coverage could start you on your road to recover today.
Kicking the Heroin Habit
Checking into a facility using your MVP Health Care heroin detox coverage is the first step towards sobriety. Once under a doctor’s care, you’ll being the detoxification process, during which you’ll rid your body of any intoxicants – both legal and illegal – which can be a daunting process. During detox, you may experience a number of withdrawal symptoms such as:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Muscle aches and pains
- Goose bumps
- Sleep disturbances
- Tearing
- Dilated pupils
- Sweating
- Yawning
- Abdominal pain
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
The withdrawal process is often uncomfortable but not life threatening, and the feeling of finally being both clean and mentally alert is a reward in of itself. Still, many people feel more comfortable withdrawing in a supervised setting, and as such opt to admit themselves to an in-patient facility where they can detox surrounded by people trained to assist in the process.
Continuing Treatment
In addition to your MVP Health Care heroin detox coverage, your insurance policy also hopefully includes coverage for continued addiction treatment. You may receive counseling, both on an individual and group or family basis, behavioral or cognitive therapy, medication to control urges or mediate withdrawal symptoms, and more. There are 12-step programs available as well, the participation in which is usually a life-long endeavor, giving you the support you need to maintain your new-found sobriety.